Book One: Augmentum

by Lone_Wolf_Fanfics

Summary:

Rana is the adopted daughter of Zhao and a traitor to the Fire Nation following a realisation of how Zhao came to find her. Seeing the Fire Nation for what it truly is, Rana abandons it and heads off in search of the Avatar to see through her destiny to become the legendary True Elemental.

 

Avatar: The Last Airbender x Pokemon crossover

Zuko pairing.

Set during Book One/Season One: Water

Chapter 1: Rana

Name: Rana

Nickname: Rah (Most) Girl. Princess. Vixen. (Zuko) Child (Zhao)  My Dear. Young One. (Iroh) 

Title:

Lost Princess of Arkala

Rightful Queen of Arkala

The True Elemental; Defender of the Avatar

The True Elemental

The Vastaya Princess

The Last Vastaya

 

Home:

Vasta (Formerly; destroyed)

- Home and origin of the Vastaya people. 

Arkala (Formerly)

- Arkala is a formerly free village now under the control of the Fire Nation. 

Fire Nation (Formerly)

Nomad (Currently)

Alola (Eventually)

- Alola is the hidden Vastaya island nation protected by the Order of the White Lotus. It is considered to be a paradise having been created and managed by pokemon. 

 

Age: 18

Species: Vastaya

- See notes

- By the time of Rana's return visit to Arkala, all of the Vastaya that had once lived there, were gone. Rana is considered the last of her kind. Though the Vastaya simply hid from the world to protect themselves and are now exclusively found on Alola. 

 

Appearance:

Hair: Black

Eyes: Blue (Purple when using powers and Bright Glowing Blue in Binary Mode)

Loyalty:

Fire Nation (Formerly)

Avatar (Currently)

 

Family:

Zhao (Adopted Father)

Shakra (Maternal Figure/Nanny)

Queen Ziyin (Adopted Mother; deceased)

King Xen (Adopted Father; deceased)

Teuzi (Mother; deceased)

Oro (Father; deceased)

- Rana's biological parents were refugee royal figures from the Vastaya nation, now a part of and in control of the fire nation, that moved into the Arkala village at the blessing of Ziyin and Xen who allowed as many Vastaya as they could fit. Oro joined the Arkala army to repay the generosity and kindness that had been shown to them, but was killed in battle against the Fire Nation. Teuzi then died in labour with Ziyin at her side, the two having come to be great close friends. Ziyin adopted Rana into her family and accepted her as one of her own.

Taru (Grandfather; Alive)

- Former True Elemental to Aang

- Living and leading Alola. 

- Oldest child and son of Leong and an unknown Fire-bender. 

- Father of Teuzi with an unknown fire-bender mother. 

Xia (Ancestor; deceased)

- Youngest child and daughter of Leong and an unknown Fire-bender

Leong (Ancestor; deceased)

- Former True Elemental to Roku

- Eldest child and second daughter of Rua and Kyoshi

Koko (Ancestor)

- Youngest child and second daughter of Rua and Kyoshi

Rua (Ancestor; deceased)

- Former True Elemental to Kyoshi as well as her eventual Husband and father of her children

Kyoshi (Ancestor; deceased)

Hark (Ancestor; deceased)

Jesa (Ancestor; deceased)

Vastayians (Ancestors and people)

Aang (Ward/Protectee; Destined)

 

History:

King Xen and Queen Ziyin of Arkala had been blessed with an adopted daughter after years of difficulty trying for their own child. They named their daughter Rana who is the last of the Vastaya people and who had formerly lived among the Arkala's after their numbers began to dwindle because of the Fire Nature.

Before Rana turned three years old, the Fire Nation invaded Arkala killing the king and queen before their commander, Zhao, kidnapped Rana because of "something" she was destined for. A great sadness fell upon the Kingdom of Arkala at the loss of the royal family and the control the Fire Nation then had over them.

Rana was raised as Zhao's daughter, in a rather strict and militaristic home, but mostly under the care of a servant called Shakra, who was able to provide Rana with some goodness during her early life. They developed a strong relationship during Rana's life with the Fire Nation.

Also taken from the Arkala Palace were nine Pokemon eggs that Zhao kept hidden from Rana until he deemed necessary.

At some point in her childhood, Rana met and was befriended by Zuko who was fascinated by her ears and tails and approached her where others would shy away from her. The two of them finding comfort as friends when no one else around them showed them any true kindness. Rana would go with Zhao whenever he was at the Fire Nation Palace for a number of years before he stopped taking her. The two children eventually came to bury their memories of one another, believing each other to be imaginary.

Zhao gave Rana a pokemon egg every time one seemed ready to hatch. So far, there have only been four that have hatched, bonding instantly to Rana, much to Zhao's disappointment. These nine pokemon each represented Vastaya elements, fire, lightning, water, plant, ice, earth, air, mind, and spirit.

- True Elemental; Defender of the Avatar:

Rana's destiny was to become the current True Elemental, an individual of royal Vastaya blood that is tasked with the protection and care of the Avatar using elemental bending and pokemon. This destiny was kept from her during her time with the Fire Nation and as Zhao's daughter.

During her late teenage years, Rana discovered the truth of her birth and childhood whilst visiting Arkala, her old village, now a Fire Nation village. Here, she found a mural of her parents and a Vastaya child, of herself. Here, she also discovered a book that told of a legendary Vastaya with nine tails known as a True Elemental, Rana put two and two together, before she took the book, a sword and a glass orb necklace. Angry and feeling betrayed, Rana abandoned Zhao and the Fire Nation to seek out the Avatar with her pokemon to fulfil her destiny.

 

Physical Appearance:

Rana has long glossy black hair and blue eyes—which can also turn purple (usually when she is emotional or bending) or glow blue (When accessing Binary Mode)—with whisker-like markings on her cheeks, an athletic build, she wears a long-sleeved red and white dress in traditional Vastaya design with influences from the Fire Nation. Rana has two black and white fox-like ears that sit on the top of her head along with a white almost greying tail (Though it appears as though she only has one tail, she in fact has nine and with practice and accessing Binary Mode can fully reveal all nine of them)

Personality:

Fire Nation Rana was merciless, tricky, smug and ungenerous as raised by Zhao. She lacked empathy, (rightly) distrusted her fellow Fire Nation leaders and pulled rank to her own advantage. Rana fully believed in her own morals, even when others disagreed. Having never seen the Fire Nation the way many people had, she was blind to their ruling methods...which were harsh, cruel and abusive.

After interacting with the Vastaya Elemental Tome, Rana seemingly snapped out of her Fire Nation mindset and came to see how cruel they were being too innocent people. Rana has already shown that she's turning into a more caring and guilt-ridden young woman; she adamantly disagrees with how the Arkalans, and the rest of the world, are being treated by the Fire Nation. She also feels some level of shame for being involved in some of those things, even if she was never abusive herself. She usually treated others with indifference.

Even after she joins the Avatar, Rana's lack of fear will play a key role in her cause; she thinks nothing of putting herself in danger for others, even as a mere distraction, especially for the Avatar. She has a firm sense of loyalty and kindness to the hurt or injured whenever necessary. She has no qualms about confronting crude behaviour from anyone, regardless of their status or abilities.

Rana grows into a brave, competitive, and noble warrior who is true to her own values. Realizing what the Fire Nature had been doing to innocent people, she made a major life decision (to leave and find the Avatar).

Despite making the decision to leave the Fire Nation, Rana is still most comfortable following rules and sticking to plans. She is not entirely socially competent, having been raised in a military environment, and therefore is typically very blunt and always prefers to be prepared for battle.

Rana's heroic deeds, power, and positivity begin to grow as she and her friends continue to battle the Fire Nation. She suffers from occasional clumsiness, especially when trying to control her powers and weaponry or when she first gains feelings for Zuko.

 

Pairing: Zuko

- Aged up to 18 (Along with Sokka)

 

Notes:

- Vastayashai'rei:

The Vastayashai'rei are an ancient, presumably extinct, species that originated from enlightened mortals that took the power of the spirit realm into themselves.

The powers they gained from tapping into the spirit realm granted them near-immortality, potent shapeshifting powers and the ability to use the elemental realms as a weapon in order to fight. It is unknown what happened to them after ancient times. Each of the now similarly extinct vastayan tribes originates from an individual vastayashai'rei that had offspring with non-vastayashai'rei such as humans.

 

- Vastaya:

The Vastaya are a very ancient chimeric race that harnesses the power of the nine elemental realms where the pokemon originally hail from. They are human in appearance except with large fox-like ears on the top of their head and a tail that protrudes from the base of their spines.

"The vastaya named the world. We named the trees, the wind, the mountains. We know their power" - Rana

The Vastaya draw their power from nine elemental realms, usually, each Vastaya has one specific realm from which they draw power, and therefore only have one pokemon companion, but legend tells of a Vastaya that is born with nine tails and capable of drawing on all nine realms to aid, protect, and care for the Avatar. To defend the Avatar whilst they learn to master Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These legends call them the 'True Elemental'.

Whilst not classed as benders, the Vastaya are, in fact, benders in the way they use their abilities. The Vastaya, traditionally, have their own moves that work with their unique bodies to efficiently bend. Rana being raised as a fire-bender by fire-benders uses moves that are a lot more like a fire-bender than a Vastaya.

The Vastaya Elemental Realms and their associated element and pokemon type:

The Clear (Air)

- Flying

The Blue (Water)

- Water

The Stone (Earth)

- Ground and Rock

The Red (Fire)

- Fire and dragon 

The White (Spirit)

- Ghost

The Black (Ice)

- Ice

The Green (Nature)

- Grass, Poison, and Bug

The Grey (Storm/Lightning)

- Electric and Dark

The Pink (Psychic)

- Psychic and Fairy

Chapter 2: Powers, Abilities, Belongings, and Pokemon

Powers and Abilities:

Powers:

As a Vastaya, Rana gains a number of abilities but being a True Elemental grants her a significant bending power boost.

Enhanced Strength: Being a Vastaya, Rana is incredibly strong, capable of lifting large pokemon with ease.

Heightened Senses: As a Vastaya, credited to her large fox-like ears, Rana's heightened senses allow her to see, smell or hear things that normal humans cannot, though the exact range of this power has yet to be defined.

Enhanced Speed: Rana is extremely fast, able to dodge attacks and falling debris with ease. When running, Rana is capable of impressive speeds.

Enhanced Agility/Reflexes: Rana is very agile, she can jump high and far, as well as perform extraordinary gymnastic and acrobatic feats, this is part of being a Vastaya as well as her training.

Spirit Bond/Connection: A Spirit Bond is a connection forged between two spirits that have twined together, most commonly found to be a vastaya power and not specifically a True Elemental power. This tends to happen subconsciously by a True Element, whose soul reaches out for their equal half. Most True Elementals find their soulmates this way, or as known by the vastayan as their true mates. Rua found his in Kyoshi. And Rana will find hers in Zuko. This is seen to be more powerful in those that have a strong connection to The White or Spirit Realm as well with the True Elemental.

- Thought-Sharing: Those spirit bound are capable of feeling and hearing one another's thoughts no matter the distance, though initially sub-conscious and difficult to control, with time and experience thoughts can be blocked, both leaving and coming into a mind.

- Dream-Sharing: Those spirit bound are capable of sharing dreams through the melding of their unconscious minds. This is very difficult to control.

- Bond Empowerment: When fighting together, those spirit bound can draw strength from the proximity of their bound half.

- Companion Allegiance: Those that are spirit bound find it difficult to betray their other half, though extreme circumstances can see this proven false.

- Undying Loyalty: The spirit bound individuals are of complete loyalty to one another, though extreme circumstances can see this proven false.

 

Elemental Control: As a True Elemental, it can be implied that Rana could be capable of controlling all nine of the Vastaya elements. She can also use her pokemon to strengthen and aid her abilities. Rana grew up believing she was a fire-bender, but has shown moments through her childhood and youth that say otherwise, most of these moments were explained away by Zhao who tried very hard to hide her true powers from her, mostly to keep her abilities from people outside of the Fire Nation.

- Fire-Bending: Being raised by Zhao, Rana was trained as a fire-bender and was stated to be a very talented bender with exceptional control and power.

- Lightning-Bending: Like most fire-benders, Rana is capable of generating and bending lightning.

- Water-Bending: When Rana decided to leave the Fire Nation, turning her back on them, she knocked over a barrel fleeing and seemingly using instinct threw out her hand, it shaped itself into ice blades that knocked down Fire Nation soldiers following her. As a child, once when angry, she snapped at Zhao and a glass of water froze.

- Plant-Bending: Rana has the ability to influence plant life, she can create, shape and manipulate plants, including wood, vines, plants, moss, and parts of the plants, such as leaves, seeds, roots, fruits and flowers. She can cause plants to grow, move/attack or even rise from the soil and "walk", mutate plants by rearranging DNA structure and revive withered or dead plants.

- Ice-Bending: A sub-talent of Water-Bending, Rana has shown some ability with Ice-Bending though only twice.

- Earth-Bending: As a True Elemental, it is possible that Rana could bend earth. As a teen, during training Rana almost fell off the edge of a cliff only for the earth to suddenly appear under her foot, Rana waves this off as nothing but good luck, though Zhao put it down to earth-bending.

- Air-Bending: As a True Elemental, it is possible that Rana could bend air, whilst she hasn't made the connection, Zhao has connected her increased fire propulsion to air-bending.

- Spirit-Bending: According to legend, the True Elemental is said to possess powerful healing abilities, Rana showed this once when she was a child and healed Zuko after Azula burnt him for a 'laugh'. 

- Spirit Connection: Rana has a connection to the Spirit World. What this means, is currently unknown. It is likely that she could pass easily between the living and the spirit world.

- Mind-Bending: Rana can read minds, communicate telepathically, and experience the memories and thoughts of others. Rana can scan a person's brain and find any information she needs, including memories. She can also telepathically communicate with others and even influence non-sentiments, such as animals.

- Poke-Reading: Rana can read the minds of her pokemon and vice versa. She is connected to her pokemon on a spiritual level.

Binary Mode: When Rana harnesses every inch of elemental power inside of her she can greatly augment her physical attributes, such as her strength and durability, this is known in legend as Binary Mode and hasn't been seen in True Elementals since the very first one and was a knowledge form believed to be lost. For Rana to acquire this state, she must produce a massive amount of elemental energy to envelope herself within, which manifests as a glowing aura from her eyes and the full manifestation of all nine of her tails along with glowing orbs. Her bending also become much more powerful. It is incredibly tiring and draining on Rana and takes experience and practice to master this ability before she can do it without passing out.

Transformation: With training, Rana will be able to manifest her nine tails without going into Binary Mode.

 

Abilities:

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Even before finding the Sword, Rana was an incredibly skilled combatant as a result of her training with the Fire Nation. She was able to complete her training in record time.

Navigation and Survival: Rana is capable of reading the stars to navigate as well as showing an ability to read maps, likely through training from Zhao.

Leadership: Rana has been shown to be a competent leader, capable of coordinating her allies and develop strategies.

Indomitable Will: Rana is very determined to prove herself worthy of being the True Elemental and protecting the Avatar.

 

Equipment:

Vastaya Elemental Crystal: Rana has and will wear a Vastaya Elemental Crystal, a ball-shaped crystal attached to a chain to be worn as a necklace that has a few 'powers' in itself.

- Pokemon/Animal Transformation: Rana can use the crystal to 'evolve' her pokemon into bigger more powerful forms of themselves. This has only happened once since she gained the crystal, as she transformed her Noibat into a Noivern so she and her pokemon could escape the Fire Nation entourage. It seems that she has no control over this and it actually is deemed by the pokemon when they will evolve.

- Summoning/Returning: The crystal is capable of housing Rana's pokemon companions by transforming them into a form of energy before pulling them into the crystal.

 

Jade Lotus Pin: Given to Rana by Zuko when she was a small child, Rana came to love and cherish this pin, though she is unclear on who gave it to her due to her memories of her time at the palace and with Zuko have degraded over time. 

 

Vastaya Elemental Tome: A book that contains the history of the Vastaya people as well as the legend of the True Elemental and information about the pokemon that the vastaya cherish.  

 

Sword of Protection: The Sword of Protection is entrusted to the current True Elemental and the keeper of pokemon. It is an 'indestructible' blade. The sword has a golden hilt with a pretty rainbow-coloured opal (Meant to represent the nine elemental realms) embedded in it. The blade is light blue with Poke markings running down it, it can be assumed that this blade comes from or was made in one of the nine Vastaya realms. The stone in the Sword is, in fact, an elemental piece and works to channel all of the nine elements at once. The sword usually appears shortly after the conception of the next True Elemental and up until Rana, it was thought a myth. Rana is the first True Elemental in 100 years following the disappearance of the last Avatar.

- Energy Blast: Rana can send out a concussive force of nine elements focused through the sword and is rainbow-coloured. This happened accidentally the first time whilst trying to escape her Fire Nation entourage.

- Shape-shifting: The Sword is able to shift into various other weapons. Such as a shield, a flail, a rope/whip, a pitcher, a flute, a mug, and a musical instrument. This takes time, patience, and learning to achieve effectively. 

 

Pokemon:

Rana currently only has four pokemon that have hatched from their eggs. Noivern is the only one to have evolved via the Crystal. There are still five eggs that are protected by Zhao and the Fire Nation, keeping them from Rana after her desertion (It is believed that these will be mind, lightning, spirit, plant, and ice pokemon given the marking on the eggs). (One egg is known to be with Iroh who had smuggled it out upon leaving with Zuko, Iroh intended on giving the egg to Rana to assure her that she can trust him. He is known to take great care of the egg; Iroh believes he has the lightning egg due to a lightning bolt-shaped mark on the shell)

Vulpix (Fire): Vulpix is a small, quadrupedal, fox-like Pokémon. It has a red-brown pelt with a cream-coloured underbelly. It has brown eyes, large, pointed ears with dark brown insides, and a triangular dark brown nose. Its paws are slightly darker than the rest of its pelt and have light brown paw pads. On top of its head are three curled locks of orange fur with bangs, and it has orange tails with curled tips. It is most commonly seen with six tails. However, Vulpix is born with only a single, white tail that splits as Vulpix grows. Vulpix is capable of manipulating fire to such precision as to create floating wisps of flame. Can evolve into Ninetails.

Pichu (Lightning; Egg): Pichu is a small, ground-dwelling rodent Pokémon with pale yellow fur. Its ear-tips, collar, and tail are black and angular. Pichu's pink cheek pouches can store small amounts of lightning, and its tiny nose looks like a dot. Pichu is classified as a quadruped, but it can walk easily on its hind legs. Pichu is a social Pokémon known for its playful and mischievous demeanor. It is inept at storing electricity and may discharge if amused, startled, or subjected to shock. However, it cannot discharge without being shocked itself. Charging up is more easily done on days of dryness or with thunderclouds. The crackling of static lightning generated by Pichu is audible. It can zap an adult human but will surprise itself if it does. Can evolve into Pikachu and then into Raichu.

Rockruff (Earth): Rockruff is a quadrupedal, canine Pokémon. It is primarily light brown with a darker brown muzzle, paws, and ear tips. It has large blue eyes, button ears, a short muzzle with a triangular pink nose, and a short tuft of fur on each cheek. Around its neck is a ruff of grayish-white fur stubbed with dark brown pebbles. The dark brown markings on its paws extend to a thin point on each wrist and ankle. It has a grayish-white tail that curls tightly over its back and is covered in fluffy fur. Rockruff has an excellent sense of smell and will never forget an odor after smelling it once. This Pokémon is very sociable and will greet others by rubbing them with the rocks around its neck. As it ages, Rockruff becomes wilder and more independent. Once it is close to evolving, it will begin to howl when the sun goes down. A persistent Pokémon, it will keep going until it outlasts foes that are even more powerful. Rockruff intimidates opponents by using the rocks on its neck to hit the ground. Can evolve into Lycanroc.

Squirtle (Water): Squirtle is a small Pokémon that resembles a light-blue turtle. While it typically walks on its two short legs, it has been shown to run on all fours. It has large, purplish or reddish eyes and a slightly hooked upper lip. Each of its hands and feet have three pointed digits. The end of its long tail curls inward. Its body is encased by a tough shell that forms and hardens after birth. This shell is brown on the top, pale yellow on the bottom, and has a thick white ridge between the two halves. Squirtle's shell is a useful tool. It can withdraw into the shell for protection or to sleep. The grooved, rounded shape helps to reduce water resistance, allowing the Pokémon to swim at high speeds. Squirtle can spray foamy water from its mouth with great accuracy. Can evolve into Wartortle and then into Blastoise.

Chikorita (Plant; Egg): Chikorita is a small, pale-green, quadrupedal Pokémon with dark-green buds around its neck. Its head is large in proportion to the rest of its body, and it has big red eyes. Chikorita has four short legs with a single nailed toe on each and a stubby tail. On top of its head is a large, green leaf that is usually longer than its body. A soothing aroma wafts from the leaf, which can calm those around it. The leaf is also used to sense temperature and humidity. Chikorita actively seeks out and enjoys the sun's warmth. Can evolve into Bayleef and then Meganium.

Lapras (Ice; Egg): Lapras is a large sea Pokémon that resembles a plesiosaur. It has a blue hide with darker blue spots and a cream-colored underside. It has large brown eyes, a short horn on its forehead, and tightly curled ears. It has a long neck and four flippers. The foremost flippers are larger than the hind. On its back is a heavy, gray shell covered in blunt knobs. Lapras is a gentle, helpful Pokémon. An intelligent Pokémon, it is able to understand human speech. It sings enchanting melodies.

Noivern (Air): Noivern is a large, draconic Pokémon that resembles a bat. It is primarily black with a purple underbelly and greenish turquoise wing membranes. It has a purple lower jaw, red V-shaped growth on its snout, two fang-like projections on its upper lip, yellow eyes, and a greenish-turquoise color between its eyes and the V-shaped growth. Its large, teardrop-shaped ears have alternating rings of blue-green and black on the interiors and resemble loudspeakers. Around its neck is a fluffy mane of white fur that is longer in the back. Its wings have three red claws on the middle joint and are divided into segments by two black wing fingers. On the back of the wing, the final segment is purple. Noivern's feet have two toes each and a red, claw-like growth on top of each toe. It has a long, whip-like tail with a blue-green underside and two spines near the tip, which it can use to create air attacks. Noivern is known for its violent temper when their rider is attacked be it physically or verbally. From its ears, it can produce ultrasonic air waves strong enough to shatter large boulders.

Spectrier (Spirit; Egg): Spectrier is an equine Pokémon with black fur and a purple marking covering the right side of its face extending to the back of its ears. Its left eye is closed with thick, mauve-colored eyelashes. Its purple mane is wavy, with the tips of its mane transitioning to mauve, while a fringe and its tail are completely mauve. It has slender legs marked with a purple sock pattern. Each of its purple hooves is detached from its legs at the pastern, and the rear pair of hooves are trailed by spectral mist. As Spectrier desires isolation and silence, it tends to be active during the night where its energy is heightened. Its nocturnal habits resulted in it having weak eyesight, but its other four senses are keenly sharpened; this allows Spectrier to have an accurate sense of the terrain and location of living things. Its kicks are said to separate a soul from its body. Spectrier is known to be very proud and arrogant, preferring to serve individuals it deems the strongest, such as the True Elemental and the Avatar. It has a fondness for carrots.

Eevee (Espeon (Psychic; Egg)): Eevee is a mammalian, quadrupedal Pokémon with primarily brown fur. The tip of its bushy tail and its large furry collar are cream-colored. It has short, slender legs with three small toes and a pink paw pad on each foot. Eevee has brown eyes, long pointed ears with dark brown interiors, and a small black nose.

- Espeon is a quadrupedal, mammalian Pokémon with slender legs and dainty paws. It is covered in fine, lilac fur. This velvety fur is sensitive enough for Espeon to sense minute shifts in the air, thus allowing it to predict the weather. Its ears are large, and it has purple eyes with white pupils. There are tufts of fur near its eyes, and a small, red gem embedded in its forehead. The gem boosts its psychic powers. It also has a thin, forked tail that quivers when it predicts its opponent's moves.

 

Chapter 3: Quotes

"Zhao will be leading them when they attack. I have to face him. I can't let him hurt anyone else." - To Katara

...

"I'm always going to be your friend but you won't always need me to protect you"- To Aang

...

"I don't want any of you risking yourselves. I can do this alone. This is what I'm....what we were born for." - To Aang, Katara, and Sokka about herself and her pokemon

...

"Zu, it's okay, it's just me. [sits next to him as Young Zuko wipes away tears] It doesn't matter what they do to us, you know? You look out for me, and I look out for you. Nothing really bad can happen as long as we have each other." - To Zuko when they were children

...

"Yay, there's a rainbow!"

...

"I won't stand by and watch people get hurt. And I won't run away."

...

"Phew! Now I know what a kite feels like."

...

"Be sure to wash behind your ears, boys!"

...

"Remember, it's your body, and no one should touch you in a way that you feel is wrong." - To Katara

...

"Uh oh, something tells me it's going to get awfully hot around here."

...

"All right, let's go see this tiny, but biggest, wonderful, super-secret special surprise."

...

"Well, it looks like you've thrown just about everything in the village but the kitchen sink."

...

"As a farmer, you lived a life of peace. It's a shame that you must go to war again."

...

"Never's an awfully long time."

...

"Here's the food stolen by the Fire Nation. Enjoy it, and be well."

...

"Imperfection is beautiful...At least to me."

...

"Friendship isn't a weakness. It's my greatest strength."

...

"Did you just jump into fire for me?" - Rana to Zuko

...

"Don't worry, I've got this!" *Proceeds to get thrown across the room* - Rana

...

"I think I killed the bed."

...

"...and if you listen to us you'd know that and why can I hear the ocean right now?"

...

"I stole nothing, broke nothing, burnt nothing, and stabbed nothing. Aren't you all proud of me?"

...

"I have no idea what I'm doing... but I know I'm doing it really, really well"

..

Zuko: What are you doing here? Five words or less.

Rana: [Counting on her fingers] Out. For. A. Walk.

Zuko:

Rana:

Zuko:

Rana:...Dipstick.

...

Rana: I wanted to apologize.

Zuko: Good.

Rana: Let me finish. I said I wanted to. And then I realized, I'm not sorry.

...

Sokka: We made a mistake.

Rana: "We"?

Sokka: You're right. Rana made a mistake.

....

Iroh: What's wrong with Zuko?

Shakra: He saw Rana last night.

Iroh: Oh, that time of the month again.

....

"I don't want to be overdramatic, but today felt like 100 years in hell and the absolute worst day of my life"

...

Rana: I'm not really that hungry, though.

Sokka: I never understand when people say that.

...

Iroh: I'm going to ask you to be respectful to Ozai.

Rana: I will politely decline.

.....

"I just slept seven hours, which is twice as long as I usually sleep, so I'm a little disoriented"

....

Rana: Do you ever see something that changes your life completely and you're just like, huh?

Zuko: I saw you.

Rana: Honestly that's so nice and sweet and it makes this really awkward because I was just going to show you this drawing of Aang as Squirtle.

....

Sokka: I guess I'm just too tough to cry.

Rana: Just today you were crying about snakes.

Sokka: They don't have any arms!

....

Ozai: I could kill you if I wanted

Rana: Yeah? Well so could Zuko

Rana: So could a platypus bear

Rana: So could a dedicated turtle duck

Rana: You're not special, Ozai

....

Sokka: Are you the big spoon or the little spoon?

Zuko: I'm the knife

Rana: He's the little spoon

....

Zuko: You're giving me a badge?

Rana: Not just a badge. It's a badge of a kitty saying, "Me-Wow."

Zuko: I'm not a child

Rana: Fine, I'll take it back.

Zuko: I earned this. Back off!

....

"That's adorable, you have a crush on yourself. I'd be careful. The guy you're in love with is a moron" - To Zuko

....

Rana: I'm trying not to be mad at Zuko, but man that guy can push my buttons.

Aang: Why are so mad at him?

Rana: Look, I don't wanna talk about it. Okay?

Aang: Well, it just seems that...

Rana: You wanna be on my list too? Keep talking. Has anyone seen my list by the way?

Sokka: Uh, no. What's it look like?

Rana: It's a piece of paper and it says "Zuko" on it.

....

Rana: Are you alright? You didn't sleep at all last night.

Zuko: I got a solid eight minutes.

Zuko: Not consecutively but still it's fine. You're not even that blurry.

....

Rana: My life is terrible right now.

Sokka: You mean you specifically? Or us in general?

Rana: Me.

Sokka: Well yeah

Katara: What happened?

Rana: I realized that I think I might be in love, and it sucks

Sokka: Oh, c'mon! That's great! Falling in love is not a bad thing, don't fight it!

Rana: It's Zuko.

Aang: You fight that feeling - YOU FIGHT IT LIKE IT'S A MONSTER! YOU PUNCH ITS HEAD RIGHT OFF!

....

Zuko: Please talk to him, Aang would throw himself in front of an avalanche for you.

Rana: Aang would throw himself in front of an avalanche for fun.

.....

Rana: Look, this doesn't have to be a big deal. Whoever took the pie, come forward and all will be forgiven.

Everyone: ...

Rana: Smart. You knew I would never forgive you.

.....

"We do have a lot in common. The same earth, the same air, the same sky. Maybe if we started looking at what's the same, instead of looking at what's different, well, who knows?"

....

Zuko: Get your butt back in here

Rana: Is that how you talk to a lady?

Zuko: Please get your butt back in here

....

Zuko: What do you want me to do?

Rana: Smile.

Zuko: [Smiles]

Rana: Oh no, that's terrifying.

....

Katara: Hey, look, shooting stars!

Sokka: Ooh, quick, make a wish! You gotta make a wish!

[One of the meteors catapults Sokka on top of a tree]

Zuko: Wow, my wish came true.

Sokka: I'm okay!

[flames from the meteor burn him]

Rana: Mine too.

.....

Rana: Why do you have your shirt off?

Zuko: Can't spill food on your shirt if you're not wearing one

.....

[After Zuko saves Rana from Raiders]

Zuko: We had a bonding moment! I cradled you in my arms

Rana: Nope. Don't remember. Didn't happen.

......

Rana: First impressions are very important

Zuko: But you married me anyways

....

Rana: This is the worst thing you've ever done!

Zuko: You say that so much it's lost all meaning

....

Katara: Is anyone else scared?

Rana: Not really. I've already lived longer than I expected.

....

Sokka: Zuko, is that a hickey?!

Zuko: What? No! I-I fell down!

Sokka: On Rah's lips?!

.....

Sokka: Wait a minute! We don't go TOWARDS the weird scary sound!

Rana: Yeah, we do. We always do.

Sokka: I really hate that about us.

....

Zuko: Are you sure about this?

Rana: Pretty sure.

Zuko: Yeah, well, considering our circumstances I'd like a little better than pretty sure.

Rana: Okay. Really pretty sure.

....

Zuko: We are very much alike, you and I, I and you. Us.

Rana: ...Except for a sense of honour and decency, and a moral centre. And personal hygiene.

.....

[Rana and Zuko are hiding]

Zuko: Is that your hand on my butt?

Rana: It was an accident.

Zuko: Princess, your hand's still on my butt.

Rana: It's still an accident

....

"Zuko. Pros: He's classy, he gets me. He can teach Aang to fire-bend. I trust him. Cons: I don't really trust him"

....

Zuko: How do you usually get out of these messes?

Rana: We don't. We just make a bigger mess that cancels the first one out.

.....

Katara: I brought reinforcements.

Zuko: You brought Aang?

Katara: Um... no, but I brought the next best thing.

Sokka: Hey.

Zuko: Sokka? You brought Sokka? The next best thing would have been Rana!

Sokka: Normally I'd be offended, but she is freakishly strong

....

Aang: *kicks down the door looking panicked*

Rana: What happened??

Aang: Nobody died!

Rana: What kind of answer is that?!

.....

Sokka: What is Zuko doing?

Rana: His best, give him a break

.....

Zuko: Princess, I'm afraid you've gone mad with power

Rana: Of course I have. You ever tried going mad without power? It's so boring. Nobody listens to you.

......

Zuko: If I died, how much would you miss me?

Rana: It's cute that you think death can get you out of this relationship

.....

Zuko, internally: Just play it cool, don't be awkward, it's just Rana

Rana: Hey

Zuko: Good, thanks

.....

Sokka: What if I get kidnapped?

Rana: Don't worry, they'd bring you back

.....

Rana: *flirts with zuko*

Zuko: *flirts back*

Rana: Well I wasn't prepared for this outcome

.....

Katara: If you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same

Rana, with a mouth full of food: Kill two

.....

Rana: Zuko and I have that easy kind of chemistry where we finish each other's-

Zuko: Sentences

Rana: Don't interrupt me

.....

Zuko: If you had ten cookies and I asked for five, how many would you have left?

Rana: None.

Zuko: Vixen, this is basic math, don't mess with m-

Rana: I would give them all to you because you are my best friend.

Zuko, holding back tears: Gross. Absolutely disgusting. Get out of my sight immediately.

.....

Rana: You make me angry so quickly. It's remarkable.

Zuko: I literally said six words to you!

Rana: Yet here I am, boiling with rage.

.....

Rana: What?

Zuko: Hm?

Rana: You were staring at me. Do I have something on my face?

Zuko: No, there's nothing on your face. I just like looking at you.

Rana, raising an eyebrow: Oh?

Zuko: Mmmhm.

Rana, moving closer: And what are you thinking about when you're looking at me?

Zuko: How you're mine. All mine.

Rana: ...Go on.

Zuko: And I'm thinking about working with the scribes to ensure the people will know that you're mine even after your death.

Rana: ...

Rana: Maybe go back a bit.

Zuko: Why? Historical retellings are very important, Vixen. It defines how you will be viewed by future generations.

Rana: I know, but, uh. Imagine if I said what you said about staring and being mine...but in a lower voice...and in the bedroom.

Zuko: Oh. Oh. I see. I—do you wish to make a demonstration?

Rana: A demonstra— Oh! Yeah, let's, let's do that.

Rana & Zuko: *stand up and leave*

Sokka: ...what the....?

....

Zuko: *sneezes*

Rana: Love you

Zuko:

Zuko: Do you mean bless you?

Ran: I said what I said, don't correct me

.....

Rana: My hands are cold.

Zuko: You don't know how to regulate your body temperature with fire-bending? For shame. Allow me to demonstrate.

Zuko: *aggressively holds her hands*

Rana: ...

Rana: My tongue is cold too.

.....

Zuko: Maybe, maybe I'm dreaming, Rah, pinch me.

Rana: *pinches Zuko*

Zuko: Hey, not my butt...

Rana, unapologetically: Sorry, it was just right there

......

Zuko: I need to get something off my chest

Rana: Is it your shirt? Please say yes

......

Rana: *does something clumsy*

Sokka, whispering into Zuko's ear: Are you absolutely sure you want that one? We can get you a better one.

Zuko: *sighs in defeat* I want that one.

......

Rana: I apologize for stealing your heart.

Zuko: It's not about the crime; it's the attitude. You could stand to be less smug about it.

Rana: No.

....

Zuko: ...Why is Noi wearing a crown?

Rana: It's called authority, Zu

.....

Rana: Hey, Zu, can you help me with something?

Zuko: You give me a name, I give you a corpse.

Rana: No, Zuko, we talked about this

.....

Rana: Wait a minute, are we hugging? Have we ever done this before?

Zuko: No, and if you tell anyone, I'll slit your throat.

.....

Zuko, admiring Rana from a distance: She could literally end my life and I'd thank her

Katara: We'd thank her too

......

Rana: I'm crying, you made me CRY

Zuko: Baby

Rana: Now is NOT the time for pet names

Zuko: No, I'm calling you a baby

Zuko: I'm insulting you

.....

Zuko: It would be nice to change the world, you know?

Iroh: For the better?

Zuko:

Iroh: Answer me

....

Rana: Are you breaking up with me?

Zuko: No! I just said I wouldn't share my food with you.

Rana: That's even worse!

....

Rana: Just be yourself. Say something nice.

Zuko: Which one? I can't do both.

.....

Zuko: My father is going to kill us when he finds out!

Rana: You mean... If he finds out.

Zuko: If... If is good.

.....

Zuko: So, what would you like to order?

Rana: Can I get jasmine tea with two straws, please?

Iroh: Aw, that's so-

Rana: [has both straws in her mouth] Watch how fast I can drink this.

......

Zuko: How could you possibly get into this much trouble in one day?

Rana: It didn't take me the whole day.

......

Sokka: When have I ever done anything rash and irresponsible?

Rana: I keep a list. It's alphabetized.

.....

Rana: You know, don't take this the wrong way, but I think you've become a lot more fun since I've known you.

Zuko: And, if I may return the compliment, I think you've become marginally less irritating.

.....

Rana: You call me 'young lady' again, I'll shove my foot up somewhere it's not supposed to be.

[awkward silence]

Zhao: Am I supposed to guess where that is?

Aang, Katara, Sokka, Iroh, and Zuko: Your butt!

.....

"Look, having Zuko in your life is like owning a wild chimp... Sure, he's unpredictable; he can go berserk and chew your foot off. But if you keep him clean and well fed, he's adorable and cool and tons of fun"

 

Chapter 4: Prologue

Rana can't believe what she did. She can't believe she did it. She can't wrap her head around how easy it was to do it. To turn against her people. Who she thought was her people. Her ears flicker and shift around as she takes in the sounds around, just in case they were followed. Clouds above and below her as she stares upwards, trying to get her head around what just happened. She literally threw away her life. Her childhood. Her teen years. Her father. She won't be protected now. She'll be attacked on sight. She groans and presses her hands into her eyes. She was an idiot.

"What did I do?" She complains as she lays back against Noivern's back as he flies along beneath her, ferrying them away from danger. He makes a noise of agreement. She can't believe she did that and it didn't take much. Some drawing in a book turned her against the people that raised her. "Maybe I can go back" She wonders. "I'm sure they'll accept an apology" Noivern makes a disapproving sound. "They might!" Rana argues. Noivern chuckles under his breath and she narrows her eyes before they sadden. She realises what this has done. Not just to her but to Noivern. "Noi" She whispers. "Noi, I'm so sorry" He rumbles something and she smiles. Always so thoughtful. Noivern, formerly known and looking like a Noibat, has been one of her most devoted pokemon. He was the first egg that hatched. The first one that attached to her. There is going to be a lot of emotion there. "I should have thought it through" She adds. "The others?!" She then asks alarmed suddenly remembering that Noivern isn't her only companion.

"Noi" Noivern offers a soft reassurance as she sits up to look for their friends. A small fox-like creature, Vulpix, is curled into Rana's side, sleeping. That's why she was feeling rather warm there. That's good. She glances around seeking out the rest of them, she finds her blue turtle, Squirtle, first, he is blowing bubbles, entertaining himself, sat on Noivern's head and finally, Rockruff. A little dog-like being, who is sat watching her, tail wagging as he waits for her attention. Rana lets out a breath and sits up. She needs to come up with a proper plan. Running away from the Fire Nation is only going to work so long and she has to keep them safe. She has no idea what she was thinking. Putting them at risk. She doesn't care about herself, but these guys are her babies. She holds out her hands towards Rockruff who pads to her and leans into her hands, rubbing his rocks against her.

"Everyone okay?" She asks and looks at each of them. They each nod and mumble in assurance. "Good" Rana whispers softly. At least they all made it out in one piece and without harm. "That's good" She ruffles Rockruff's fur on the top of his head. She is very relieved that they are all okay. She doesn't know what she'll do without them. She lets out a breath and opens up the book into her lap. This book talks about her people. The history of them. Their customs. She's never met another one of her kind before, but she knew they did once exist, obviously. She touches the page, the sketch of a nine-tailed Vastaya at full power. The legendary True Elemental. Destined to aid and protect the Avatar on his journey to absolute knowledge. She knows this is her. She can feel it. She felt it the second she touched the book. The second she picked up this orb thing. She looks to the orb resting against her knee. A glass ball on a chain. A necklace. She scoffs. None of this makes sense. Zhao had to know this about her. That this is what she was destined for. He's seen her tails before. All of them. A meltdown when she was a child is the only time she's unleashed her true form. He knew what she was and he kept it from her. Just more reasons why her life sucked. Why she should have been smarter. More aware of what was going on around her. But she wasn't. She lets out a breath and looks down at the book, shaking her head slightly. It doesn't make sense. No one's seen an Avatar in 100 years, why would she have been born a True Elemental if they were gone? She then groans, remembering just how she'd left. Flashes of fire and clashes of swords flick through her mind. She attacked her own Fire Nation entourage. The team of men sent with her everywhere she went to protect her. She is Commander Zhao's daughter. A prominent figure. A protected figure. She knows that she was a novelty piece. A Vastaya in the Fire Nation. Controlled. On their side. Well...not anymore. Not after the way they treated the Arkalan people. She'd never seen them in that light before. It's like touching the book woke her up. Allowed her to see the Fire Nation for what it is. The way they stole food. The way they bullier and beat the old, the young, the infirm. She has no idea how she ever ignored it for so long. Maybe it was because it was her village. Because it was her people. She couldn't let it stand. She realised the sort of person she was, the sort of person she had become...and hated herself. Hated what she was turning her back on. So she made a stand. Fought back. Freed the village. And then ran. They could be back under Fire Nation control for all she knows. She hopes not. She hopes it wasn't for nothing. That would make all of this worse. She lets out a sigh and picks up the glass ball. "What do you think this does?" She asks, turning the ball around in her hand. Rockruff barks and then follows the movements before she touches her nose to it. Instantly disappearing with a puff of blue energy. "Ahh" Rana lets out and drops the ball. Vulpix lets out a surprised noise and stares at the ball as Squirtle drops down next to her. The three of them watching the ball. "Rockruff?" She asks and tests a poke at the ball. It rolls but nothing happens. "Oh no," She whispers sadly. Squirtle makes a noise and then reaches out for the ball, reaching out for his friend. "No" She scolds Squirtle, grabbing his hand to stop him. "Don't touch it" She pulls him back from the ball. "Don't touch it" She adds softer, pulling him closer to shield him. "Just in case"

"Squirt" Squirtle whispers and then nods, settling into her lap. Rana huffs a little and picks up the book. There has to be something in here that explains what just happened or a way for her to get Rockruff back. Noivern makes an alarmed noise which causes Rana to turn, to follow his line of sight as a huge shaft of white-blue light shoots straight into the sky. Rana's eyes widen as she stares at it. It's power, whatever it is. A lot of it. The light from the light shaft dissipates. Rana leans closer to Noivern's head.

"How far do you think that is?" She asks him. He makes a noise of unknowing. She hums slightly. Sliding the book and the ball into her satchel, she turns to sit properly on Noivern's back, to ride him, Rockruff is going to have to wait until she figures out what's going on ahead. Squirtle and Vulpix move to find a more stable place to sit. They can tell when Rana shifts into serious mode. "Quiet and quick, Noi," She tells him. "Higher into the clouds" Noivern makes a noise of agreement and then takes them higher into the clouds.

 

Chapter 5: Chapter One

The first thing Rana sees, as Noivern flies her towards where they had seen the light beam, is thick black smoke. Smoke that rises into the sky close to where she knows is a Water Tribe village and she has a very bad feeling. Something sinking in her, telling her that she knows just what this means. Just what it is. Who it is. And that's not a good thing. She leans closer to Noivern's back. From a distance he can pull off being a bird, but not if they see someone on his back.

"Nice and easy" She whispers and touches his neck, her eyes scanning around for somewhere to land away from the village and out of sight of the Fire Nation. She strokes his neck directing him towards a cliff edge. She's going to have to think of making some form of saddle and rein system for him to make this work properly. But that can come later. A lot of things can come later. Right now, she has to find out what's going on. And just what that light was. Noivern skids to a stop as he lands on the ice cliff, claws digging in to stop him. Before he has even stopped, Rana slides off of Noivern's back and hurries to the edge of the cliff to look at where a Fire Nation ship has pushed through the ice. They must be following the light too. To investigate. This isn't good. Nothing good can come from them investigating this power source. They can't have power. Shouldn't have it. She crouches to watch it unfold. Vulpix and Squirtle following after her. She pushes Squirtle's head down out of sight as they watch from the cliff edge. "Noi" She orders and nods to the sky. Noivern makes a noise of agreement before taking off. He'll get in closer and she'll be able to see through his mind. "No" She scolds a little as she looks at Vulpix, her eyes staring back at Rana. "We can't risk the tribe" Rana points out. "If we attack, stray fire will be a danger" Rana cocks her head, listening to something, her ears flickering before she looks up, watching Noivern flying around. She then seems to look rather surprised by what she sees in his mind. The Avatar. She didn't think it would be that easy to find him. But here he is. With this tribe. And about to be in Fire Nation hands. That's not going to happen. She clenches her jaw and shakes her head. She didn't leave them to find the Avatar to let them scoop him straight up right in front of her. "Come on," She tells them as she stands and hurries away from the cliff. Noivern flying back to them, skidding through the snow and ice as he lands. She climbs back onto Noivern's back, Vulpix and Squirtle jumping up to join her just in time as Noivern instantly takes off into the sky to follow after the ship as it sails away from the village.

..........

Rana watches the Fire Nation ship as it moves through the water at some speed, clearly excited to get the Avatar back to their Fire Lord. A win that she's not going to let them celebrate. She lets out a breath as she thinks. As she comes up with a plan here. She knows the layouts of these ships like the back of her hand. She grew up on them. Trained on them. Served on them. She knows where they will have taken the Avatar. But getting to him is going to be difficult. She can't go head-on. They will likely see her coming. So she'll have to go about this with stealth.

"Stay high until I call on you," She tells Noivern who lets out a low noise in agreement. Rana nods and then takes a deep breath. She's never done this before. She's never infiltrated a Fire Nation ship before. She's never had to. Now she does. She stands up on Noivern's back and then backflips from him, turning in the air as she heads towards the water below, diving down and breaching the surface, swimming deeper into the darkness. She can't risk them spotting Noivern in the sky so she's going to board from the water. Her fingers touch the metal of the ship under the water and she swims upwards, breaching the surface with a breath. She feels around the ship's side until she finds the little piece of metal that sticks out. She grabs onto it and then pulls herself up, her free hand coming up to grab the next one, and the next one, pulling herself up the side of the ship, water dripping from her hair and dress. She swings herself over the edge of the ship. On the deck, she remains crouched as she listens for any signs that anyone has spotted her. But nothing. It's quiet.

Her ears flicker away the water before she shakes her head to get rid of the excess in her hair before she moves on, keeping low and quiet as she heads into the ship, the door closing silently behind her. She lets out a breath and then presses herself back against the wall. She has to be quick and careful to get down towards the cell for the Avatar. She keeps herself flat against the wall as she moves through the corridor leading down into the ship. It's weirdly quiet for a Fire Nation ship. Where are the guards? She leans up and frowns, ears flickering as she tries to listen for any noise. Footsteps. Fast ones. And heading towards her. She hurries along the corridor, heading towards the steps. She turns a corner and a small figure literally runs into her, She's sturdy so it is them that stumbles back, his eyes lifting to meet hers. He's just a child. A huge smile spreading across his face when he sees her ears twitching on the top of her head. He is then hugging her tightly, apparently very grateful to have come across her. Very, very grateful.

"I knew you'd find me" He mumbles sadly. She stands there rather awkwardly. She's never really been hugged before. By anyone. She's not sure what to do here and he pulls back before she can figure it out. "I mean...you're different, not my one...but a new one" He looks over her and then nods, seemingly understanding that he gets a new True Elemental now. After all this time. "Hi" He smiles widely up at her.

"You're the Avatar?" She asks, he nods a few times. "You're...a child" She whispers and frowns. This isn't right. With everything happening, it shouldn't be a child in charge of the fate of everything. She supposes that's why she exists though. Her kind are supposed to guide and protect and care for the Avatar until they are ready. That wouldn't be necessary if he were older. "We must leave," She tells him just before a group of guards come around the corner. Rana pushes the Avatar behind her and then moves her arms and hand gracefully before she pushes out, fire erupting from them and heading for the guards, throwing them back with some force. "Come on" She adds and then hurries away with the boy.

 

Chapter 6: Chapter Two

The Avatar, Aang as he managed to rush out to Rana as they were making their way back towards the deck bolts out onto the bridge's observation deck followed by Rana who reaches up and pulls a sword the holster on her back, just in case she needs it. Aang hurries forward as Rana slows slightly.

"Go," She tells Aang who gives her a look back.

"What about you?" He asks.

"Don't worry about me" She argues and whistles sharply, from above, Noivern's wings flap through the clouds as he turns and heads towards them. Aang nods and opens his glider, throws it into the air and jumps after it. He catches it, a happy expression on his face. Unfortunately, behind them, a Fire Nation soldier, a fire-bender, a prince even, Zuko has followed after them in pursuit of the Avatar. Rana turns and swings her sword around. Bright rainbow light bursts from it and hits Zuko in the chest, throwing him back. Aang looks back, alarmed to see her fighting against Zuko. Rana doges each shot of fire Zuko sends at her, spinning and twisting out of the way, only to give as good with her sword. He is quick on his feet too. Swiftly dodging her swings. He throws another blast of fire at her, she's too close to him to dodge him. She stumbles back with the hit, she lifts her head to look at him. Zuko lets out a breath as he stares back at her. He gets his first clear look at her. And is surprised to find a Vastaya standing before him. Her ears flicker, twisting to listen to something behind her. Aang has returned to help her. He stands behind her, ready to fight. She lets out an annoyed breath. But there is something else in the air too. She frowns, her ears flickering to lean upwards towards the sky. Aang turns over his left shoulder to see Appa up in the sky gaining on Zuko's ship.

"What is that?" Zuko asks.

"Appa" Aang comments, almost answering him, Rana gives a quick glance at the rapidly approaching sky bison before letting out a breath.

"I said go" Rana throws out her hand, a blast of air throwing Aang and his kite into the air. He lets out a surprised cry but allows it to happen. Rana spins the sword in her hand, placing herself between Zuko and the Avatar's escape. "Noi, boomblast!" She shouts. Noivern flies down at high speed, lining up with the ship before he lets loose a sonic blastwave, throwing Zuko and his men back away from Rana, who then uses the sword to block a fire blast from Zuko as he swiftly gets back to his feet. Rana's tail flicks behind her in her annoyance, her ears curling back against her head. She hisses a little, baring her teeth at him as she shifts her stance. Ready for a real fight. Zuko glares at her and she lifts her lip into a smirk before she sends a ball of fire towards him. He dodges it and then looks at her surprised.

"You're a fire-bender" He whispers and then his expression hardens. "Traitor" He snaps.

"Yep" She agrees. "Gladly" She agrees and then dodges a fireball he sends her way but it almost catches Aang above her instead, throwing him off balance and knocks him into the water.

"Aang! No!" A voice from Appa yells in panic. Rana sheaths her sword and runs for the edge of the ship, ready to throw herself into the water after him. Zuko is right behind her, he grabs the back of her dress and pulls her back, stopping her from diving. She throws an elbow back into his chest and spins out of his grasp, dropping down to swing her leg out behind her, tripping him over. She holds out her sword towards him, the tip touching his chin. The two of them staring at one another before she pulls the sword back, sliding it away again before she moves to the edge of the ship. But just before she can jump, Aang breaks the surface in front of the ship, towering high over the bridge atop a swirling maelstrom of water. Rana steps back from the edge to stare up at him. Aang lands on the deck, his eyes still aglow, and bends the water from the column around him in a circle. He releases it and it expands outward in a shockwave that blasts Zuko and his men overboard but spares Rana who drops to her knees in a bow. She never thought anyone would see an Avatar again, even knowing what she is supposed to be, but that power was impressive, for a young Avatar at that. Aang moves towards Rana who keeps her head down.

"True Elemental" He offers, she lets out a breath and leans up to look at him. The bright light in his eyes fading. He smiles at her before he collapses to his knees in exhaustion. Rana stops him from face planting the deck, shifting to hold him sort of upright. Noivern landing on the ship behind her. "Guess this is why I need your help" Aang mumbles tiredly, she hums and nods before she stands, helping Aang up to his feet. Noivern moves closer to join them, helping Rana get Aang onto his back before she climbs up, careful of Vixen and Squirtle who investigate Aang as Noivern flies upwards to greet Appa and Aang's companions. They did sound really worried about him. Rana touches Noivern's neck and nods, pulling him into a hover over the bison. She picks up Aang and then drops down, landing on Appa's back before she gently lays Aang down beside his companions who rush in to check on him.

"He's just tired" Rana offers.

"And who are you?" Sokka asks her, a bite to his tone, his eyes shifting to her ears and tail. "What are you?" Rana gives him a glare, her tail flicking behind her.

"She's my friend" Aang argues weakly, holding onto Rana's wrist.

"We can talk about this when we get out of here" Rana scolds, prying Aang's fingers from her. "Find a place to camp for the night" She turns and jumps back up onto Noivern. Sokka and Katara share a look before she shrugs, Aang said Rana's his friend, so she's their friend. Sokka lets out a breath and moves to Appa's reins. She is right about them needing to get out of here whilst they can. 

Chapter 7: Chapter Three

Rana rubs at Noivern's face softly. They'd managed to find a clearing on a tiny island to stop. Rana knows that these people don't know her, and the Avatar only knows what she is not who she is. There is going to be some wariness for a while. Less so with Aang, he seems to want to trust her right away. She just hopes that she's worth it. That she can live up to it. Part of her thinks she was chosen simply because she is the last of her people and it had no one else to choose from. Last resort choice sort of thing. She turns hearing Sokka's raised voice as he and Katara walk with Aang, heading towards her.

"We don't know who she is" Sokka argues as he follows after Aang. "Where she came from....why was she on that Fire Nation boat anyway? Or what those creatures are?"

"Urm" Rana catches his attention. "My name is Rana" She offers and waves slightly. "I was on the ship to save the Avatar and they are my pokemon"

"And that's good enough" Katara adds giving Sokka a look before she turns back to Rana. "Katara" She introduces. "And my brother, Sokka" She looks at Sokka who folds his arms over his chest, looking away from them.

"And Appa" Aang adds pointing at the sky bison, Rana nods a little, she knew that one, she then looks around to introduce her own companions, but stops when she notices Squirtle's wandered off. Her eyes scan around before they land on Appa who is staring down at something on the floor. Rana and the others follow his line of sight to find that Squirtle is hugging Appa's leg wearing a huge smile.

"That's Squirtle" Rana introduces. "And Vulpix" She motions to Vulpix who sits up straight, head held high. "And Noi" She motions behind her at Noivern who inclines his head in greeting. "You're both from the water tribe" Rana points out looking over Sokka and Katara. "Are you water-benders?"

"Just me" Katara answers. Sokka shoots her a look.

"What are you telling her things for?" He asks her. Rana folds her arms over her chest and raises an eyebrow at him. He gives her a look back. "I don't trust you"

"Really?" She asks him. "I had no idea" She comments dryly before she walks away from them. Aang and Katara both give Sokka an annoyed look.

........

Rana stands away from the little camp, her arms folded over her chest as she keeps watch. They assured her it wasn't necessary but she feels like it is. They've only just escaped the Fire Nation. She lets out a breath, shifting on her feet as her tail swishes behind her, not alarmed or angry, just relaxed swishing. Ears twitching as they pick up every little noise. Aang moves to join her, standing at her side, she raises an eyebrow at him before turning to look back out through the trees.

"How did you get started?" He asks. "How did you find out about the whole...Elemental thing?" Rana snorts a little.

"Yesterday I found a book and a sword and a crystal orb and a painting on a wall....next thing I know I've betrayed the people who raised me and I'm running off to look for the Avatar" They share a look and she shrugs. This is just wild. All of this. Two days ago she was just some prized piece for the Fire Nation. The Last Vastaya. Adopted daughter of their commander. Now. Now she's some legendary figure with an Avatar to look after. She has no idea what she is doing. At all. She barely knows how to look after herself. "I have these guys, had them for years, specially Noi" She motions up at Noivern who flies above them. "And I already lost one, I lost Rockruff because she touched this" She holds up the crystal. Aang takes it from her and looks down at it.

"She's inside the ball" Aang offers. "You just have to call her out again" Rana cocks her head, confused. "The ball is sort of like a house" Aang explains setting the ball back into her hand. "Where your pokemon can live..."

"Why would they live in a tiny ball?" Rana asks him.

"If you need to hide, they get really big when they evolve, or if they are hurt, or tired..."

"But they sleep with me" She answers. He nods.

"They can do that too. But it can be hard to hide them when you need to, so...you put them in the ball" She looks down at her pokemon. "How do you not know all this?" He asks her, she shrugs and looks away from him.

"No one told me" She answers.

"What about the others of your kind?"

"My kind are gone" She snaps a little, and she knows it was a little harsh, a little uncalled for. It's not his fault they're gone. But she's a little sensitive about it, clearly. He steps back. "All of them...." She adds softer. "I am the last one and I was raised by...." She shakes her head. She clutches to the ball. Aang looks at her sadly and then moves to her.

"You hold it tightly" He instructs and she looks at him, he touches the ball. "To get her back..." He adds. "Close your eyes and think of her" He then holds out his hand. "Then you hold it out....poof..." She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Thinks about Rockruff. She then holds out the ball and a bright light shoots from it, hitting the ground where it transforms into Rockruff.

"Rockruff!" Rana hurries to her and falls to her knees, hugging the pokemon tightly to her chest, closing her eyes to just take her in. She was worried she'd lost the little puppy forever. Aang moves closer to her as she hugs Rockruff tightly.

"Thank you, Rana," Aang tells her, she looks at him. "For coming to find me...."

"It's my job right?" She asks him. "Even if I've only been at it a day and I only thought I was because some book said so.....I wasn't even sure until...well, you" She offers and lifts her eyes from the ball. "When you called me..."

"True Elemental" He repeats, she nods. "Do you know what the means?"

"I can guess," She tells him. "Name kind of gives it away" He nods in agreement. "But I only know fire" She sits cross-legged on the ground. "And I only did the tail thing once, when I was a child and I was upset" He sits across from her. "You said you had a..." She hums a little. "A one of me before?" He nods.

"He was called Taru" Aang answers with a smile. "He kept me out of trouble....or tried to" He looks at her and then at her pokemon. "Where are the others?"

"Still eggs" She answers. "My...Father, my adopted father has them...hid them from me" She whispers and scratches at Squirtle's head as Vulpix climbs into Aang's lap. "He only gave me an egg when it was ready to hatch...I don't know where the others are" Rockruff brushes up against her leg. "I'm not very good at this, am I?" She asks him. He gives her a smile.

"You already saved my life...I think that makes you pretty great" He argues. "Even without all your powers and pokemon" He stands and shrugs with a small smile. "Hey" She looks up at him. "You used air-bending before" He points out. "I felt it..." She shakes her head. He shrugs a little before he stands, careful of Vulpix who whines a little, watching Aang walking away from them. Vulpix then looks at Rana who lets out a breath.

Chapter 8: Chapter Four

Rana sleeps on the ground, Noivern curled up close by, Vulpix, Squirtle and Rockruff tucked under his wing to keep warm but Rana sleeps alone. She didn't bring camping stuff, she didn't really think about it when she fled so she has nothing. She twitches in her sleep, tail swishing angrily, reacting to her subconscious.

..........

Sunlight beaming in through a window illuminates Rana who stands in front of a huge mural painting on the wall in front of her. It's beautifully painted. Two human figures and a small vastaya child. Rana lets out a breath and shakes her head, clearing flickers of memories that flash through her mind. Of these people. Of them smiling and laughing with her. She blinks slightly and looks down at the book on the pedestal, open on a page about the True Elemental. A sketch showing them hovering in the air with their nine tails fanned open behind them. The Avatar stood behind them, eyes glowing. It's an impressive image. The two of them together. Something about this is familiar but she doesn't know why.

"Squirtle" She looks down at Squirtle who touches the mural softly, turning to look up at her.

"No" She argues and shakes her head. "No, that's not me" She adds, he gives her a look. "I...I was found in Capital City by Zhao..." She recites but it tastes like dirt in her mouth now. She can smell the lie she'd never noticed before. It feels dead on her tongue and in her heart. "Not here" She whispers and looks down at the book again, her fingers reaching out to touch the page. Touching it seems to do something. She's not sure what, but it sinks in. Flashes of memories from her past. Her childhood. Her tail being more than just the one. Zhao being shady and restraint on talking about how he found her and about what she is. Waving her off. Stopping her from questioning him and his honesty. She can hear the Fire Nation soldiers looking for her. Her entourage. Her guards. She pulls a face, snarling slightly at the thought of going back with them. She turns and looks at the displayed sword. It's calling to her. She moves closer, ready to fight for her freedom if need be. It's like her entire mind has flipped on the Fire Nation. Seeing things through a new lens. Seeing them for what they are. She reaches out and touches the sword hilt, her fingers wrapping around it. As the soldiers walk into the room. The markings on the sword light up and she swings it, a blast of rainbow energy flying from it, throwing the soldiers back from her. Her eyes turn determined as she backs up, her pokemon shifting closer to join her.

....

Rana jolts awake and sits upright. Back in the clearing with the Avatar and his friends. She glances across at them sleeping a short way from her, Aang having placed himself between them and her. The fire is almost out, meant to keep them warm. Rana moves her arms and produces a small fireball between her hands before she throws it out, relighting the fire. Unaware that Sokka is watching her. She shivers and wraps her arms around her legs, hugging them closer to herself to ward off the chill. She doesn't know what she's doing. She expects that her people would have talked her through it. Trained her up from a young age. Instead, Zhao hid that side of her away from her. She flops back against the ground, tears gathering in her eyes. Everything was a lie. She turns onto her side, her back facing the rest of the camp. She doesn't want these people to see her cry, it is a sign of weakness.

......

Rana takes a deep breath and she turns, bringing her arms around with her. She practising her fire moves without producing fire. She is not going to change her routine just because she's here. She needs some normality after everything that has happened. Just a sliver of herself. She closes her eyes and moves, turning again and drawing her arms another way. Almost like a dance. But one that has been practised over and over and over again. Behind her, Aang is on all fours playing with Rockruff who barks and bounces around him, Appa watching amused, Vulpix and Squirtle on his back with Katara. They are waiting on Sokka who is still fast asleep in his sleeping bag. The last one to get up and ready for the day.

"Wait 'til you see it, Katara" Aang states happily, full of excitement as he stands. "The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world"

"Aang, I know you're excited" Katara offers cautiously. "But it's been a hundred years since you've been home"

"That's why I'm so excited!" Aang points out and uses his air-bending to spin in the air.

"It's just that a lot can change in all that time," Katara tells him, trying to stop him from getting his hopes up. She's right, it has been 100 years, anything could have happened in that time and no one has even seen an air-bender for decades. It's possible that they are all gone, or hiding at least. They're not going to be hiding up at their own fortress waiting for visitors.

"I know, but I need to see it for myself" Aang counters and then looks down at Sokka. "Wake up, Sokka! Air Temple, here we come!" Aang cheers. Rana smiles a little watching him. He's so young. So young. So innocent and cheerful. Untouched by war. Untouched by everything really. And that's rare now. Everyone has been touched by the war in some way or another. Sokka stirs slightly and makes almost word like noises.

"Sleep now... temple later..." He rolls over and begins to snore again. Aang looks down at him annoyed as Rana brushes her hair over her shoulder to braid loosely. Aang looks at her and she shrugs. He turns back to Sokka. A mischievous grin spreads over his face as he gets an idea. Aang picks up a stick as Katara watches from atop Appa's back.

"Sokka! Wake up!" Aang begins to run the stick along and back down Sokka's sleeping bag. "There's a prickle snake in your sleeping bag!"

"Aaahhh! Get it off! Get it off! Aaahhh!" Sokka hops around in his sleeping bag until he loses his balance and falls flat on his face. Katara laughs at him. Rana smirks and bites her lip trying not to laugh. Sokka looks very irritated.

"Great!" Aang cheers. "You're awake. Let's go." Sokka huffs and lets out an annoyed sound, then catches sight of Rana.

"Before we go anywhere" Sokka argues as he climbs out of the sleeping bag before moving towards Rana who sighs and places her hands on her hips when she notes his expression. "I saw her fire-bend" He points out. "She's with the Fire Nation" Rana raises an eyebrow at him.

"I was" She agrees, Sokka looks at her, surprised she admitted it. She looks down. "I was a soldier, I followed orders, I gave orders....But do you think I would have attacked that ship if I were still loyal to them?" She asks him and raises an eyebrow. "That I would help the Avatar escape them?" Sokka stares at her as he thinks about that. "I was raised by them, trained by them, but I am not one of them, not any more. I know where my loyalty lays, and it is with him" She nods to Aang who nods back at her with a smile. He wasn't questioning her loyalty.

 

Chapter 9: Chapter Five

At a Fire Nation naval yard, Zuko's damaged ship has docked for repairs following the attack on the ship by both Aang and Rana. Enough damage that they need to repair it before they head back out at sea and get back to finding the Avatar and his 'saviour'. Zuko and Iroh walk side by side as they leave the ship and walk into the yard. Zuko appears to have things on his mind. Of course, he does. His ship is damaged, he lost the Avatar, a child, and was beaten in battle by an unknown fire-bender with a tail. Zuko is sure he knows who she is but he can't think, can't place her. He is sure he would remember someone like that. One of the infamous and extinct vastaya. He thought they were all gone. Just another myth. Just like the Avatar. It can't be a coincidence that they both appear at the same time. He lets out a breath and shakes his head before he turns to his uncle.

"Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail" Zuko explains.

"You mean the Avatar?" Iroh asks, Zuko turns on his uncle angrily.

"Don't mention his name on these docks!" Zuko scolds. "Once word gets out that he's alive every fire-bender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way"

"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?" Zuko and Iroh turn to face Zhao as he approaches them, still speaking. Zhao's hands are clasped behind his back authoritatively.

"Captain Zhao" Zuko greets coldly and with disdain.

"It's Commander now" Zhao corrects him before turning to Iroh. "And General Iroh" He bows to Iroh. "Great hero of our nation"

"Retired general" Iroh points out.

"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests any time," Zhao tells them with faux politeness and accommodation. "What brings you to my harbour?" Zhao asks them.

"Our ship is being repaired" Iroh answers as he gestures at the heavily damaged bow of Zuko's ship beside them. Zhao raises an eyebrow at the amount of damage.

"That's quite a bit of damage" Zhao points out slyly, watching for Zuko's reaction.

"Yes... you wouldn't believe what happened" Zuko offers and gives his uncle a sideways glance. Realising he doesn't have to explain anything, he immediately passes the buck. "Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened" Iroh's eyes go wide with alarm and surprise at the burden Zuko has just placed on him.

"Yes, I will do that. It was incredible" Iroh leans over and whispers to Zuko. "What... did we crash or something?" Zuko appears uncomfortable with Iroh calling on him.

"Uh, yes!" Zuko agrees. "Right into an Earth Kingdom ship"

"Really?" Zhao counters, disbelieving his cover story. "You must regale me with all the thrilling details" He smiles and puts his face right up to Zuko's in an obvious challenge. "Join me for a drink?"

"Sorry, but we have to go" Zuko turns to leave, but Iroh places a hand on his shoulder and stops him.

"Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect" Iroh scolds him before he turns to Zhao. "We would be honoured to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favourite" Zuko growls in frustration and releases fire from his fists angrily as he turns to follow Zhao and Iroh down the dock.

.........

On Appa's back, as he flies through the sky, Aang and Katara sit upfront on his neck, Sokka in the passenger saddle with Rana and her pokemon. She didn't want to ride with them, she would have been happier flying up in the clouds with Noivern. Aang was insistent that they all travel together. As a group. She leans back, her legs stretched out for Squirtle, Vulpix, and Rockruff to rest against. Despite knowing how to use the crystal ball now hanging around her neck, she can't bring herself to put them in it. It feels like locking them away. Rana pulls the vastaya book from her bag and opens it up in her lap. She might as well get some reading done. Read up on herself and what she is and what she can do. Maybe there is a clue as to how to learn the rest of the elements she's meant to know to help Aang. Sokka's stomach rumbles loudly, Rana raises an eyebrow at him and he clutches his stomach, blushing a little.

"Hey, stomach, be quiet, all right?" Sokka scolds and pulls a small food bag closer to him. "I'll try to find us some food" He searches through the food bag before he dumps it out onto his glove. Only a few crumbs come out. "Hey! Who ate all my blubbered seal jerky?"

"Oh, that was food?" Aang asks. "I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry"

"You WHAT?" Sokka snaps annoyed. "Awww, no wonder the flames smelled so good" He then looks at Rana. "You didn't think to bend us a fire?" He asks her, she shrugs.

"Now you want me to help using fire-bending" She comments dryly. "Thought I was scary evil Fire Nation girl?" She asks him, he gives her a look and then huffs, turning away and crossing his arms over his chest. She smirks and looks down at her book.

"What do they do?" Sokka asks, Rana frowns and then lifts her eyes. He is staring at Squirtle and then licks his lips.

"You're not eating my pokemon" She scolds him. "And they're kind of benders" Sokka raises an eyebrow. Squirtle waddles towards him and then blows a stream of water straight into his face. Sokka stares down at him incredulously. Aang laughs as Katara fights her own.

"I don't think he likes the idea of you eating him either" Katara points out before she chuckles when Squirtle nods firmly in agreement.

"So unfair" Sokka complains curling around his stomach. "So hungry" Rana pulls her bag into her lap and digs around.

"I have some komodo sausages" She offers. "They're meant for Vulpix and Rockruff, and I don't have many left....but they probably won't mind you having one" She pulls out a small pouch and holds it out towards Sokka. He stares at the pouch and then at Vulpix and Rockruff.

"You don't have many left?" Sokka asks.

"Well, kind of ran away without thinking, so I only have what I had on me" Rana explains and shrugs, looking down at her pokemon. Sokka softens a little.

"Then keep it" He mumbles, she looks at him and frowns. "You heard me" He argues when she opens her mouth to ask him to repeat himself. "Please don't make me say it again" Rana smiles and nods, pulling the food pouch back.

Chapter 10: Chapter Six

Inside one of the larger Fire Nation tents stationed at the navy yard, Zhao stands with his back to Zuko who sits in one of two chairs set up, he watches as Zhao inspects a large map of the world upon the wall whilst Iroh inspects a stand filled with weapons.

"And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule," Zhao informs Zuko who looks about as interested in this as Rana is about returning to the Fire Nation. "The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war"

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool" Zuko comments. Zhao sits in the chair next to Zuko.

"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue" Zhao points out dryly. "So, how is your search for the Avatar going?" Iroh tips over the stand of weapons he has been examining in the background. The commotion brings the conversation to a halt. Iroh cringes at the mess he has just made.

"My fault entirely" Iroh admits and then moves away. Zhao watches him go with suspicion.

"We haven't found him yet" Zuko answers the original question.

"Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago along with the rest of the air-benders" Zuko averts his eyes guiltily. Zhao looks rather eager. "Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive"

"No, nothing" Zuko argues, keeping his eyes away from Zhao who rises from his chair.

"Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war" Zhao points out. "If you have an ounce" He leans his face into Zuko's. "Of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you've found"

"I haven't found anything" Zuko argues defiantly. "It's like you said. The Avatar probably died a long time ago. Come on, Uncle, we're going" Zuko gets up and tries to exit, but he is blocked by the guards as they cross their spears in front of him. Another guard approaches Zhao to deliver a report.

"Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed" The guard starts. "They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape...."

"Now, remind me..." Zuko is still blocked by the guards as Zhao comes up behind him. "How exactly was your ship damaged?" Zuko looks down in defeat, clenching his hands and his jaw. The messenger isn't finished though and follows Zhao's steps.

"They also claim that the Avatar had help from a fire-bending girl with a tail....and we found this" He holds out his hand towards Zhao. There, caught between his fingers is a tuft of black and white fur. Ear fur. "Caught in a cracked support beam" Zhao clenches his jaw. Zhao takes it from him and pulls it to his nose to sniff it. He growls a little and then rubs the fur between his finger and thumb.

"So she found him..." He pulls a face, displeased with this. Iroh looks more pleased by this news but manages to hide it before anyone else notices.

.....

Rana crouches at the edge of a landing platform at the Air Temple, she peers down through the clouds. It's amazing up here. She leans up and follows the others as they head onward towards the temple. Behind her, Squirtle hurries to keep up whilst the others stay with Appa.

.....

Aang runs ahead of the group in his excitement, Katara's worried eyes following him. She knows he's just going to be disappointed when the truth sinks in. When he finds out what the Fire Nation did to his people. She looks at Rana who carries Squirtle in her arms now. His little legs struggling to keep up with them. Katara doesn't know how Aang is going to react to finding out Rana's people did this to his. Aang runs off around a corner, disappearing out of sight.

"So where do I get something to eat?" Sokka asks as he clutches his stomach to illustrate his hunger.

"You're lucky enough to be one of the first outsiders to ever visit an air-bender temple and all you can think about is food?" Katara scolds him with a look.

"I'm just a simple guy with simple needs" Sokka counters, Katara lets out a breath. Rana smirks and shakes her head. Watching the two of them makes her glad she didn't have any siblings, or at least didn't grow up with any. Now she wonders if she did have any siblings. And if she did, what happened to them. They would be dead probably. Just like the rest of her people. She wraps an arm around herself and lets out a sad breath. That was such a mood-killing thought. They turn the corner, following after Aang who has stopped around the corner to wait for them. He points below them, to show them something.

"So that's where my friends and I would play airball!" Aang tells them, he's gesturing at a small parapet cut into the rock face below the path. It is populated with a thicket of densely packed sticks of varying heights that have been stuck in the ground. A goal with a backboard occupies either end of the field. "And... over there would be where the bison would sleep... and..." His voice trails off. He sighs.

"What's wrong?" Katara asks him.

"This place used to be full of monks and lemurs and bison." Aang answers. "Now there's just a bunch of weeds" He looks around and lets out a sad sigh. "I can't believe how much things have changed" Sokka and Katara look at each other, then change the subject, hurrying up to him.

"So, uh, this airball game? How do you play?" Sokka asks him and Aang smiles, his good mood flittering back to him. Rana sets Squirtle down onto his feet and then looks up at the temple. Squirtle follows after Aang, Sokka and Katara as they walk away. Rana stays where she is, staring up at the temple. There is something so sad about it being empty and she knows, she knows that it's not meant to be, and she knows it is all the Fire Nation's fault, but where was the True Elemental when it fell, where was Taru? Not with Aang that's for sure. Not here at the Temple. It would never have fallen if he was defending it.  

Chapter 11: Chapter Seven

Rana is wandering around on her own. Mostly she's looking for some form of a saddle, like the one Appa wears, for Noivern. It's a little weird riding with the others. She's not like them. She's better on her own. Flying alone. She's not really the type of person to have friends. That's not how she was raised. But being around these three. She feels like she's out of place because they are friends. She feels lost. She feels like she's in the way. Considering she's supposed to be this big legendary figure and she has no one to help her, it sucks. It feels terrible. She feels crippled by it and more. She knows that Zhao lied to her, that he hid things from her, but at the end of the day, he still raised her, and is as close to a father she has, and yeah, she misses him, and she feels bad for missing him.

"You missed it" Aang cheers as he runs towards Rana. "I totally beat Sokka's butt" He beams proudly up at her. Rana raises an eyebrow, fighting a smirk.

"Great" She offers and then walks onwards. Aang sinks a little. She's not as fun as Taru was, but he knows Taru was raised to be the True Elemental from birth, Rana was thrown into the role by accidentally stumbling upon it. She's scared. Aang realises. Confused. Alone. Just like him. But she doesn't have friends to lean on like he does. She hops up onto the roof of one of the little huts and stares out over the view with a sigh before she sits down, resting her chin on her knees. She is scared. And she is feeling rather alone. She's travelling with strangers. Aang uses his air-bending to join her, standing in front of her.

"You can talk to me, Rana, if there is something wrong" Aang reassures her, she shakes her head and looks away.

"No, I can't" She whispers sadly. Aang nudges her leg with his foot. She shoots him a small glare and he just smiles at her.

"We're friends" He argues. "And friends talk about things when they're upset"

"I don't think being friends is a requirement" She points out.

"It is for me" He argues and holds out his hand towards her. "We're all in this together now...that makes us friends..." She looks at his hand. "But you have to try too" He whispers softly. She takes his hand and moves to her feet. "You're not on your own...I know you probably think you are but I am here to help you just as much as you are here to help me...I promise" She lets go of his hand and then walks away. Aang looks down and lets out a sigh.

"Come on" She calls of him over her shoulder. "There is one place we have to visit, right?" She asks him, he frowns at her, noting the purple eyes. He smirks and catches up with her, aware that she's read his mind. Literally, read his mind to find out where he wants to go.

............

Aang runs ahead again, Sokka and Katara having joined Rana as she follows after him. Squirtle now perched on Sokka's shoulder, seemingly having forgiven one another after the earlier outburst.

"Katara, fire-benders were here. You can't pretend they weren't" Sokka scolds his sister.

"I can, for Aang's sake" Sokka comes up behind her and they walk forward together. "If he finds out that the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated" Katara points out.

"He probably will, but maybe it would be better coming from you" Rana offers, Katara looks at her. "That his friends tell him, rather than him finding out from some other source, that way you can do it gently and with kindness...." Sokka points to her and nods in agreement.

"Hey, guys!" Aang shouts for them. The three of them look across at Aang who is motioning towards a statue of an air-bender monk.

"I'll think about it" Katara offers to them, Sokka nods a little. She's willing to think about it, at least. Rana is right about telling Aang themselves.

"I want you to meet somebody," Aang tells them when they walk towards him.

"Who's that?" Sokka asks.

"Monk Gyatso, the greatest air-bender in the world. He taught me everything I know" Aang bows to the statue in reverence. Katara moves forward and places her hand on Aang's shoulder.

"You must miss him" Katara offers softly.

"Yeah" Aang whispers and then heads onward towards the Temple ahead of them.

"Where are you going?" Katara counters as they follow him.

"The Air Temple Sanctuary. There's someone I'm ready to meet" Aang answers her. Katara looks at Sokka, who shrugs back at her. They reach the top of the steps to find that Aang is approaching a huge wooden door that is dominated by an enormous woodcut comprised of three air symbols protruding from its surface arranged in a triangular pattern, these symbols are attached to tubes that end in two horns near the bottom of the woodcut.

"But Aang... no one could have survived in there for a hundred years" Katara argues.

"It's not impossible. I survived in the iceberg for that long" Aang points out, Katara looks at Sokka and Rana who both shrug a little at her.

"He's got a point" Rana comments.

"Look, whoever's in there might help me figure out this Avatar thing!" Aang adds.

"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious, cured meats!" Sokka comments, clutching his stomach and then rubbing his hands together in fevered anticipation of the food that might await him through those doors. He rushes forward and runs straight into the door with a 'thunk.' He strains against the big door to no avail and slides down to the floor in defeat. "I don't suppose you have a key?"

"The key, Sokka, is air-bending." Aang moves towards the door and then draws a deep breath. Concentrating. He raises both his arms and air-bends two jets of air, one from each arm, into the horns at the bottom of the woodcut. The air runs through the tubes and one by one flips the air symbols, unlocks it. The two sides of the door open to reveal the dark, cavernous interior of the Air Temple Sanctuary. "Hello? Anyone home?" Aang shouts but there is no answer. Aang goes to head inward but Rana stops him with a hand on his shoulder. She is meant to protect him. So she goes in first. She passes him and pulls her sword from her back. She walks into the dark room. Aang, Katara, Squirtle, and Sokka wait. And wait. Aang bounces on his feet as he waits. Nerves eating at him. A bright flame lights up the room as Rana lights the braziers within.

"It's safe" She offers through the doors. Aang takes a deep breath and heads on in, followed closely by Squirtle, Katara and Sokka.

.....

Zhao crosses in front of a seated and clearly unhappy Zuko, almost sulking in his seat. A pair of guards stand behind the young prince, stopping him from leaving. From reacting.

"So, a twelve-year-old boy and a teenage girl bested you and your fire-benders?" Zhao asks Zuko who clenches his jaw.

"I underestimated the Avatar once, but it will not happen again" Zuko argues.

"No, it will not, because you won't have a second chance" Zhao scolds, Zuko clocks on quick, he looks up at Zhao alarmed.

"Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I..." Zhao turns on him angrily, flames erupting from his hand as he sweeps it in an arc from left to right.

"And you failed!" Zhao snaps, interrupting him, towering over Zuko in his seat. "Capturing the Avatar and his...pet is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now...They both are" Zuko launches himself at Zhao in frustration and anger, but he is restrained by the two guards standing behind his chair. Zhao turns to leave. "Keep them here" He throws over his shoulder to his guards before he goes. Zuko in a further act of frustration kicks over a small table that had been sitting near Iroh. It breaks into pieces. Iroh watches the scene calmly.

"More tea please?" Iroh asks of the guards.

Chapter 12: Chapter Eight

Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Squirtle walk into the sanctuary towards where Rana is stood waiting for them. Behind her are many statues arrayed in a spiral pattern. The three of them walk among the statues as Rana picks up Squirtle, holding him facing forward in her arms as she turns to follow them into the centre of the room.

“Statues?!” Sokka complains. “That's it? Where's the meat?”

“Who are all these people?” Katara asks as she looks up at a statue.

“I'm not sure, but it feels like I know them somehow” Aang answers. “Look!” He points to a statue. “That one's an air-bender!”

“And this one's a water-bender” Katara realises. “They're lined up in a pattern. Air, water, earth and fire”

“That's the Avatar cycle” Aang points out.

“Of course!” Katara agrees. “They're Avatars. All these people are your past lives, Aang”

“Wow! There's so many!” Aang comments, amazed as he looks back through all the rows of statues. Sokka scoffs behind them.

“Past lives?” Sokka asks sceptically. “Katara, you really believe in that stuff?”

“It's true” Rana offers as she stares up at the statue of an Avatar she recognises, this one is in her book. Kyoshi. “When the Avatar dies he or she is reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle” She moves on through the statues. “That's what my book says”

“Look, Rana,” Aang tells Rana and points up, she follows his eyes to find a ledge around the top of the room with vastaya statues, all with nine tails spread out behind each of them. “True Elementals...” Sokka looks between Rana and the statues.

“Hey, how come they all have nine tails and you only have one?” He asks her, Katara hits his arm and gives him a look.

“I do have nine” Rana argues, they both look at her. “I just....” She struggles for the right word to explain. “They're hidden” She settles on as her tail swishes behind her.

“Rana, they're all so beautiful” Katara offers. “Like they were all carved with...”

“Love” Rana finishes and nods. They really look like they were made with such care and attention that they can only have been made by someone who loved them. Rana assumes that means that the Avatars themselves made them in memory of their companions, or in honour of them. She doesn't know what happens to them when the Avatar masters all four elements. They could die for all she knows. They could lose their powers. Her future is so unknown and uncertain to her. With the Fire Nation, she knew exactly what Zhao had planned for her. She would have been used as a prized piece. Married off to some political ally, probably another military figure. Aang has stopped in front of a statue of a fire-bender Avatar. Katara appears behind Aang and shakes him by the shoulders.

“Aang, snap out of it!” She scolds a little, he blinks, dazed.

“Huh?”

“Who is that?”

“That's Avatar Roku” Rana offers behind them. She's seen his face plenty of times whilst with the Fire Nation. Aang nods in agreement.

“The Avatar before me” Aang adds.

“You were a fire-bender?” Sokka asks. “No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met”

“There's no writing” Katara points out and looks at Rana. “How do you know his name?”

“Are you kidding?” Rana asks. “We're taught all about Roku when we're younger” She shrugs a little. Sokka raises an eyebrow at her. “He was a fire-bender” She points out and shrugs before she stiffens, her ears twisting to face behind her. Sokka notices and grabs his boomerang from his belt. They turn to look at the entrance, a long-eared shadow advances toward them. The four of them dive into cover behind the statues. Sokka and Rana are behind one. Aang and Katara another. The shadow advances between the two statues.

“Fire-bender. Nobody make a sound” Sokka warns, Katara shoots him a dirty look.

“You're making a sound!” She scolds him.

“Shhhh” Aang and Sokka hiss at her.

“That fire-bender won't know what hit 'em” He then pauses and looks for Rana. “Where'd she go?” He asks. Aang and Katara look around too.

“Up” Aang whispers and motions upward when he sees Rana's tail swishing out of sight as she moves over the top of the statues with stealth and ease as she heads towards the entrance from above. Rana drops down and then straightens up before chuckling at the 'fire-bender' threat. She shakes her head.

“You guys” She starts. “It's not a fire-bender” Sokka, Squirtle, Aang and Katara come out from behind the statues to join her. Rana slides her sword away. It's just a tiny adorable animal.

“Squirtle” Squirtle states as he clutches at Rana's leg.

“Lemur!” Aang cheers.

“Dinner...” Sokka drools.

“Don't listen to him! You're going to be my new pet” Aang assures the lemur, softly, cooing his voice.

“Not if I get him first!” Sokka argues. Both of them are then lunging for the small animal. The lemur watches them hurry forward, he bristles like a cat and dashes away from them, screaming.

“Wait! Come back!” Aang yells after the lemur. Katara sighs and hangs her head.

“Wow,” Rana whispers, disappointed and slightly amused. The fate of the world is in Aang's hands and he's chasing a lemur.

“I wanna eat you!” Katara groans hearing her brother's voice.

“We better follow them” Rana offers as she starts to move after them. “Or Aang will be next on the menu”

Chapter 13: Chapter Nine

Zuko taps the heel of his shoe against the leg of his chair in annoyance and maybe slight boredom. Sitting in a tent with his uncle isn't exactly what he thinks of being fun. Iroh is less bothered by the situation. He is rather happy to sit there and drink his tea. Zuko clenches his jaw and slumps back, folding his arms over his chest. The tent flaps open as Zhao walks in. Zuko sits up straight and schools his expression.

“My search party is ready,” Zhao informs them. “Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go,” Zhao tells Zuko who clenches his jaw before he looks at the commander.

“Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?” He asks with a small mocking smirk. Zhao laughs though.

“You? Stop me? Impossible” Zhao mocks a little.

“Don't underestimate me, Zhao” Zuko warns. “I will capture the Avatar and the girl before you” Iroh stands to stop Zuko from doing something he might just regret, plus Iroh happens to know exactly who that girl is.

“Prince Zuko, that's enough!”

“You can't compete with me,” Zhao tells Zuko. “I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you... you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you”

“You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honour and restore my rightful place on the throne” Zuko points out.

“If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation” Zhao pushes Zuko's buttons, and it is clear from the twitch in Zuko's jaw that it is getting to him.

“That's not true”

“You have the scar to prove it.” With a cry of indignation, Zuko launches himself to his feet, bringing his face within inches of Zhao's, chest heaving.

“Maybe you'd like one to match!” He snaps.

“Is that a challenge?” Zhao asks him.

“An agni kai. At sunset” Zuko challenges him with no waver in his stance.

“Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do” Zhao turns and walks back out of the tent, leaving Zuko and Iroh where they stand.

“Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you duelled a master?” Iroh asks his nephew, Zuko clenches his hands at his side.

“I will never forget” He argues. Feeling his face under his scar twitch in recognition of the memory.

…....

The lemur that Aang has been chasing runs along the ground, bouncing from pillar to pillar. He drops down again and seems to relax, but Aang suddenly pounces him and misses. The lemur runs through a curtain made of decaying tent material or drapery.

“Hey! Come back!” Aang follows the lemur to the other side of the curtain. “Come on out, little lemur. That hungry guy won't bother you anymore.” Aang approaches another drape, parts it, and walks through. He draws a sharp breath, startled at what he sees. Fire-Bender uniforms and skeletons covering the floor of a decaying building. “Fire-benders? They were here?” At the back of the grotto lies the skeletal remains of an air-bender monk, bathed in the sunlight coming from above, who had apparently fallen in combat fighting against great odds. Aang notices a medallion around the monk's neck. “Gyatso...” He falls to his knees, devastated. Behind him, Sokka pulls back the curtain.

“Hey Aang, you find my dinner yet?” He sees Aang, head in his hands, crying. “Aang, I wasn't really going to eat the lemur, okay?” He then sees the skeleton and does a double-take. “Oh, man... come on, Aang, everything will be all right. Let's get out of here” Sokka puts his hand on Aang's shoulder as the arrow on Aang's head begins to glow incandescent blue. His eyes are glowing brightly in an angry expression as he lifts his head. Sokka gasps as he looks on in alarm.

….....

Walking together, following Aang and Sokka's path, Rana and Katara travel side by side. Rana suddenly stops, her eyes turning purple as she gets a psychic read from Aang. Katara notes her distraction and turns to walk back to her.

“What is it?” Katara asks. Rana looks up onto the next level where Aang and Sokka are.

“Aang” She whispers and then pounces upwards onto the next level with ease. Katara hurries up the stairs after her.

….......

A whirlwind begins to form around Aang, air swirling fast around the bones lying on the ground, his hands balled into fists and his eyes and arrow glowing, the wind picking up terrible speed around him.

“Aang! Come on, snap out of it!” Sokka pleads with him. A light blue sphere of energy surrounds Aang and begins to expand, knocking Sokka back out of the building. “Aaahhh!” The energy sphere expands to the point where it blows most of the building apart, sending smoke and debris high into the air. Sokka lands outside the building. Rana and Katara join Sokka behind some rubble, shielding their faces from the wind.

“What happened?”

“He found out fire-benders killed Gyatso” Sokka answers Katara.

“Oh no, it's his avatar spirit! He must have triggered it! I'm gonna try and calm him down”

“No” Rana stops her. “He could hurt you...Let me do it” She and Katara share a look before Katara nods. Sokka is hanging onto the rubble, trying not to get blown away.

“Well, do it before he blows us off the mountain!” He tells her. Rana lets out a breath and nods. She lowly approaches Aang, struggling against the wind, as Aang and his energy sphere slowly rise into the air.

“Squirtle!” Squirtle yells in alarm, poking his head around to watch Rana.

Chapter 14: Chapter Ten

Aang is still suspended in mid-air inside his ball of raw energy, the contained storm continues to rage as Katara and Sokka cling desperately to the rocks. Rana slips and blows away as she struggles to reach him. Katara grabs her hand as she almost blows past her. Rana nods her thanks and then uses her free hand to grab onto a rock herself, pulling herself forward.

“Aang, I know you're upset...” Rana tries, shouting calmly over the roar of the air, skidding back with the force. She grabs the hilt of her sword and pulls it free, using it to anchor herself to the ground with a heavy stab. She struggles to keep a hold of the sword handle.

“Squirtle!” The tiny blue turtle-like creatures lets loose a burst of water, but Aang's energy ball just absorbs the attack. He tries again. And again. And again. But nothing. Squirtle huffs and then concentrates. Letting out a growl, clenching his fists and closing his eyes.

“What's he doing?” Sokka asks as Rana's necklace begins to glow at the same time Squirtle does. With a blinding bright white light, Squirtle is gone, but in his place is a larger, older-looking version.

“Wartortle” He steps forward, straining against Aang's energy. 'Wartortle' lets out a larger water blast with more strength behind it, but again, Aang's energy ball absorbs it. If anything, the blasts are simply making it stronger.

“Wait” Rana scolds and forces herself forward, grabbing the back of his shell. “It's okay” She assures him. “It's okay, let me do it” He looks at her.

“Wartortle?” He asks, she nods and lifts him up, setting him behind her.

“Any time now, Rana!” Sokka scolds as he and Katara struggle to hold on to the rock, she turns a glare on him before she turns back to Aang, softening slightly.

“Aang, I can't pretend to know how it feels to lose the people you love” She admits. “I don't remember my real parents, or my real family....” She shakes her head. “Monk Gyatso and the other air-benders may be gone, but you still have a family. Sokka and Katara, they're your family now” Sokka looks a little surprised. “I am your family” She assures him. Aang begins to descend, the energy disappearing from around him. His feet gently sets him back on the ground. The wind dies away. Rana moves closer to him slowly, behind her, Sokka and Katara follow.

“Katara, Rana, and I aren't going to let anything happen to you,” Sokka tells Aang softly, he and Rana share a look. A solidarity forming between them. “Promise” Katara and Rana crouch on either side of Aang. Katara takes one of Aang's hands in her own. The glow instantly fades from his eyes and arrow markings. Grief-stricken and exhausted, he collapses into Rana's arms and she holds him around his shoulders as they kneel on the ground.

“I'm sorry” Aang whispers, Rana nods, she knows. She knows he's sorry. She knows that he didn't mean to do this.

“It's okay. It wasn't your fault” Rana assures him.

“But you were right” He argues. “And if fire-benders found this temple that means they found the other ones, too. I really am the last air-bender” He looks up at her, Rana's tail flickers behind him, her ears twitching on her head. “Just like you and the vastaya” He realises.

“Wartortle” He touches Aang's arm and the boy looks at him. “Wartortle?” Aang looks at Rana for a translation.

“He's asking if you're okay” She answers. “He didn't mean to hurt you...”

“He didn't” Aang stops her and turns back to the turtle. “I'm okay” He smiles at the turtle. “And you evolved” Aang points out softly. “To protect Rana...”

“Wartortle”

“It should be in the tome” Aang offers, Rana pulls the tome from her bag and flicks through it till she finds Squirtle's entry. She touches the second sketch, the one that matches what he looks like now.

“Wartortle” Rana reads from the page. “The evolved form of Squirtle. A highly sought-after Pokémon because its long fur-covered tail is said to bring good luck”

“Just what we need” Sokka teases and ruffles Wartortle's head. “Some luck”

“Wartortle” Wartortle preens under the attention.

“Has it happened before?” Sokka asks, Rana hums and nods.

“Noi” She offers. “He evolved into a Noivern the day I...escaped” Katara scratches at Wartotle's fur-covered ears and chuckles.

“It's like he tried to copy your ears and tail, Rana” She teases. Aang looks down sadly as he thinks about the air-benders again. Rana looks at him sadly. She knows what it's like to be alone with what she is.

…...

Zuko stands with Iroh in a Fire Nation arena for his dual with Zhao. Zuko stares across at Zhao and his men as they prepare just like Zuko does. Zuko knows he is a skilled fire-bender. He's worked hard. But yes, Zhao has been at it longer than he has. He might just have more experience behind him. Zuko has determination though. And pure stubbornness.

“Remember your fire-bending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons” Iroh instructs Zuko who pushes himself to his feet.

“I refuse to let him win” His shoulder wrap falls to the ground ceremoniously. Zhao stands and turns, his shoulder wrap falling to the ground, as well.

“This will be over quickly” Zhao comments. Atop the gate, a gong sounds. Both men face each other and assume fire-bending stances. Zuko fires the first shot which passes harmlessly to Zhao's left. He fires again; this time it passes without effect to Zhao's right. Zuko fires several more, the last of which Zhao blocks, satisfaction evident on his face. Frustrated and losing control of his breath, Zuko moves towards his opponent, unleashing more fire from both his hands and feet. Zhao dodges or blocks them all. Zhao then crouches forward and shoots flame at a point on the ground close in front of him. Iroh watches anxiously.

“Basics, Zuko! Break his root!” Zhao fires many volleys of flame, alternating between his fists. Zuko blocks each, but is slowly forced back. On the last volley, Zhao uses both hands, knocking Zuko over and sending him skidding backwards in the dirt. Zhao takes a flying jump at him. Zhao lands as Zuko tries to get up, but he isn't fast enough. Zhao fires right at him. Zuko rolls out of the way just in time, and as he is getting up sweeps Zhao's feet out from under him. Zuko lands on his feet. He allows himself a tiny smile. Zuko is then advancing towards Zhao, using his feet to produce small waves of flame that rush toward his opponent. Zhao is caught off balance and wobbles slowly backwards. Iroh's fists clenched in an expression of hope, a smile beginning to spread over his face. Zuko finally lays Zhao out flat on the ground with a blast of fire. Zuko rushes up to him, prepared to deal the final blow.

“Do it!” Zhao shouts up at him. Zuko releases a blast close to Zhao, but not hitting him. Zuko drops his fighting stance and glances at the smoking hole now in the ground close to Zhao's head. “That's it? Your father raised a coward”

“Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back” Zuko warns, then turns his back and begins to walk away. Zhao gets up and, with a howl of anger, unleashes a whip of flame at Zuko. The flame rushes toward Zuko's back. The flame is extinguished, however, as a hand closes over Zhao's outstretched foot. Iroh has moved between them to stop the dishonourable attack. They remain frozen for a moment before Iroh hurls Zhao back into the dirt with little effort. Zuko rushes to avenge the insult but is stopped by his uncle.

“No, Prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory” Iroh turns to face Zhao, a look of condescension on his face. “So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat. “Disgraceful” He comments. “Even in exile, my nephew is more honourable than you” Zuko looks at his uncle in surprise at this comment. “Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious” Iroh moves to leave and Zuko follows close behind. With subdued anger, Zhao watches them exit the gate of the arena. Zuko leans closer to his uncle to talk with him quietly.

“Did you really mean that, Uncle?”

“Of course” Iroh assures him. “I told you ginseng tea is my favourite” Zuko leans back and studies his uncle a moment before letting a small smile appear. Iroh clasps his hands in front of his chest as they walk away together.

Chapter 15: Chapter Eleven

Outside of the temple, Appa, Aang and the lemur stand looking out over the abandoned temple. Contemplating what the empty temple means for them. More so Aang. He lets out a breath and looks at the lemur.

“You, me, and Appa. We're all that's left of this place. We have to stick together” He tells them and then turns. “Rana, Katara, Sokka.....Wartortle...” Aang starts and gives Sokka a look, his mouth stuffed full of fruit given to him by the lemur. “Say hello to the newest member of our family” Aang approaches them both, the lemur on his arm.

“What are you going to name him?” Rana asks, Aang looks at her and then shrugs before smiling.

“Momo” He answers softly. Sokka is poised to bite into a piece of fruit when it is no longer there but in Momo's hand. Aang and Katara begin to laugh, Rana smirks a little and then joins in.

…......

Rana is tightening a saddle on Noivern who seems to stand up taller with his new adornment, proud of it and Wartortle who sits with him. Evolving means they are growing. Getting stronger. Forming a deeper bond with Rana. That she is on the right path. Even Rana herself has to admit that it's a good feeling. Knowing she's doing something right in this mess.

“Rockruff” Rana turns to Rockruff who yawns and then nudges Rana's hand, she looks at her and raises an eyebrow. She barks at the crystal around Rana's neck.

“You want to go in the ball?” She asks sadly, she doesn't want to put them in there in case they don't like it. She unclips the ball from her chain and then holds it out. “Are you sure?” She whispers, Rockruff barks and presses her nose to the ball then disappears. Rana lets out a breath and looks down at the ball. She sighs and then reattaches it to the chain around her neck. She's not going to read into that too much.

“Looking good, Noi” Sokka teases as he passes. Noivern murmurs in agreement and then lowers himself to allow Rana to climb up onto his back.

“Wartotle?” Wartortle asks already moving to join her.

“No, you can ride with Aang and the others on Appa” Rana answers. “Just till Noi is used to the saddle...”

“Wartortle” He grumbles and walks away, following Aang who smiles down at him. Aang, Sokka, Katara, and now their extra pet lemur head to Appa, each climbing up to get ready for flight. Vulpix curls up in Katara's lap as Wartortle joins them, dropping into a sit with a pout. Rana leans forward on Noivern's back and smirks.

“Ready, Noi?” She whispers in anticipation.

“Noivern” Noivern agrees and readies himself before pushing up, wings flapping as he goes. This is better. The saddle and reins help immensely. Both feel safer. Rana feels more in control. Manoeuvrers will be easier as well. The saddle was a good idea.

….........

Zuko and Iroh return to Zuko ship, ready to get back to their search for the Avatar. And now that Zhao has an interest in the girl, so does he. She has to be important, otherwise why the fuss? They pass through a room, usually used by Iroh for his afternoon tea and his Pai Sho games. Iroh moves to his little tea caddy on the side, turning only slightly to watch Zuko before he sighs.

“Wait, wait, wait” Iroh scolds Zuko as he sets a teapot over a fire to boil away.

“Uncle” Zuko starts to argue but a look from the older man stops him.

“Sit,” Iroh tells Zuko who sighs and then sinks into the chair behind him. “You should know that this is more than just about the Avatar for Commander Zhao” Iroh glances at Zuko. “It's personal for him” Iroh offers, Zuko scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“It's personal for me too” He argues, Iroh nods a little but then shrugs.

“Some would argue more for him” Iroh comments.

“Why?” Zuko inquires, Iroh takes the little teapot from the fire.

“The girl” Iroh starts. “She's a vastaya, the last vastaya....and she also happens to be Zhao's adopted daughter. Rana” Iroh comments as he pours them both a cup of tea. Zuko turns a confused look on him. The way Iroh said that implied that Zuko is supposed to know who that is.

“Who?” Zuko asks, Iroh turns to him and frowns.

“You don't remember her?” He counters, Zuko shakes his head. “I am surprised...You two were inseparable as children, whenever Zhao brought her to the palace, there you two were” Zuko frowns harder, confused. “Running around...causing mayhem”

“Mayhem?” Zuko asks a little amused at the thought that he ever caused any form of mayhem, Iroh nods.

“Setting fire to the drapes, stealing from the kitchens, defacing your grandfather's portrait, that was inspired I must say,” Zuko raises an eyebrow. “She was a wild girl, always getting you both into trouble...So wonderfully spirited” Iroh offers fondly. Zuko scoffs a little.

“If we were so close, why don't I remember her?” Iroh turns to him. “What?” Zuko asks noting the look in his eyes. Iroh lets out a sad breath. He doesn't know himself. Not fully. He knows there was talk of Zuko and Rana being promised to one another, married one day, likely the day they both turned 18, a way for Zhao to move up through the ranks faster and for Ozai to have a trusted general at his side. But then something changed. Rana never returned with her father and Zuko lost out on a very good influence in his life.

“Time passes and your memory fades...” Iroh tells Zuko who then looks away from him, fingers digging into the arm of his chair. He doesn't understand. If she was so important to him, why would he ever allow himself to forget her? He stands from his seat and walks away. Ignoring his uncle's calls. Zuko knows he didn't completely forget her.

…....

Zuko pulls a locked box from under his desk on the ship and sets it up onto the top of it. his fingers tracing the engravings and design on it. This is for his private things. Personal things he doesn't want other people to know about. Things he cherishes really. Attachments. He pulls a key from the belt of his robes, using it to open the box. He lifts the lid and rummages through the items inside. Most seem insignificant. Bits and pieces from balls of string to a jade fox pin before he settles on a rolled-up piece of paper. He rolls it out onto the desk to look at it. It's a charcoal sketch of a younger version of Rana, but it is unmistakably her. Zuko lets out a breath and touches the sketch. He thought it all in his head. His memories of the girl with furry ears and a tail, he assumed it was something his imagination cooked up to deal with his loneliness after reading about the vastaya. A way to cope with having no friends. But she was real and it was her that was here. Standing on his ship. His friend. He grabs the paper in his hand and scrunches it up before throwing it aside. A traitor.

Chapter 16: Chapter Twelve

Aang sits cross-legged in front of Rana on the back of Noivern as he flies through the sky. He's trying to teach her some air-bending tricks. He's the only one that can now. Below them, Appa flies with Sokka, Katara and Wartotle, Vixen having joined Rockruff in the ball for rest. Clearly, the two of them are not huge fans of flying or perhaps Sokka. There is an apple resting between Aang and Rana in the saddle and he's trying to get her to move it, to spin it with air-bending. But she's not great at it. Not about thinking about it. Dark clouds roll in, covering the stars as she gets frustrated with herself. Aang knows she's shown air-bending before. She just has to actually think about doing it now. She lets out an annoyed breath at herself. Aang then shows off how easy it can be and she snatches out and takes the apple. She knows that if she was raised to be this True Elemental figure, this would be easy for her. But she wasn't. She should know all of this already. But she doesn't. Because Zhao never told her. Because he never thought to prepare her for it. Why would he? The Fire Nation knew that Avatar would stop them one day, why would they allow them a powerful ally in her? They wouldn't. She takes a bite of the apple whilst staring at Aang who sighs.

“It's been days, Rah” Aang complains laying back on the saddle. “You can do this” He reaches into the pouch next to him and takes out another apple as he sits up. “Just spin it once...” He holds out the apple towards her. “And we can take a break for the day”

“I can protect you just fine without learning this” She argues as lightning cracks through the sky above them. They both lookup.

“Maybe we should put a hold on this” Rana then points out. If a storm is blowing in then they need to focus on flying. Aang hums in agreement and then nods.

….........

Aang sits on the back of Appa and sighs. He thought it would be easy. Teaching Rana some air-bending techniques, but she's stubborn. Too caught up in fire-bending techniques.

“Did she?” Sokka asks and gives Aang a look, Aang shakes his head and shrugs.

“She gets stuck in her head” Aang offers. “Thinks about it too much” He sighs and rests his chin in his hand. “Last time she did it, I don't think she even thought about it”

“So trick her into doing it” Sokka offers. Aang looks at him and raises an eyebrow.

“No” Katara scolds them both. “Because you'll both do something that puts her in danger”

“Hey, Aang” Aang looks up towards Noivern as Rana shouts at him. The apple hits him in the face, sending him off the side of Appa. Rana smirks. “How's that for air-bending?!” She shouts after him as the storm clouds dissipate above them.

….......

Days later; Zuko is sitting in the lotus position in front of an altar in his quarters on the ship. Four white candles are burning in front of him, the flames rise and fall with Zuko's rhythmic breathing. His face is calm and concentrated when the door to his quarters opens and Iroh enters the room.

“The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar” Zuko points out before his uncle can say a thing. Iroh enters cautiously, a map tucked under his arm.

“Well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset”

“Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader” Zuko reminds him. “Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure that I can take it”

“Okay, then... we have no idea where he is”

“WHAT?!” The four candles flare to the ceiling with Zuko's wrath. He stands quickly and turns around to face his uncle, his anger evident on his face. Iroh turns away from the flames and raises his right arm to protect his face. As the flames subside, he pulls a fan out of his robes.

“You really should open a window in here” Iroh comments fanning himself, Zuko snatches the map from him.

“Give me the map!” Zuko opens the rolled scroll and begins to study it. Iroh continues to fan himself.

“There have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down” Iroh points out.

“How am I gonna find him, Uncle?” He looks down at the map marked with circled Xs and dotted lines connecting the reported Avatar sightings. The lines zigzag all over the landmass drawings. “He is clearly a master of evasive manoeuvring”

…..

Sokka, Katara, Rana and Aang riding Appa through the air. Noivern flies through the clouds above them sans saddle. Wartortle and Vulpix are nowhere to be seen. They've retreated into the crystal ball with Rockruff to rest. Flying constantly is hard on all of them. Less so for Noivern, he's a flying pokemon. Sokka stares down at a map looking rather exasperated.

“You have no idea where you're going, do you?” Sokka asks. Aang turns his head back to answer.

“Weeelll, I know it's near water...” Aang answers. Sokka stares out at the expanse of the endless stretch of water they are flying over.

“I guess we're getting close then” Sokka offers dryly. Rana leans back, fingers curling into Appa's fur as Katara sews, mending a garment. Aang has his head turned back, watching her. Momo, who is also watching Katara, is sitting on Aang's left shoulder.

“Momo, marbles please” Momo scrambles into Aang's shirt making noises. He returns with a marble and hands it to Aang. Aang smiles eagerly and cups the marble in his two hands. “Hey, Katara! Check out this air-bending trick!” Aang suspends the marble between his two hands and makes it whirl around and around in mid-air. He is grinning happily at Katara, wanting her attention. Katara is preoccupied, though, and does not look up from her sewing.

“That's great, Aang”

“You didn't even look” Aang argues, Katara stops her sewing and looks at him.

“That's great!”

“But I'm not doing it now” Aang whispers, disappointed. Sokka folds the map away and then relaxes against the back of Appa's saddle, he waves his arm dismissively in Aang and Katara's direction.

“Stop bugging her, airhead” Sokka scolds. “You need to give girls space when they do their sewing” Katara stops her needle in midair and turns her head towards Sokka. Her face is a mixture of annoyance and anger.

“What does me being a girl have to do with sewing?” Katara asks, Rana looks down and away not really wanting to get involved in this argument.

“Simple: girls are better at fixing pants than guys, and guys are better at hunting and fighting and stuff like that. It's just the natural order of things” Sokka comments.

“Right” Katara draws out. “Do you think Rana is better at 'girl' stuff too?” She asks. “With her being an impressive swordswoman and fire-bender?” Sokka looks at Rana who cocks her head and raises an eyebrow waiting for his answer.

“Well” Sokka comments, Rana and Katara share a look. Katara nods and turns back to Sokka.

“All done with your pants! And look what a great job I did!” Katara glowers at Sokka and throws his pants at him. They hit him in the head.

“Wait! I was just kidding! I can't wear these!” He sticks his arm through the big hole in the seat of his pants. “Katara, PLEASE!”

“Don't worry, Sokka” Aang reassures him. “Where we're going, you won't need any pants!” He gives a pull on the reins and Appa and swoops down in the sky, glowering. Katara looks at Rana who lets out a breath and shrugs. She has no idea what that means. She's not sure she wants to know.

Chapter 17: Chapter Thirteen

Rana yawns and stretches her arms over her head. Riding on the back of Appa does nothing for stiff and coiled muscles. Sokka folds his arms over his chest, annoyed at the latest stop. He just wants to keep going. They've been flying around for days now. They stand on a beach, close to the water still as they take a moment to stretch their legs.

"We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn't we get a little more flying done before we camp out?" Sokka asks them.

"He's right. At this rate, we won't get to the North Pole until spring" Katara agrees and looks to Rana for her agreement.

"I can't sit on the back of Appa anymore" She complains instead. "I've got to stretch my legs or they are going to fall off" Aang looks out over the water, shielding his eyes from the sun.
"But Appa's tired already, aren't you boy? I said, aren't you boy?" Aang nudges Appa conspiratorially with his elbow. Appa yawns on cue, but is obviously not actually tired. Aang sticks his thumb in the big bison's direction.

"Yeah, that was real convincing. Still, hard to argue with a ten-ton magical monster" Sokka comments. Aang gasps excitedly and points out towards the water.

"LOOK!" A giant koi fish jumps out of the water. "That's why we're here..." Aang strips down to his underwear, almost tripping over in his excitement. "Elephant koi. And I'm going to ride it. Katara, you've gotta watch me!" Aang dives into the water. A second later he leaps out again with a shocked expression on his face. "COLD!" He complains. Rana sighs and moves away from Sokka and Katara to get some meditation down whilst Aang plays in the water. Noivern follows behind her.

............

Rana sits in the lotus position, her eyes closed as she takes and releases deep breaths. Two flames hovering over her palms rise and fall with her breaths, much like Zuko and his candles. Noivern sleeps behind her, exhausted from flight. She does feel bad that he's been flying almost none stop for days. She might put him in the ball with the others, just to rest for a while. Katara and Sokka watch as Aang continues to swim out into the bay. Aang dives under the water and catches hold of an elephant koi. The giant fish leaps out of the water with Aang riding on its back, his hands grasping the dorsal fin. The koi dives back into the water, carrying Aang with it. Katara is watching Aang with an excited and interested look on her face, clearly enjoying his current antics.

"Woo!" Katara cheers and waves.

"Yeeaaaah! Woohoo!" Aang is laughing, ecstatic as he rides the giant koi fish. A couple of other fish follow behind, leaping in and out of the water. Rana peeks through her eyes to watch him. It's sort of refreshing to see him not caught up in the whole Avatar thing, and is instead acting like the child he is. She closes her eyes again when all the giant koi fish dive underwater.

"He looks pretty good out there," Katara comments as she stands next to Rana.

"Are you kidding? The fish is doing all the work" Sokka teases rubbing Noivern's head as he lowers it. Katara turns to see Appa about to eat something he shouldn't.

"No, Appa! Don't eat that!" She scolds and hurries towards him. Sokka snorts a little watching her go. Out in the water, Aang is still riding the elephant koi., he grins broadly at Katara, who runs towards the trees. Aang is disappointed that she is no longer watching him.

"Aww, man..." Two of the koi, including the one that Aang is riding, veer off to the right. A shadow under the water is visibly approaching the remaining elephant koi.

"Rana" Sokka starts, she hums. "There's something in the water!" He points out.

"Yeah, Aang and his koi fish" She agrees without looking.

"No, something else" She opens her eyes now and pushes herself to her feet at his side. The two of them watching the water. A second koi fish tries to leap out of the water, but is instead pulled under. Momo, distressed, is jumping up and down. Katara, hearing the commotion, runs up beside Sokka back on the beach.

"What's wrong?" She asks them.

"Aang's in trouble" Sokka answers as Rana shouts for Aang.

"Aang!"

"Get out of there!" Katara adds. Rana climbs up onto Noivern and leans forward as he takes off at speed, the force from his wings throwing Sokka back into a tree with a high pitched scream. The koi fish that Aang is riding bucks and sends Aang headlong into the bay. He comes up a second after going under and spurts water out of his mouth. He is breathing heavily and gasping for air as an enormous serrated fin rises ominously from the water behind him. He turns around slowly to see what's following close behind him. His eyes widen and he screams in panic.

"Aaahhh!" Rana grabs his wrist and hauls Aang out of the water and onto Noivern's back, Aang instantly flattening himself to Rana's back, wrapping his arms and legs around her as she turns Noivern and flies him back towards the beach. The fin in the water continues to follow them though, Aang glances over his shoulder. "Faster, Rana," He tells her and she pushes Noivern into a fast dive, picking up speed as they head towards the water. "No, not towards" Aang shuts his eyes and clutches to her dress fabric. Before hitting the water, Rana pulls Noivern straight, now with some real speed behind them, he pushes himself forward towards the beach ahead of them. Noivern skids to a stop as he lands on the sand and lets out a sonic blast towards the water in warning. The fin turns and heads back away from the shore but yet Aang doesn't release Rana.

"Urm...Aang" Rana starts. "You can let go now" Aang opens his eyes and looks around.

"Oh," He releases her immediately and drops down onto the ground on his backside.

"What was that thing?" Katara asks when Rana slides from Noivern's back.

"I don't know." Rana answers and looks out at the water, her eyes flickering around for that creature.

"Well, let's not stick around and find out. Time to hit the road" Sokka tells them, they all nod in agreement. Behind him, Noivern collapses to the sand and Rana rushes to him. "What's wrong?" Sokka asks, Rana touches Noivern's face and sighs softly.

"He's too tired" She answers and then pulls the crystal ball from her necklace and holds it out. "It's okay, Noi, you can rest now" She whispers and sets the ball to his head, he disappears in a beam of blue light.

"I'm sorry, Rana" Aang whispers. "I know we've been flying a lot..."

"It's okay, Aang" Rana stops him. "He's still young, that's all, he just needs to rest for a while" She adjusts her bag on her side as she attaches the ball back to the chain around her neck. Suddenly, five green-clad warriors fall on Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Momo from the trees. The first warrior throws out a bolas that hits Rana, wrapping her up in rope, sending her to the ground with a huff. The second warrior grabs Sokka under his arms from behind. The third warrior pulls Katara's hood over her head. The fourth warrior grabs Aang by his shirt. The fifth warrior traps Momo in a small sack.

.........

Rana, Momo, Aang, Katara, and Sokka, are all bound and blindfolded are thrown to the ground at the feet of their captors. Five sets of green-robed legs are visible in a circle around them.

"Or we could stay a while..." Sokka voices.

Chapter 18: Chapter Fourteen

The village leader, Oyagi, stands in front of Aang, Sokka, Rana, and Katara, still blindfolded, bound to a large pole in a fenced clearing. Momo, still in a sack, is at Aang's feet. Behind Oyagi, are the five warriors that ambushed them in the first place. The main warrior, their leader, is Suki.

“You four have some explaining to do” Oyagi points out, Rana shifts a little to swish her tail, it's been tucked under her and it is annoying and ingratiating her.

“And if you don't answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with the unagi” The lead warrior adds.

“Show yourselves, cowards!” Sokka snaps angrily. The five warriors move closer and remove their blindfolds. Rana blinks at the invasion of light and then hisses slightly, her ears flickering on the top of her head as she takes in their attackers. “Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?” Sokka asks straining against their bonds.

“There were no men” Suki argues. “We ambushed you. Now tell us, who are you and what are you doing here?” Sokka laughs in disbelief.

“Wait a second, there's no way that a bunch of girls took us down” Suki grabs him by the collar and shakes him.

“A bunch of girls, huh? The unagi's gonna eat well tonight”

“No, don't hurt him!” Katara begs quickly. “He didn't mean it. My brother is just an idiot sometimes”

“It's my fault” Aang offers apologetically. “I'm sorry we came here. I wanted to ride the elephant koi” Oyagi points at Aang.

“How do we know you're not Fire Nation spies?” Oyagi asks and then points at Rana. “She's wearing a Fire Nation dress...” Rana looks down at her dress and frowns.

“She's got a tail and ears” Sokka points out dryly. “Thought that would be a bigger thing”

“ Kyoshi stayed out of the war so far. And we intend to keep it that way!” Oyagi ignores Sokka. Aang looks surprised and interested by what Oyagi has just said.

“This island is named for Kyoshi? I know Kyoshi!” Aang points out.

“Ha! How could you possibly know her? Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She's been dead for centuries” Oyagi points out.

“I know her because I'm the Avatar” Aang admits.

“Perhaps telling everyone you meet that you're the Avatar is a bad idea” Rana comments under her breath. Suki, the warriors, and Oyagi all look shocked by this.

“That's impossible! The last Avatar was an air-bender who disappeared a hundred years ago” Suki argues.

“That's me!”

“Throw the imposter to the unagi!” Oyagi orders Suki and then starts to walk away. Suki and her warriors assume a fighting stance, each warrior has two open fans in her hands. The five warriors move menacingly toward the helpless quartet.

“Aang... do some airbending...” Katara points out. Aang breaks his bonds and shoots himself into the air. He backflips over the top of Kyoshi's statue. He then floats gracefully to the ground amidst the 'oohs' and 'aahs' of the gathered crowd, which now includes other members of the village.

“It's true... you are the Avatar!” Oyagi finally lets belief and sense sink in. Aang, realizing that he now has an audience, pulls the marble out from under his shirt.

“Now... check this out!” Grinning like a fool, he does the same trick he had tried to impress Katara with earlier.

“Oh, sweet spirits” Rana complains and hangs her head. Aang then catches the marble, his eyes on Rana.

“Plus she's Kyoshi's...” Aang counts on his fingers. “Great Granddaughter” They all turn to Rana who is staring back at him.

“What?” Rana, Sokka, and Katara ask him.

“You didn't know that?” Aang asks Rana who shakes her head.

“I don't know my real family, Aang” She reminds him. “I was a baby when I was found...just an orphan”

“All True Elementals come from the royal vastaya bloodline, which means that Rua is your blood and he...” Aang explains.

“Married Kyoshi” Oyagi finishes. “And she bore his children” He bows in front of Rana who shakes her head. Oyagi then realises that Rana is still bound to the statue of her great grandmother. “Ah, Suki” Suki nods and tucks her fans away before untying Rana who pushes herself to her feet. Aang is then at her side, smiling at her.

“Here” Aang pulls the book out of her bag and opens it up. “See” He flicks to a page with Kyoshi and Rua on, he taps it and holds it out to Rana, drawing his finger down it until he reaches her name. It's a family tree. “There's you” She takes the book from him. “The book updates every time someone of your bloodline is born....it's like...magic” He teases a little. Rana stares down at the book page. She can't believe this.

…......

Rana sits on the roof of one of the cabins in the village, the tome open in her legs as she stares down at her family tree. She doesn't care about the Avatar, about Kyoshi. But it's the fact that she knows who her family was. She has names. She's never had names before. She traces the lines of the tree. Her parents' names. Her grandparents. She wasn't chosen because she is the last of her kind. She was chosen because of her blood. Because of her family. People she never knew and never will. Katara looks up at her as she follows Aang and Oyagi through the village, a worried frown on her face. She's worried about Rana. She already separates herself from them enough as it is. She's worried Rana will pull further away from them.

…........

Zuko and Iroh are having dinner together on his ship. Iroh pours himself some tea which sits next to a strange large egg nestled on some pillows, soaking up the steam from the tea, a large lightning bolt scarred into the egg. Zuko rolls his eyes at his uncle. Unsure about why he still tries with an egg that hasn't hatched in two years.

“Uncle” Zuko warns.

“Hush now” Iroh counters. “Soft voices...” He touches the egg and adjusts it slightly on the pillow. Zuko lets out a breath of annoyance.

“Must you bring it to every meal?” Zuko asks him.

“Yes,” Iroh answers, not giving much more of an explanation. Next to Zuko, the ship's chef is serving a fish dish, he kneels down to place the dish on the table and whispers something to Zuko who listens intently before he stands.

“The Avatar's on Kyoshi Island?” He asks as the chef backs away. Zuko walks out of the room while speaking to Iroh. “Uncle, ready the rhinos. He's not getting away from me this time” Iroh remains at the dinner table with the steaming hot plate of fish in front of him. Iroh turns towards him and, pointing at the fish, begins to speak.

“Are you going to finish that?” Iroh asks, Zuko walks angrily back through the room to the table and grabs the fish off of the table.

“I was going to save it for later!” He storms off with his meal. Iroh crosses his arms in annoyance and pouts at not getting to eat the fish.

Chapter 19: Chapter Fifteen

Noivern is laying on his back as two villagers take care of him and the other pokemon. Vulpix and Rockruff are chasing two younger children around who laugh hysterically pulling along ribbons along the ground. Wartortle is stuffing apples and lettuces into his mouth letting a happy content noise out. One villager rubs Noivern's belly with a brush whilst another villager cleans his huge ears. Noivern grunts happily and is clearly enjoying all the attention. Appa is getting the same sort of attention close by. On one of the roofs, Rana is watching them softly, taking in the moment of quiet. She's wearing a more Kyoshi inspired dress, apparently, it had belonged to her vastayan daughter so is still traditional to her people. It's a longer version of her old dress in green instead of red, longer down her legs on one side. The sunlight catches a jade lotus pin that covers the button holding the two sides of her dress together. It's beautiful. A gift given out of love. Her fingers run over the petals of the lotus as she smiles down at Noivern who looks up at her.

.....

Katara, Aang and Momo are inside, seated in front of a long wooden table. The table is covered with eighteen different plates of food. A villager enters and places another plate on the table and exits. Aang throws his arms up in the air happily.

"Alright!" He cheers. "Dessert for breakfast!" He then begins to stuff his face, even talking with his mouthful. "These people sure know how to treat an Avatar! Mmm... Katara you've got to try these!" Aang offers Katara a sweet.

"Well, maybe just a bite..." Katara takes the candy from Aang as Momo seizes the opportunity and snatches another from his other hand.

"Sokka, what's your problem? EAT!" Aang comments and looks across the room to where Sooka is sitting hunched and glowering in the corner of the room.

"Not hungry"

"But you're always hungry!" Aang points out.

"He's just upset because a bunch of girls kicked his butt yesterday" Rana comments as she walks into the hut and takes a seat at the table beside Katara who smirks.

"They snuck up on me!" Sokka defends.

"Right. And then they kicked your butt" Rana adds and grabs an apple from the table with a smirk. Katara chuckles.

"Sneak attacks don't count!" Sokka stands to his feet angrily and begins pacing around the room, gesticulating wildly to the air. "Tie me up with ropes! I'll show them a thing or two. I'm not scared of any girls" He has paced around to the breakfast table and is ferociously grabbing sweets off it. He begins to lower his voice and talk to himself. "Who do they think they are anyway?" Sokka grunts and shoves a sweet into his mouth. He walks out of the room. "Mmm... this is tasty" Rana and Katara share a look before descending into soft chuckles.

"How can he have a water-bending sister and think girls are....less than?" Rana muses.

"He doesn't think 'magic' counts" Katara comments.

"I can set him on fire for a bit, if you want," Rana tells her, Katara smirks and shakes her head, knowing that Rana is teasing, hopefully teasing.

"What's he so angry about anyway?" Aang asks. "It's great here. They're giving us the royal treatment"

"Hey, don't get too comfortable. It's risky for us to stay in one place for very long" Katara comments, Rana hums around her apple in agreement.

"I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, did you see how happy I'm making this town?" Aang turns around to look out the window at the two villagers working on Avatar Kyoshi's statue. "They're even cleaning up that statue in my honour!"

"I don't think that's for you" Katara argues. "I think that's for Rana. You know, with them being related"

"Right" Aang agrees a little and looks at Rana, she looks down and shrugs a little.

"But it's nice to see you excited about being the Avatar. I just hope it doesn't all go to your head" Katara steers the conversation a little.

"Come on, you know me better than that. I'm just a simple monk" Aang points out as he stands up and goes to the window. He looks down in surprise and confusion to find that the courtyard is full of little girls from the village, screaming and cheering at him. Aang's face breaks out in a large smile and he blushes. Katara, standing slightly behind him, crosses her arms, sticks her tongue out and makes a long, exasperated raspberry.

"Can you believe...." Katara starts as she turns around to look at Rana, but stops when she notes that the vastaya has gone. She sighs a little and turns back to Aang.

…....

Aang is standing next to Koko, one of the young girls from the village. An artist puts up his paintbrush next to them as a reference for painting the scene. He lifts his paper to begin his ink painting, covering the spot where Aang and Koko are standing.

“Painting the Avatar... that's easy enough...” The painter comments to himself. He drops his parchment for another look and now there are two girls standing with Aang. “Oh... there's another one... I'll make an adjustment here, and...” When he drops his painting now, there are four girls standing around Aang. “There's more... what...” Now when he views the scene it appears that every girl in the village has joined the group. He has a look of utter disbelief and irritation. After surveying the scene for a few seconds, he looks to where Rana is sat under a blossoming tree in quiet conference with her pokemon, the sun setting behind them. He looks at Aang again before turning his art supplies towards Rana.

….

The next day, Rana practices her air-bending under the blossoming tree, her eyes closed as she moves her arms, running through the moves without trying too much to actually bend. Behind her, her pokemon are lined up and trying to copy her movements, she is very much aware that they are doing it and trying so very hard to ignore them and concentrate. She wants to be mad at them for disturbing her, she so very does, but she's a little touched by it. That they want to join in even with their lack of arms.

Chapter 20: Chapter Sixteen

Rana sits on the ground outside of a hut as she slides her dress pin into place. She's back in her original red dress. She just feels better in red. She doesn't know why, habit maybe, she's just used to it. She can move better in this one too. Just enough fabric to cover everything that needs to be covered, but not enough to restrict her movements. Rockruff sits at her side, seemingly wanting to spend the rest of the day with her whilst Noivern checks out the mountains in the distance, Vulpix has joined Sokka and Suki with the Kyoshi warriors, and Wartortle is taking a swim in the river.

….......

Zuko's ship lands on the shores of Kyoshi, the prow is let down and Zuko rides out of the hull on the back of a war rhinoceros. He is accompanied by many men also on rhino mounts, all of them looking rather determined but none more than Zuko.

“I want the Avatar and the vastayan girl alive” He orders of his men before they then march towards Kyoshi with their rhinoceroses. The vastaya is not a necessary thing, he was tasked with finding the Avatar, but getting the girl will win him points against Zhao.

….......

Rana looks up, sensing something is off with the village. There are people running around in a panic. She frowns and watches them before Oyagi runs towards her, breathless. She looks at him in question.

“Fire-benders have landed on our shores!” Oyagi tells her. “Come quickly!” Rana stands and hurries into the hut, she grabs her bag and her sword from the side and hurries back out. Rockruff barking behind her as she follows. Rana's eyes turn purple as she contacts the other pokemon. Noivern's sonic echoes through the mountains.

….......

Zuko looks up, narrowing his eyes, trying to see through the clouds, trying to see Noivern. It confirms the report. If she is here with them, then the Avatar can't be far but the streets of the village are deserted when they enter. Not a soul around to see.

“Come out, Avatar! You can't hide from me forever!” Zuko yells then turns to his men. “Find them” He orders and his men begin to search the town for Aang and Rana. Three war rhinos as they proceed down the main street of the village. Zuko lets out a breath and glances back at the sky, still trying to find Noivern. The fan warriors suddenly attack Zuko's army. Suki heads directly for Zuko. As she is about to land on him, he turns his rhinoceros and she is swatted out of the air by its tail. As she hits the ground, Zuko aims a fire blast at her. Sokka steps in between Suki and the fireball, deflecting it with his fan. Zuko, taken by surprise, falls off his rhinoceros.

“I guess training's over” Sokka comments. Suki, Sokka, and another warrior cautiously approach the prone Zuko. Zuko spins around on his hands shooting firebolts out of his feet at the approaching warriors. He knocks them all to the ground and pulls himself to his feet. Zuko leaps to the middle of the street.

“Nice try, Avatar!” Zuko shouts. “But these little girls can't save you”

“Hey! Over here!” Aang shouts as he appears at the end of the road.

“Finally!” Zuko and Aang face each other, High Noon style. Zuko lets loose three consecutive fireballs from his hands. Aang dodges them and, using his staff as a helicopter, flies toward Zuko. Zuko shoots another blast of fire, which knocks Aang's staff out of his hands. Aang leaps away and picks up two discarded fans. Zuko runs full force at Aang. Aang uses the fans to throw an enormous gust of air at Zuko. The air knocks Zuko through the wall of a building. Aang drops the fans and picks up his staff. He throws it into the air and flies over the now burning town. He looks behind him to see the statue of Avatar Kyoshi engulfed in flames. He lands next to Katara, who is helping a small child inside with the help of Vulpix and Rockruff.

“Get inside” Katara waves people forward and through the doors.

“Look what I brought to this place” Aang whispers sadly.

“It's not your fault.

“Yes, it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me”

“Then let's get out of here. Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us” Katara points out. “I know it feels wrong to run, but I think it's the only way”

“I'll call Appa” He offers as Rana hurries towards them, sliding her sword onto the holster on her back.

“And I will buy you time to leave,” Rana tells them. Aang looks at her, the two of them sharing a look. “I can hold them off to buy Appa enough time to get out of range of fireballs”

“What about you?” Katara asks.

“I'll find a way” Rana answers and walks away to get into position. Aang and Katara share a look, Katara shrugs a little. It's a good plan, even if it means Rana staying behind. She's a resourceful young woman. She'll find them again.

….....

Rana keeps watch for Fire Nation soldiers as Katara and Aang climb up onto Appa's back, getting ready to leave. Noivern is crouched on a rooftop, watching over them too. Sokka hurries towards them. He glances up at Appa and then at Rana.

“Is that everyone?” He asks, she nods.

“Yes,” She answers and then takes a deep breath. “Now get out of here!” She tells them. “Noi” Noivern looks at her. “Protect the Avatar” She orders, he makes a noise, sort of between agreement and argument.

“You're going to do this on your own?!” Katara argues, she was okay with the plan when she thought it was going to be Rana and her pokemon. Suki and her warriors join Rana.

“She's not alone” Suki assures them as Sokka runs up Appa's tail, scooping up Wartortle as he goes. Vulpix and Rockruff make murmurs of argument from Appa's back but Rana shakes her head.

“They need you more than I do...” She tells them. “I have the Kyoshi Warriors, we'll be fine...”

“Rah” Aang tries. She gives him a look before turning to Appa.

“Yip yip” She orders.

“Rana” Aang scolds as he scrambles to hold onto the reins as Appa takes off. Noivern lets out a sonic blast from above them, scattering the Fire Nation soldiers, giving Appa the break he needs to escape. Appa grunts and flies out of the town, Noivern following behind him, casting a worried and concerned look back at Rana who nods at him, she then turns to Suki.

“Protector the villagers” Ranna offers, Suki goes to argue with her but Rana hurries off before she can.

…....

From the square, Zuko watches them leaving, he turns to the soldiers around him as they push themselves back to their feet following Noivern's attack. Zuko clenches his jaw, fingers curling into his palm.

“Back to the ship! Don't lose sight of them!” They turn to leave but find that Rana is stood between them and the route back to their ship. She spins her sword in her hand and holds it out towards them. “You” Zuko growls a little. She smirks and nods.

“Me” She agrees and spins her sword, stepping back into a defensive position.

“You're in my way, girl” Zuko snaps a little and takes a step forward, producing a fireball between his hand, Rana nods again.

“Funny” She counters. “Because that is actually the plan” She cocks her head with a smirk. He releases the fireball towards her. Rana runs towards it, watching it get closer and closer to her. She jumps up, avoiding the fireball, and uses the side of a flaming hut to push herself towards Zuko with speed. He pulls his sword from his belt and gets ready to clash with her. She turns, bringing the sword around her, it shoots out a burst of rainbow energy, throwing everyone but Zuko back. She will focus on him and no one else. She drops into a skid, sliding around him, kicking out his leg before she pounces up to her feet. Zuko grunts as he lands hard on his back though he is quick to get back to his feet. She dodges his blows as he tries to land something, anything on her. But she's not playing to fight, she's playing to stall. He can work with that. He looks at his men behind him.

“Go, after the Avatar” Zuko orders, right now, he's going to fight fire with fire. He'll send his men after the Avatar and deal with the vastaya himself. Zuko lets out a breath and shifts his stance. Ready. Rana looks down, thinking, trying to find a way to work with this situation. She then nods and jumps upwards, her eyes glowing blue as her nine tails fan out behind her. She can feel the swell of power inside of her and leaking out of her. Globes of blue energy form and float around her. Zuko stares up at her. Amazed and slightly terrified. She holds out her hands and draws them upwards towards the sky. Behind her, a large stream of water, funnelled by air erupts from the sea and swirls towards the village. It flies over her head and spews water all over the town putting out the fires Zuko and his army had begun. The town now smoulders, but it is safe. Zuko and his army are now very, very wet. She looks down at the drenched Zuko who glares up at her, she smirks before groaning, her energy draining from her entire body. The bright glow of her eyes fading. She falls to the ground, unconscious, her tails drawing back into one and curling around her. One of his soldiers move to strike her down but Zuko holds out his hand, stopping him. “No” Zuko snaps. “We take this one alive” He looks up at the sky, watching Appa flying away. “Get her on the ship...quickly”

Chapter 21: Chapter Seventeen

Zuko leans in the cell doorway of his ship. Rana had come around not long after they got her back, but after they'd given her her new accommodation. He folds his arms over his chest as he watches her glaring at him from where she is bound to the wall, her arms chained above her, attached to the ceiling. She curls her fingers, wrapping her hands around the chains as her feet barely touch the floor. Her tail swishes angrily behind her.

“I hope you'll find your accommodation to your satisfaction” Zuko offers dryly with little meaning or actual hope. Rana is chained and bounded to the wall. She chuckles and smirks despite how beaten and tired she looks. He momentarily seems surprised before he shakes it off, he turns and leaves, closing and locking the door behind him. She is fine where she is. He'll follow the Avatar. Which will take her back to her pokemon. Which will take her to freedom. She is right where she needs to be.

…..

With her now being locked up, Rana is not exactly expecting visitors. Not unless they want something. So when the door opens, she is surprised, but hides it well. Iroh stands in the doorframe, watching her before he sighs, softening his stance and frame. Trying to come across as non-threatening. But it makes her more cautious. He moves into the cell and to where the catch of her chains are. She watches him, eyes not leaving him. He releases her chains and she drops to her knees with a groan.

“Who are you?” She asks. He moves closer to her.

“Iroh” He offers and helps her up to her feet. She watches him, unsure. “You don't remember me?” Iroh asks, she shakes her head. “Ah, we only met a few times and you were only young...” He waves it off. “Last time I saw you, you had just defaced my father's portrait” He leans closer and smirks. “I thought it was a very nice touch to a rather stern face” She smiles a little and looks down before she frowns. She doesn't remember that. Well, she kind of does. She remembers standing on a boys shoulders, balancing a tray on her head with inks and brushes as she defaced a portrait. But she thought she made it up. That she dreamt it up. That it was nothing. She was a lonely child. Zhao made her feel like it was all made up. That she imagined it all to get through her childhood. But if Iroh knows she did that, it can't be in her head. Which means her 'imaginary' friend, 'Zu', is real too. Which means a lot of things. That her time in the palace was real. The things she got up to. Zu, who would actually be Prince Zuko, as in the person currently holding her. Which is a weird thing to get her head around. To think that he is the one she grew up with as her best friend. That made her laugh. That she thought would be her best friend forever.

“I did that?” She asks him, Iroh nods. She frowns and looks away. She only ever told Zhao about those 'thoughts', those 'imaginations'. He wouldn't have told anyone else, having a daughter with a wild imagination wouldn't have been good for his image. She narrows her eyes at him and steps away. She's not sure now. About any of it.

“You did” Iron voices. “Now, how about some tea?” He asks her and nods for her to follow him. She shakes her head at him. “My nephew doesn't know how to treat our guests” He motions to the door. She's not sure. This could be a trap. This could be a trick. “Please” He adds, she lets out a breath.

…......

Rana is nervous. She has to be. Sitting on an enemy ship. Having tea with a member of Zuko's crew. It's a little surreal. She's not convinced she's not back in her cell fast asleep. That this isn't just some weird dream. Like from a storybook her nanny used to read to her from. She smiles a little thinking about Shakra. It's been a long time since she's seen her, and a while since she thought about her. She knew that thinking about leaving her behind would get to her. Shakra was the mother she always wanted. But she went away before Rana hit sixteen. Now that she thinks about it, she's not sure if Shakra actually left or something terrible happened to her. She looks at Iroh as he sets up his tea set on the table between them. She doesn't feel anything with him. Her whole life she's felt tense and a certain energy from the Fire Nation, that now knows is a warning. But she gets nothing from Iroh. Just as she never got it from Shakra. Weirdly enough, she doesn't get it from Zuko either, which is really strange, considering. She's not sure what that is about. Maybe her instincts are out. Misfiring.

“Jasmine tea” Iroh offers. “My favourite” She hums a little in acknowledgement as he pours it out. “Zuko is no fan of tea and rarely indulges me” The door opens sharply, hitting back against the wall. Rana and Iroh both turn to look at the doorway and Zuko who is standing there, glaring.

“Uncle” Zuko scolds, Iroh looks at him, Zuko motions to Rana sat across from Iroh. “What is she doing out of her cell?”

“Your uncle offered me tea...how could I say no? Just look at that face...” Rana counters with a smirk. Zuko is not amused.

“Put her back,” Zuko tells Iroh who gives him a look back.

“Actually, young Rana and I have business to attend to” Iroh argues, Rana and Zuko both give him a confused look.

“We do?” Rana asks him, Iroh hums and nods for her to follow him as he stands and walks away. Rana looks at Zuko who is just as confused as she is.

“Come now, Young One” Iroh shouts of her. She lets out a breath and then shrugs, following after him. Zuko opens his mouth to argue, but his curiosity over this is overriding him. He closes his mouth and follows too.

Chapter 22: Chapter Eighteen

Zuko moves slower than Iroh and Rana, he doesn't want to be seen as part of this. Whatever this is going to be. He glances over Rana to look at his uncle, hoping for some clue as to what this is instead, Iroh opens a door to reveal a warmer room, candles lit up around it. Iroh personal quarters. There is a bed in the corner, a desk. This is his private quarters. Rana hums and leans back, her eyes on Iroh.

“No offence” She starts. “But you're a little...not my type” She looks at Iroh who chuckles and motions for her to go in. She sighs and does as she is told. There is an altar set up against the wall, covered in pillows, comfy and warm. And in the middle, is an egg. Rana lets out a surprised noise and looks at Iroh who nods for her to go. She moves to the egg, closing her eyes as she touches it. The shell warm under her fingers. She smiles though and then leans forward to press her forehead to it. She has felt a connection to all of them, as she should, they are to be hers. But this is the first time she's been around an egg that's not already hatching. Zuko watches from over his uncle's shoulder. Confused and intrigued. Iroh has had that egg for years. And now he does something about it. Rana lets out a breath. “How did you even get it?” She asks, amazed that he even has one of them. “I thought...” She stops and pulls back with a sigh, she looks at Iroh.

“I found this one at the palace before we left...” Iroh admits as she touches the egg. “Decided to take it with me”

“He's not my father” She argues quietly. “Zhao” She elaborates.

“Yes, that much is obvious” Zuko comments, Iroh shoots him a look to be quiet.

“What?” Rana asks Zuko. “The ears and tail give me away?” He huffs and looks away from her. “I was a prize to be flaunted,” She tells them. “A piece on his Pai Sho board to be moved as he pleased” She picks up the egg and smiles sadly to herself. She is away from the others and now is aware there is at least one egg unhatched. She misses the others. She wonders about this one. She draws her thumb over the scar on the egg. “I knew he had at least one more...I knew...” She presses the egg to her forehead, as if she is trying to read inside of it.

“I think it's a lightning-type” Iroh offers. “See the mark” She pulls the egg back and nods. That makes sense. And according to the book, there are nine different vastayan elements, unlike the human four. Lightning isn't a part of fire as it is with them. Lightning is its own. It's its own element. So it has its own pokemon.

“Okay, you concluded your business, take her back to her cell,” Zuko tells Iroh who shakes his head, a little disappointed in Zuko for this. “She's a prisoner, not our guest, a traitor to the Fire Nation”

“Prince Zuko” Iroh stands as Zuko moves into the room and grabs her arm, she only just manages to keep hold of the egg as he drags her from the room, her tail coming up to smack the back of his head. He shoots her a look and she smirks back at him.

….......

Zuko moves back to the cell door, Rana all chained up again, though he is letting her keep the egg with her. On a table at the side. Not much it can do whilst it is just an egg. He can hear her moving, shifting slightly to get comfortable, or as comfortable as she can be given her position.

“What happened to your face, Zu?” She asks as he reaches out and touches the handle of the door. He stiffens, spine going ridged at the old nickname. “You didn't have that scar when we were children” He turns slightly to look at her. The two of them staring at one another. He thought she'd forgotten him. Made no show of recognising him at all. He swallows a little as she studies him. He swears she can see through him, right down into his soul. He looks away from her before fleeing, slamming the door shut behind him. He wasn't expecting her to remember him. She'd made no show of it until now. He leans back against the door and closes his eyes. It would be easier to forget who she was to him if she didn't show she remembers him back. He leans up and hurries away.

…...

Zuko sits looking over the sketch of young Rana, fingers tracing the lines of her ear. His mind wandering to his past. His history with her. Now he knows it was all real, he can really pull on those memories again. Pulling them back from the back of his mind.

…..

A young Zuko feels fur beneath his fingers as he pushes young Rana's head down, the two of them are hiding, curled up behind some barrels in the kitchens with handfuls of fire gummies that they've stolen from the kitchens. Zuko keeps laughing to himself, finding it really hard to stay quiet. He's going to get them caught but he's happy. He's having fun with his friend. He looks at her when her tail brushes against his arm, her ears twitching and flickering softly, listening for any sounds around them. His friend. Both of them were bright-eyed and untouched by war and betrayal and fire.

“I wish you could stay longer” He admits, she looks at him.

“I'll be back before you know it” She counters as she leans against his arm, he presses his forehead to her head and closes his eyes. She does always come back, but she is always away way too long too for the few days she stays.

….........

Young Zuko is crying, clutching his hand to his chest, the painful burn making it difficult for him to move it. He and Rana had been playing when Azula and her friends had turned up and started tormenting Rana for her ears and tail. Zuko stood up for her, for his friend and Azula burnt his hand for it. It hurts. He hears footsteps outside of his room and moves, shifting up the bed to grab his blanket to hide under. The door opens with a groan.

“Zu?” Rana asks peering into the room. Zuko continues to sob as Rana walks to him; she peels back the cover from Zuko's face. "Zu, it's okay, it's just me” Rana whispers as he curls up, trying to hide. Rana's tail curls closer to her as she moves towards him, sitting next to him as Zuko wipes away tears from his cheeks. Rana holds out her hand to take his injured hand into hers. The cracked burn etched over the back of his hand, red, raw, very fresh, and very painful. Her touch brings more tears to his eyes as he tries to hide how much pain he is in. Rana covers his hand with hers as her eyes turn purple and a matching purple light wraps around his hand. Zuko watches with wide eyes as the purple light heals his skin, undoing the damage that Azula had done to him. “It doesn't matter what they do to us, you know? You look out for me, and I look out for you. Nothing really bad can happen as long as we have each other.” He sniffles and looks at her, at those big blue eyes of hers and he believes her.

“Do you promise?” He asks her, she smiles and nods.

“I promise” She assures him. Zuko clings onto Rana for a few moments before she chuckles softly. “...Come on, let's go back out.” She takes his healed hand in his and stands, pulling him with her.

…......

Zuko scoffs and throws the sketch aside, whipping it from his desk. She lied to him. She was never there for him. They didn't have each other. He had nothing and no one. He was all alone. He doesn't understand why she never came back either. One day she was there. Healing him. Making him promises. Best friends forever and whatever. Curling together and eating fire gummies. Laughing beneath the stars. Making forts. And then she was gone. Never to return. She usually came back. But the next time Zhao visited, Rana wasn't with him. Nothing was given. No reason. No explanation. Not even an excuse. They just ignored that she'd been a part of his life. No wonder it was so easy for her to slip away. For him to believe that she was all in his head. He stands and lets out a breath, straightening his robes.

Chapter 23: Chapter Nineteen

Zuko can't help but scold himself. It's ridiculous. The door is right there and he can't bring himself to go in. He paces outside of her cell. Trying to pluck up the courage to go inside and talk to her. He has questions. So many questions. But he just can't open the door. He can't bring himself to do it. He's such a coward. He shakes his head and walks away. He can't do it. He can't face her again.

.........

Zuko lays with his hands tucked behind his head, staring at the ceiling of his quarters. Coward. His mind is taunting him. He should have been fully capable of going in there and talking with her. He's not scared of her. He lets out a breath and turns onto his side, pulling his blanket over his head to hide himself from his cowardice.

........

Young Zuko rests similarly in his bed. He's alert though, listening to soft footsteps approach his bed. The blanket lifts only slight. Blue eyes peer at him and he smiles before lifting the blanket, Rana climbs into his bed. She chuckles as he wraps his arms around her. Sleepovers were rare for them. Zhao preferring to keep Rana close to him but every now and then, she'd sneak away in the night to play with Zuko. They build forts and she creates little 'fire-bugs' that light up the inside so they can talk and play pretend before falling asleep together. Tonight they don't have time to play or talk, but he will still take this time with his friend before she leaves in the morning. He rests his chin on the top of her head as she falls asleep against him. The two of them taking comfort in the only friendship that they have. Especially as this would be the last time they would see each other for a very long time.

.........

Zuko curls and uncurls his fingers as he walks towards the cells. He's decided to do it. To just ask her why she never came back. But he stops again when he sees another figure moving towards the cells just as he is. A soldier taking breakfast to Rana. Zuko moves to walk away again before he pauses. He's not going to get any answers if he avoids asking her. If he avoids her whilst she is here. He lets out a breath and closes his eyes. Trying to pluck at that sliver of courage to just go and do it. Just go and talk to her.

"You" Zuko snaps, the soldier almost drops the tray in his surprise. He turns to look at Zuko as he approaches him. "I'll...I'll take it" Zuko takes the tray from him and walks away. The soldier frowning slightly with his confusion.

........

Zuko opens the cell door and steps in, the tray of food balanced in one hand as he then closes the door behind him. Rana raises an eyebrow at him in question when he turns back to her. She didn't think he'd come. Iroh might have tried again. But she didn't think Zuko would. Not after she called him on his scar. What she saw in his eyes....he shouldn't have wanted to come back. He sets the tray down between them and then motions at it. Basically telling her to eat. She clears her throat and wiggles her fingers to point out that she's not going to be able to eat with her hands tied the way they are. He sighs and then releases her from the chain, she catches herself this time when she drops. He moves towards her and snaps on a pair of shackles over her wrist. Just in case. She gives him an annoyed look.

"Sit," He tells her as he moves to stand at the door, she huffs and then moves to sit in front of the tray of food. He scratches at his fingers and then crosses his arms over his chest to stop him from fidgeting. He can let her eat first. And he tries. She gets about halfway through before he moves again. Sits across from her, legs crossed. His eyes are still on her. Watching her. "I thought I made you up" He admits, she hums a little and looks at him, her ears flickering.

"What?"

"My memories of you" He looks away from her, he doesn't like that he is admitting this, but he still feels like he should tell her. He wants to tell her even if he doesn't like it. "I thought I made you up" She snorts a little and leans towards him, a teasing twinkle in her eyes.

"So did I" She offers, he frowns slightly. "Thought I made you up..." She continues. "I never put two and two together, you being Prince Zuko and my Zu" He stares at her a little with that 'my', he doesn't know why that affects him, she's a traitor to the Fire Nation, his enemy....but his former friend. She shrugs. "I guess I was kind of dim" He scoffs slightly and looks away from her. "Zhao...he used to tell me that I'd never been to the palace" He looks back at her. "That 'Zu' was in all in my head. That I had a vivid imagination...I had no reason to doubt him back then" She looks down and touches the edge of the bowl.

"He's coming for you" He admits to her, she nods.

"Thought he would" She agrees. "It's not in his nature to let his trophies go" She pushes the tray aside, away from them.

"You turned your back on him and the Fire Nation" He reminds her. "There's no coming back from that display of dishonour" She smirks at him, leaning forward to stare into his eyes.

"I hope not," She tells him and then lifts her hand to poke his nose. He wrinkles it when she pulls back and drops back onto her backside. "Why would I want to go back when I am finally free?" She asks him, he gives a meaningful look at her chains.

"Yes, free" He comments dryly. She looks at the shackles around her wrist.

"You don't think I can get out of these if I wanted to?" She muses, he gives her a look, she curls her fingers around the chains and then pulls, pushing a lot of her true strength into it. Zuko grabs her wrists to stop her, eyes on the links of the chain, strained and stretched, about ready to snap. He looks alarmed. She smirks and then gives a big tug, the chains snap away, completely. Zuko moves fast. Pushes her back to the floor. He pins her down, fingers wrapped around her wrists. She simply chuckles. Amused. "I don't want to escape" She whispers to him, he frowns because he doesn't understand why. "Because you are going to take me exactly where I want to go" She smirks up at him. "Back to the Avatar and my pokemon" He leans up and relaxes his frown. That makes sense. He is going after the Avatar. Leading her right back to him and her creatures.

"I could throw you overboard" He counters, she hums and nods.

"You could, but you won't" She argues, he raises an eyebrow at her.

"Won't I?" He asks.

"Nope," She answers and shrugs. "Because" She leans up onto her elbows. "The Zuko I remember.....my Zu" His breath catches. "He's not a bad person, he's not capable of it"

"I grew up" He offers. "Changed..."

"Nope" She argues and shrugs.

"You can't argue with that" He points out giving her a look, she smirks back at him.

"Yes, I can" She counters, the two of them share a look. He huffs and turns away from her. She moves to his side, crouching as she looks over the scar on his face. "What happened to your face?" She repeats, softer this time, as she reaches out to touch the scar. He grabs her wrist to stop her. He swallows a little as he looks at her and realises just how close she is to him now, staring at him. Those blue eyes again. The egg crackles with lightning behind them.

"You are probably the only person in the Fire Nation that doesn't know" He comments quietly.

"So tell me" She counters.

"No" He argues and pushes her back a little. Not forcefully but with enough force that she knows she's too close to him. She shrugs and moves away, shifting around the room. "Why didn't you come back?" He asks her, his voice breaking a little before he covers it up with a cough. "You never came back" He accuses. She cocks her head and lets out a breath before she frowns at the wall, thinking back on then when and why she never went back to the palace with Zhao.

"I don't know" She admits and looks at him. "I just...Zhao never took me with him again. I asked..." She shakes her head. "He never said why, just get angry with me for asking...Then he started telling me that I have never been with him, that you weren't real, that it was all in my head. A stupid little girl's fantasy"

"When did you figure it wasn't?" He asks as he pushes himself up to stand.

"Your uncle" She answers. "He mentioned a portrait, and I remember drawing on a portrait with Zu, so....for him to know that....would mean that..."

"I was real" He offers, she hums and nods.

"Feels so long ago now" She looks at him. "When we were those children...all we had to worry about was your evil sister" He snorts a little and looks at her, she smirks and he looks down, fighting his own smile. This is unfair. That this is where their friendship has led them. With her on the wrong side of the war. Standing against him.

"It's a shame really" He comments, she frowns at him, confused. "That you turned your back on the Fire Nation" He points out. She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"Seeing them for what they really are...isn't turning my back on them" She argues moving back towards him. He stands up tall, keeping his stance as she reaches him. "You have no idea" She leans closer to him. "How good it feels to be free of them" She whispers. "The weight lifted to be free of Zhao" Her voice breaks a little, his eyes searching hers, trying to work out what the hell happened to her, to them, why it led them here, why it turned her into this disobedient, dishonourable fighter. Lightning cracks again, this time catching their attention. Zuko and Rana turn to the egg, her eyes widen seeing a crack forming along the shell.

"What is happening?" He asks.

"It's hatching" She answers and looks at him, he pulls a face and goes to leave. She folds her arms over her chest and cocks her head. "Aren't you a tiny bit curious?" She teases a little. He sighs a little because she's right. It's been sat in his uncle's quarters for years and Iroh was always really quiet about it. Zuko lets out a breath and then moves to the egg, taking it from the little cushioned stand before he hands it over to Rana, she drops onto the floor, legs crossed as she stares down at the egg. Excitement and joy in her eyes, despite her situation, her location and the current company she has.

Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty

Zuko sets down the fresh tray of food and looks across at Rana who sleeps against the wall, the egg tucked into her chest, her arms around it, her tail brought around and up to cushion it. It still hasn't hatched. All-day. All night. And nothing. Zuko couldn't stick around to wait. He had duties to attend to and he couldn't let it be seen that he's spending time with their prisoner. It's bad enough he's bringing her food. He shouldn't be showing her kindness at all. But there is lingering nostalgia that forces him to give her something nice. To be kind to her. Even if he doesn't want to like it. He doesn't want to feel that nostalgia. It makes him feel like he is the one betraying the Fire Nation. He moves closer to her, grabbing the Fire Nation robes left for her to change into, which she didn't, opting to stay in her dress. He shakes out the robe, opening it up to use as a blanket instead as he drapes it over her body. He looks down hearing a cracking sound. Right there. Standing in the remnants of the egg. Is a little yellow rodent thing and it's staring at him. He leans back when it reaches out for him. This isn't meant for him. This moment was meant for Rana and she slept through it. He touches her arm and gives her a shake.

“Zu?” She mumbles, half asleep. He stares at her a little. That stupid nickname still gets to him and it shouldn't. It has no right to get to him any more. 

“Your thing....hatched” He points out, she hums, still waking up before she then seems to realise what he's said. She bolts upright, almost knocking straight into him, he grabs her arm to keep himself upright and shoots her an annoyed look, but she ignores it in favour of the creature sat in front of them. She picks it up and pokes the thing's cheeks with a soft sad smile. The others missed this. Missed welcoming a new brother or sister into their little group. Zuko watches her, feels an ache in his chest with her looking so....lost and alone. “What is it?” He asks when she doesn't offer it up, she shrugs.

“I don't know” She admits. “I usually just name them by what they say first, it's been right so far” She holds up the little thing and raises an eyebrow. “If I had my book it would be easier”

“What?”

“In my bag, there is a huge tome....has all their names in” He looks at the thing and then stands, heading to the door of the cell, opening it up to poke his head out. There is a soldier at the end of the hallway, stood guard.

“You” Zuko orders and the soldier looks at him. “In my quarters, there is a bag that belonged to the vastaya....bring it to me”

“A bag?” The soldier asks, wanting clarification. Zuko rolls his eyes a little.

“Her bag” He draws out and gives the soldier a look. “Are you slow?” The soldier walks away.

…...

The soldier returns with her bag in short time but Zuko still feels like he took forever, just to annoy him. Zuko snatches the bag from him and then dismissive the soldier before he turns to the doorway. He opens up the satchel and sees the spine of the tome there. He takes it from the bag and sets the satchel down beside the door before he turns back to where Rana is now on her hands and knees, her rear poised in the air as her tail swishes around. She's pulling faces at the little yellow pokemon who pulls faces back at her. He holds out the book to her but she waves him off with her hand.

“You find it” She points out without looking at him. Zuko lets out an annoyed breath before he looks down at the tome, opens it up, flicking through it to look for the right page. The sketches help. There must be an entry for every single type of pokemon the vastaya have ever had contact with. It looks like an instruction manual for them. He finds the one that he thinks looks the most like this little thing and gives Rana a glance to make sure she's paying attention, but he's not sure she is.

“Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokémon” He reads for her as she continues to give her full attention to Pichu. “Despite their size, Pichu release bursts of lightning that can shock even a vastaya. However, Pichu are unskilled at controlling their lightning, and sometimes release it by accident when surprised, or when laughing, and shock themselves”

“Wait, what?” She asks and then Pichu laughs, letting out a bolt of lightning from his cheeks that hits Rana. She is electrocuted, violently. Zuko jumps back from her. Rana groans and leans back once it stops, her skin feels like it's been flayed, her hair sticking on end, along with the fur on her ears and tail. Zuko bites the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing.

“Pichu” Pichu offers apologetically, rubbing at his cheeks.

“Ouch” Rana comments dryly as she tries to flatten her hair and ears. She looks at Zuko. “Don't” She warns him, he gives her a look back.

“What?” He defends and sets the book in her lap. “I wasn't going to say anything”

“Yes, you were” She counters. “You were going to laugh” He scoffs and looks away from her. “Glad to know seeing me in pain makes you happy” She comments dryly, he clenches his jaw and looks at her as she pulls her food closer letting Pichu climb into her lap.

“It doesn't” He argues, her eyes flicker up to meet his. “I'll be back with dinner” He adds and then turns to leave, uncomfortable with the attention now. “And...” He stops and glances over his shoulder. “If it makes you feel any better, it looked wonderful” He teases leaving the cell, though he leaves the door open instead of locking it. She smiles to herself and looks down at Pichu who is helping itself to her breakfast.

Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-One

Rana is sat on the deck of the Fire Nation ship in the lotus position. Pichu sat on her head playing with her ears as she concentrates on her breathing. She thought she'd test the waters since Zuko left her cell open. She figured it was some kind of test, for what she's not sure, but she wanted to see what he'd do. Zuko stands in front of her, waiting for her to react, but she's good at ignoring him. He lets out a breath and wrinkles his nose.

“Is this you attempting to escape?” He asks, folding his arms over his chest.

“I told you” She starts. “I don't want to escape” She peers at him through her eyes before she shrugs, closing them again. “I can't meditate in the dark” She admits and lifts her face to the sun. “Plus, you are the one who left the door open...I could have been halfway to the North Pole by now” He hums a little before he moves to where Iroh sits playing Pai Sho with the crew.

“Why is she so important?” Zuko asks Iroh who glances up to look at him. “What is it about her?” Zuko takes a seat and sulks a little.

“You were never taught about the Legend of the True Elemental?” Iroh offers as they watch Rana, Zuko shakes his head. He doesn't remember that being part of his studies growing up. “A vastaya that has mastered all nine of their elements, one for each tail and realm from which they draw their powers. She's the first one that's been born in over 100 years” Iroh nods to Rana as she begins to float up off of the deck. Zuko frowns a little. “See” Iroh starts. “They are only born to one specific bloodline....that girl is vastayan royalty” Iroh makes a move on the board. “Her great-grandfather was the Vastaya King when the Fire Nation hunted them down” Zuko glances away from Rana and to Iroh.

“Why?” Zuko asks.

“Power” Iroh answers. “They had too much in Sozin's eyes. Too close a bond with the Avatar. Too progressive in their beliefs. Sozin failed at the time. The vastaya had too many friends....Your grandfather saw Sozin's mission complete 80 years later, almost any way” Iroh glances over at Rana. “He planned to attack Vasta, their capital, there was a rumour that the princess was pregnant at the time, Azulon wanted to capture her, take possession of the child to control it once it got older, to own the Elementals, to use them as he saw fit. But the princess and her husband and a number of their people were evacuated before we'd even left the Fire Nation capital” Iroh takes a sip of tea. “Took the Fire Nation three years to find them, by then, the princess and her husband were dead, and the child had been placed with a human family, king and queen of Arkala, a small city to the west...” Zuko looks across at Rana. She'd lost so much before he'd even met her, and she had no idea. “That child was found by Zhao instead and he slaughtered his way through a village to kidnap a two-year-old child...”

“For Rana?” Zuko asks, Iroh nods. “Why are they so important?” Zuko counters. “These Elementals”

“Because they are absolutely and unwaveringly loyal to the Avatar, regardless of nation, they are to serve the Avatar, protect and guide them, to aid them in becoming bending masters. Each Avatar that has ever been, owes their success to an Elemental.....So...what it is?” Iroh asks, Zuko snorts a little.

“Pichu” Zuko answers. “She has a book, with all this information in” He muses. “Names of her....creatures”

“Pokemon” Iroh corrects him, Zuko hums a little and then stands. He moves to where she is meditating and then is reaching out to take the book from where it lays at her side. She opens her eyes to look at him, and for a moment, he thinks she's going to stop him from taking it, but she simply closes her eyes again and he lets out a breath, moving back to Iroh with the book.

“They are all in here” Zuko offers and opens the book up for Iroh to look, flipping to the page with Pichu on.

“So I was right” Iroh teases with a smirk. “A lightning-type, ha, how about that?” Zuko rolls his eyes a little but glances over at Pichu who smiles at him as it plays with Rana's ears. “It seems to be rather taken with you” Iroh teases, elbowing Zuko who gives him a look to stop. Iroh smirks and turns back to the tome in front of him, flicking through the pages. Zuko's feature twists slightly. If anyone is going to know what happened with Rana and why she was never brought back to the palace, it's going to be his uncle, right?

“Uncle” Zuko starts and Iroh turns to him. “Why did Zhao stop bringing her to the palace?” Iroh lets out a sad sigh and places his hand on Zuko's shoulder.

“I don't know” Iroh answers. And he has really does have no idea. Last he heard, Ursa was excited to be gaining such a wonderful daughter in law one day. He doesn't know how it went from arranged marriage to absolutely nothing. Rana would have been good for Zuko. With her spirit and her heart, she would have been able to keep up with him, to challenge him in the best ways. Even now. Iroh can something changed in Zuko's eyes since he realised who Rana is to him. Zuko lets out a breath before he stands, moving back to Rana, to watch her as she hovers. It's not a fire-bending move. But it is still an impressive trick. He raises an eyebrow at her when she opens her eyes. She tilts her head, lip twitching into a smirk before she moves her hands and arms, lifting a string of water from the sea, pulling it closer to her and turning it into a bubble. She moves her hands, slowly, carefully. She then lifts it up above them, Zuko gives her a look and steps back but it's too late, the bubble bursts. It soaks both of them. Zuko looks very unamused by it but Iroh is sat laughing, clutching his stomach and shaking the Pai Sho board. Zuko turns and walks away.

“Ah, come on, Zu” Rana shouts after him. “It was an accident” He shoots her a glare over his shoulder as he heads back into the ship. Rana cringes a little and then shakes her ears to get rid of the water. She then smirks as her eyes turn purple, drifting up to look into the clouds as a shadow passes through them.

…........

Noivern flaps his wings silently as he cuts through the clouds, spinning and twirling. Waiting. Following. Ready for action.

Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Two

Zuko lays back on his bed, he's dry now, and has changed into something simpler to spend his evening. He's not taking dinner to Rana, simply because of her little trick with water. He's sure she did it on purpose. To humiliate him in front of his crew. He lets out a harsh breath and then finds himself frowning. He sits up to survey the room. Something is different. Something is wrong with what he's looking at. Something is wrong with his quarters. His eyes scan around, looking for just what it is. A sword stand that he knows he placed Rana's sword on. Only the sword is now gone. He scrambles to his feet and rushes out of the room.

…...

Zuko hurries onto the deck before he slows, eyes finding Rana. She's standing on the edge of the ship, staring down into the water, her sword strapped to her back. He makes his way towards her, slow, cautious. She lets out a breath and turns to face him. He looks a little angry. A lot angry with her for doing this. It was smart. Getting them to let their guard down around her. Let her roam about the ship without question. He won't be making that mistake again.

“Going somewhere?” He asks, she hums and shifts on her feet.

“Thought I'd take you up on that escape offer” She answers.

“Really?” He asks her, she shrugs and then whistles sharply. Noivern bursts out of the clouds and flies downward towards them at some speed.

“I just had to get close enough to call for him” She admits.

“Which means I'm close to the Avatar” Zuko adds, she shrugs.

“No close enough” She argues and readies her stance. “I'll have speed on my side, I'll get to him first....”

“We'll see” He counters and then charges her. Noivern lets out a sonic blast, throwing Zuko back, Rana looks momentarily concerned for him when he lands rather hard but shakes her head to clear it. Noivern lands on the deck, claws digging into the wood as he skids to a stop. Rana runs towards him, Pichu clutching to her tail. “Don't let her escape” Zuko orders his soldiers who instantly run towards Rana. Pichu releases her tail and jumps down onto the deck. Rana pulls herself to a stop, reaching for him.

“Pi...Chu!!!” Lightning erupts from Pichu and hires towards the approaching soldiers who scurry and run out of the way. Pichu whimpers a little as it stops, the effects of it hitting him too. Rana scoops it up and then climbs up onto Noivern's back, settling in the saddle.

“Let's go, Noi!” She orders, cradling Pichu in her arm as she grabs Noivern's reins. Noivern makes a noise of agreement and then pushes himself up into the sky with a blastwave of air from his wings. Pichu waves down at Zuko who watches them fly away, disappearing into the clouds. Zuko lets out a cry of anger, fire bursting from his hands. He lets out a harsh breath through his nose.

…..........

Rana lets out a relieved breath once Noivern settles into the clouds. They offer him a bit of cover, hiding him against the night sky. Rana leans forward and hugs Noivern's neck. She has missed him. Missed all of them.

“Let's go find our friends,” Rana tells him, Noivern roars and pushes onward. He knows where he is going.

…...

Katara sleeps on a mat laid out upon a Fire Nation prison rig. Pretending to be an earth-bender just to get here, which probably isn't her best plan. Just to save someone she unintentionally got into trouble. They'd stopped in a village to try and figure out what to do about Rana, her pokemon were getting increasingly distressed about her being gone. They had no idea where she was. If she even got out of the village. But Aang assured them that the pokemon would be more upset and would have likely left them if they truly felt that Rana was in danger. A small figure waddles towards where Katara is sleeping, ears flickering and twitching, listening for any sign it's been spotted. Wartortle. He moves to Katara.

“Wartortle” He states and then blasts some water into her face, waking her up, she starts to cry out but silences herself when she recognises Wartortle looming over her. The two of them share a look before she nods and she stands, following after him as he waddles away.

…......

Wartortle leads Katara to the edge of the rig's main platform where Appa, Aang, and Sokka are waiting with Rockruff and Vulpix. Katara notes that Noivern isn't in sight but assumes he's on the lookout.

“Your 12 hours are up, where's Haru?” Sokka tells her. “We've got to get out of here” Wartortle hops off the platform and onto Appa. Sokka holds his arm out to Katara.

“I can't” She argues.

“Vulpix” Vulpix complains and Aang nods, despite having absolutely no idea what she is saying to him.

“We don't have much time, there are guards everywhere. Get on.” Sokka argues with Katara who looks conflicted about leaving.

“Katara, what's wrong?” Aang asks.

“I'm not leaving. I'm not giving up on these people” Katara tells them and motions behind her. Sokka and Aang climb from Appa to talk with Katara better.

“What do you mean you're not leaving!?” Sokka scolds her.

“We can't abandon these people. There has to be a way to help them” Katara tells him.

“Maybe she's right. What do you say, Sokka?” Aang asks looking at Sokka.

“I say you're both crazy!” A searchlight comes close by and they hunker down until it passes. “Last chance, we need to leave – now!”

“No” Katara argues firmly. She's not moving on this.

“I hate when you get like this” Sokka complains. Another searchlight shines across, almost hitting them and alerting the Fire Nation to their presence. “Come on, we better hide.”

Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Three

Aang whispers something to Appa, who flies off silently, Wartortle, Momo, Vulpix, and Rockruff stand at Aang's feet. He motions with his hand and leads them away.

…......

Momo and Rockruff are peeping over a crate that is set up in the main courtyard, behind them is Aang with Sokka and Katara who each hold Vulpix and Wartortle.

“We don't have much time. What are we gonna do?” Sokka asks them.

“I wish I knew how to make a hurricane” Aang admits. “The Warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!”

“Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?” Sokka asks, poking a great big hole into that story.

“I'm just tossing ideas around”

“I tried talking the earth-benders into fighting back, but it didn't work. If there was just a way to help them help themselves”

"For that, they'd need some kind of earth, or some rock... something they can bend”

“But this entire place is made of metal” Katara argues, Aang then looks at Rockruff and smirks.

“Rockruff can do it” Aang offers. “She can create rocks...she's a, what is it called?” Aang presses his hand to his head as he thinks. “Rock-type” He offers and then smiles, proud of himself.

“Rock?” Rockruff asks him.

“That's great, considering she doesn't listen to us at all” Sokka complains and looks down at Rockruff who wags her tail with a dopey look on her face.

….......

Aang, Katara and Sokka are back on the prisoner deck with Rana's pokemon. Standing, getting read. Aang really hopes that Rockruff is going to listen to them. None of them does as they are told unless they feel like helping. Wartortle, so far, is more likely to help. Vulpix is the least likely.

“It's almost dawn, we're running out of time! Are you sure this is gonna work?” Katara asks Aang who nods.

“We just have to tell her and she should....do it” Aang draws off as he, Katara and Sokka look around, they are now surrounded by six Fire Nation soldiers pointing their spears at them and the prisoners behind them, more Fire Nation soldiers are waiting for them beyond that initial ring too.

“There's the intruders!” One of the Fire Nation men claims, using his spear to point at Katara, Sokka and Aang.

“Stay back, I'm warning you!” Sokka warns drawing his boomerang.

“Katara, stop!” Tyro asks of her from behind her. “You can't win this fight!” The Warden of the prison steps through his men. Rockruff, Wartortle, and Vulpix are looking up at the clouds.

“Listen to him well, child” The Warden states. “You're one mistake away from dying where you stand” Rockruff suddenly charges forward barking away before she looks up. Noivern bursts out of the clouds and flies towards them, Rana turns his slightly closer to the ground.

“Rockruff, rockslide!” She orders. Rockruff nods and then leaps up, letting out a howl which is accompanied by rocks that fall from the sky, landing in a massive pile between the earth-benders and the fire-benders.

“Rana” Aang lets out relieved as she slides from Noivern's back before he lands, letting him fly around above them whilst she takes the ground with the others. The prisoners behind Katara are looking at the pile of earth that has just appeared thanks to Rockruff who now stands atop the pile.

“Here's your chance, earth-benders!” Katara yells and grabs a rock and raises it high. “Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!” Haru begins to move forward, but Tyro stops him. Various prisoners begin to shrink backwards, eschewing open conflict.

“Hahaha! Foolish girl!” The Warden laughs. “You thought a few inspirational words and some rocks would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago. Oh? But you still believe in them?” Katara lowers the rock, shock on her face. “How sweet. They're a waste of your energy, little girl. You've failed” The Warden mocks slightly. Katara hangs her head. Rana shakes hers and moves forward.

“No, we can take them,” Rana tells them. “A fire-bender, air-bender, and a water-bender....and, yeah, Sokka, I guess” Sokka looks at her with a small glare, Rana looks at Katara. “Come on, that's easy”

“Not without water” Katara argues weakly. Rana looks at her and then down at Wartortle who nods.

“Water gun” Rana commands and Wartortle fires a stream of water towards Katara whose eyes widen before she is quick to drop into a water-bending move to gather the water. “How about now?” Katara smiles at her and nods. The Warden backs up a little when Rana produces a fireball between her hands. Sokka nods in agreement and holds out his boomerang. A trio of rocks begin to lift from the pile, Rockruff barking and chasing them, disappearing behind Katara, Katara turns to follow and finds Haru earth-bending the rocks closer to him. Taking a stand with them. Katara smiles and nods in thanks.

“Haru” His father, Tyro argues. Haru shakes his head.

“This is the right thing...” Haru counters and looks at his father. “We can do this” Tyro searches his son's eyes before he nods and shifts into an earth-bending stance.

“Show no mercy!” The Warden exclaims menacingly to his men.

Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Four

The Fire Nation line charges forward, unleashing a wall of flame. Rana spins and throws out her hands, the wall of fire stops and she lets out a small cry of effort as she holds it off, trying to redirect it. With a shove of her hands, the firewall retreats back the way it came, rolling back towards the Fire Nation men.

“For the Earth Kingdom, attack!” Tyro cheers and from behind Rana, earth-benders charge forward lifting the rocks from Rockruff who barks and charges with them. Tyro slams the palms of his fists on the deck of the rig, throwing the wall of rocks forward towards the Fire Nation line. The Fire Soldiers deflect some of the rocks with flame. Rana looks down at Vulpix who stands ready at her side with a growl.

“Inferno” Rana tells her. Vulpix rears her head back and then lets loose a stream of fire from her mouth. Sokka stares at her a moment before taking a few steps back. He had no idea that could happen. Rana uses these flames to bend and attack her former home nation. Wartortle follows Katara, offering her water when she needs it. Noivern flies overhead, blasting down airwaves to clear as many fire-benders that he can. One on one the earth-benders block fire attacks with rock shields and knock out fire-bender by striking them huge lumps of rock thrown at high speed. Heaps of burning rock now litter the deck. Rana, Katara, Sokka and Aang are rushing forward against the Fire Nation. A Fire Nation soldier approaches them, but Sokka cuts off the head of his spear with his boomerang and throws the spearhead with a small shaft still attached to it to Momo who is flying close overhead. Momo then collects spears as they are thrown by Fire Nation soldiers, rendering them harmless. Tyro and Haru stand in front of the rock dump. They raise a huge amount of rock, and then mash it between them to create a boulder. The Warden is rapidly shooting fireballs at targets. Haru and Tyro are then throwing the boulder at the door into the rig. It blasts a boulder shaped hole in the door.

“Get to the ship! We'll hold them off!” Tyro tells the other earth-benders.

“Do not let them escape!” The Warden rallies a few of his troops and they begin to barrage the exit with flame. Rana, Aang, Katara and Sokka are trying to exit. When they see the flames hit the wall in front of them they stop. Rana throws out her arms in an x movement and the flames snuff out completely, Clearing the way. Rockruff chews on the leg of a soldier who tries to shake her off, with no luck. Aang air-bends a small tornado into existence, the end of which is aimed at the fire-benders.

“Guys, throw me some rock!” He asks. Sokka and Katara start dropping chunks of rock into the top of the little whirlwind, which accelerates down the wind tube and exits at high speed towards the Warden's men. Then all get knocked down. Tyro and two other earth-benders bend the entire rock dump, with the Warden and all his men on it, out of over the open water.

“No, please! I can't swim!” The Warden begs.

“Don't worry, I hear cowards float” Tyro drops them all into the ocean below. Rana lets out a breath and smiles, picking up Vulpix who nuzzles into her neck. Behind her, Noivern lands, revealing a sleeping Pichu on his back. Katara suddenly hugs Rana who chuckles and hugs her back.

“I was so worried” Katara admits.

“Rah” Aang runs at her when Katara pulls back.

“I'm okay” Rana assures them both. Aang gives her a sad smile before he hugs her. “I'm fine” She adds. “I actually gained a new friend” She motions to Pichu. “I found an egg...it hatched, ta-dah”

“What does he do?” Sokka asks as he pokes Pichu's cheek, Pichu's eyes snap open in surprise.

“I wouldn't...” Rana warns but it's too late, Pichu lets loose a lightning bolt that zaps Sokka, throwing him backwards away from him. Katara and Aang turn to look at him.

“I'm okay!” Sokka assures them as he sits up. His hair is all on end. Katara covers her mouth to stop a sizeable laugh. Aang does no such thing and bursts out into laughter.

“New friend!” Aang cheers and then picks up Pichu to hug it closer.

“Pichu!” Pichu cheers and hugs Aang back. Sokka groans and flops back to the ground.

….....

Rana sits with Vulpix on the back of Appa, comfy in his saddle as they fly through the sky away from the prison. She's tired. Exhausted really. Wartortle sleeps against her side with Rockruff and above them Noivern slowly circles. They are all tired. Rana sighs and pulls the crystal ball from her neck, looks over it before she touches it to Wartortle's head, he disappears and she moves on to Rockruff and then Vulpix. Letting them rest now.

“Noi” She whispers as her eyes turn purple to communicate with him. He turns and flies down to her so she can lean over and holds out the ball. He manages to touch his wing to the ball and then disappears. Rana lets out a breath before setting the ball back on her chain. She hates to do it, but they could all do with the rest. She sinks into the saddle and closes her eyes, touching the lapels of her dress as she starts to drift to sleep as Appa flies through the clouds, Katara sits watching the prison slowly get smaller and smaller. Aang steers and leads Appa whilst Sokka relaxes too. Rana draws her fingers to the button on her dress before she sits up straighter, realising that her pin is missing, she touches the space on her dress where it usually sits but it's empty. The jade lotus is the only greeny-blue colour she usually wears. She kind of feels empty without it. Naked. It's been part of her dress since she was a child. No matter what she wore, that pin was there. Katara notes her expression and scoots across the saddle to sit with her.

“What's wrong?” Katara asks her.

“My dress pin” Rana answers, rubbing her finger over the button and gives a sad smile. “The lotus” Katara nods. “I must have dropped it”

“Is it important?” Rana shrugs in answer because she doesn't know really.

“I think so” Rana admits with a small frown. “I..it's something I've cherished for a long time but I can't remember where I got...” She stops when she does suddenly remember where she got it from. Zuko. Zuko gave it to her. “Yes, it was important” She lets out a breath. She supposes it doesn't matter now. “There's no going back now” She whispers and stares out at the sun rising in the distance.

…............

The jade lotus pin is lying on the deck of the rig, fallen in the fight, the stake of the pin bent out of shape. Zuko stands over it, staring down at the pin before he picks it up, running his thumb over the lotus flower and then looks out over the sea.

Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-Five

It is a beautiful day with lazy, puffy white clouds and sunshine as Appa flies through the sky, softly, gently. Not in a rush to go anywhere or to do anything. Rana stares up at the clouds as they pass over above them. There is a softer energy to this day. Relaxed and calm. Pichu bounces from person to person seeking attention from those that will give it to him. Aang is in Appa's driving seat, leaning back, enjoying himself with a reed in his mouth. Katara stretches out on her stomach looking over Appa's side, while Sokka whittles away at something.

“Those clouds look so soft, don't they?” Katara asks as she stares over the edge of Appa. “Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft cottony heap”

“Maybe you should give it a try” Sokka comments offhandedly with a smirk.

“You're hilarious” Katara comments and gives him a glare over her shoulder,

“I'll try it!” Aang counters and then just jumps right off Appa's side, laughing and hurtling down through the clouds with his staff. Rana, Sokka and Katara look over the side of Appa as he plunges through a cloud.

“How am I supposed to keep him safe if he's going to keep doing dumb stuff like this?” Rana asks as she cocks her head.

“If you're that worried” Sokka starts. “Go after him” She pulls a face and then shrugs.

“Nah” She leans back and lets out a breath. Sokka snorts.

“Not that worried then” He teases, she smirks and nudges him with her foot. They've come a long way since that initial meeting. With them travelling together, and in such tight quarters, plus she basically sacrificed herself for them to escape. He also kind of changed the way his mind thinks after spending time with Suki and the Kyoshi warriors. A moment later Aang lands next to them with his glider. He is soaking wet.

“Turns out clouds are made of water!” He tells them and then air-bends himself dry. Sokka and Katara eye him strangely as Rana smirks. Katara shakes her head and sinks back against Appa again, they all return to their previous positions. “Rah?” Aang asks, she hums. “Where's your book?” She looks at him and then to where he's holding her bag.

“Urm. Kind of lost it” She admits. “Well, no, not lost, I know exactly where it is....”

“Where is it?” Sokka asks her.

“On a Fire Nation ship” She answers, they give her a look to keep going, sensing more. “Oh, urm....Prince Zuko's ship. I passed out after I went all....” She motions with her hands. “You know....nine-tails....so he took me” She offers and shrugs.

“Why didn't you tell us?” Aang asks her.

“I didn't want you to worry about it” She counters and goes back to looking over the side of Appa.

“Did they hurt you?” Katara asks quietly.

“No” Rana assures her. “I just sat in a cell until I could reach Noi, I just forgot to grab the book on the way out” Suddenly, Katara turns and looks ahead.

“Hey, what is that?” She asks, they all turn to follow her direction to find that up ahead, the floor of the valley below around the river is black instead of vegetation green.

“It's like a scar” Sokka offers quietly, a sense of loss settling over the four of them. It's very clear something bad happened here.

…............

Rana touches Appa's leg as he lets out a small noise. They've landed in the damaged area to take a closer look. It's black. Everything has been burnt to a crisp. Burnt tree stumps dot the barren landscape.

“Listen, it's so quiet. There's no life anywhere” Sokka tells them, Katara watches Aang sadly as he moves through the burnt ground.

“Aang, are you okay?” She asks. Sokka crouches and examines the burnt ground.

“Fire Nation! Those evil savages make me sick!” Sokka then stops and looks at Rana who raises an eyebrow at him.

“No, no, keep going, I'm sure you're right” She assures him. Sokka then nods.

“Yeah, okay.....They have no respect for...” Katara shoots him a look to stop. He gives her an angry and annoyed look back. “What? I'm not allowed to be angry?” Rana moves forward to where Aang is clearly very upset, he sinks to his knees in the dust and sighs, he runs his hands over, Cut to a frontal shot of Aang, who begins to run his hands through the burnt earth.

“Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?”

“Aang, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you” Katara tries to reassure him.

“Yes, it does” Aang counters. “It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But, I don't know how to do my job” He whispers sadly.

“That's why we're going to the North Pole to find you a teacher” Katara assures him.

“Yeah, a water-bending teacher, but there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me” Aang argues.

“The Avatar before you?” Sokka asks as Rana looks around at the landscape. “He died over a hundred years ago, how are you supposed to talk to him?”

“I don't know” Momo jumps into his lap and begins to chitter. Aang pets his back comfortingly.

…......

Zuko is weaving his way through a wooded area looking for his uncle whose wandered off just as they were preparing to leave. Because of course, he has. But since when does his uncle make anything easier for him? He adjusts the strap of his satchel, Rana's tome sticks out the top of it. He's not risking setting it down anywhere in case he loses it, in case she pops out of nowhere and takes it back. If she wants it. She's going to have to face him.

“Uncle!” He shouts and then steps through the trees. “It's time to leave! Where are you? Uncle Iroh!” He looks up seeing a Fire Nation uniform hanging over the branch of a tree. Iroh is lounging in a hot bath, the tub made out of rock and it is fed by a stream coming out of the rocks behind it.

“Over here” He shouts back happily.

“Uncle?” Zuko asks and moves to where he can see Iroh. “We need to move on, we're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose him!” Zuko scolds him.

“Is it the Avatar that you are so consumed with?” Iroh asks with a sly smirk. “Or is there another....?” Zuko clenches his fingers into his palm and lets out an annoyed breath.

“That's not...” He stops and then shakes his head. “Enough” Zuko scolds. It's not his fault that Rana's stuck in his head. That she's all he can think about. He literally can't stop thinking about her. Even when he is reading reports, she is right there. Even when he meditates. She is still somehow there. He can't sleep without thinking about her. Without dreaming of memories and moments from his childhood. Haunting him. Taunting him. Stupid former friendship that won't leave his mind.

“You look tired, Prince Zuko” Iroh offers. “Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?”

“My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!”

“You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself” Iroh shifts position slightly, puts his hands together and breathes steam from his nostrils. Zuko swats the steam away.

“Enough! We need to leave now! Get out of the water!” Iroh begins to rise.

“Very well” Iroh counters. Zuko is quick to hold up his hand to block his view of Iroh who is completely naked.

“On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes, but be back at the ship in half an hour or I'm leaving without you” Zuko starts to walk away, heading back through the trees. Iroh leans back into the hot spring happily with a relaxed sigh.

Chapter 30: Chapter Twenty-Six

Rana approaches Aang who still kneels in the scorched earth, she holds something in her hand. Sokka and Katara linger close by behind her. They know that Aang might only listen to her about leaving this place. And they do need to get moving. She lets out a breath.

“Hey Aang, are you ready to be cheered up?” Rana asks him.

“No” He answers. Rana looks down at the acorn in her hand before she throws it, hitting Aang on the side of the head. “Ow!” Aang turns and looks at Rana. “Hey, how was that cheering me up?”

“Hehe, cheered me up” Sokka admits before he is promptly whacked by an acorn from Katara on this side of his head. “Ow! Yeah, I probably deserved that” Rana turns back to Aang and gives him a soft smile.

“These acorns are everywhere, Aang” She offers, Aang frowns at her as she kneels on the ground. She digs her fingers into the scorched earth and pushes through to the ground beneath, she closes her eyes. That tome, which she has now lost, talked about pulling on the Green realm, taking power from it to make life. To make nature grow. She runs her hands along the ground. She's never done this before. Well, she doesn't think she has. But it should be like pulling energy just as she does with water and air and fire. She should be able to do this. “It means there is still life here” She adds and then all around her, the burnt ground gives way to life. Trees erupt and grass and flowers grow in place. Katara turns and looks around with an amazed smile. Sokka's jaw drops. “It means...All the birds and animals that lived here before will come back.” Rana adds as she pulls her hands back. Her nose bleeding, she lets out a heavy breath. “It means...life always finds a way” She offers weaker before she flops back onto her backside. “I've never done that before” She admits and then falls onto her back to stare at the sky. Aang, Sokka, and Katara run to her, to check on her. “I'm really tired, I think I'm just going to take a nap here” Rana curls up, fully intending on sleeping where she now lays.

“No, no, come on” Katara and Sokka pull her up to her feet. Sokka keeping hold of her to keep her upright as she sinks against him, her tail swatting him in the back of the head.

“That was incredible,” Sokka tells her, she hums a little in agreement.

“The Green” Aang whispers fondly as he looks around at the life she's brought back here. He looks at Rana as she touches his shoulder.

“As long as I am alive, Aang, I will help you” Aang touches her hand and nods. “With the power of the nine elemental realms....though I would prefer it if I could just use fire...” Aana smiles at her.

“You'll learn to use the others” he assures her softly. “Thanks, Rana” Rana smiles and then makes a startled sound, looking behind Aang where an old man in green using a walking stick approaching the group, he walks up to Aang.

“Hey, who are you?” Sokka asks, pushing Rana behind him as she catches her breath and her energy.

“When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings...the vastaya.....are you the Avatar, child?” Aang turns to Katara, who nods her head. He looks at Rana who shakes her head. He turns back to the old man and nods his head in turn. Rana groans. Telling people he is the Avatar isn't going to help them. It's going to make it harder to hide if they tell everyone who they are. “My village desperately needs your help”

“Does your village have blankets and pillows?” Rana asks. “Because I could really use a nap”

…......

Sokka helps Rana as they enter an Earth Kingdom village. Aang and Katara are ahead of them, following the old man as he leads them on through a village that has been burned out and destroyed. They enter one of the buildings where some villagers are gathered. As the Old Man introduces Aang to the people, a man, probably the village chief walks over.

“This young person is the Avatar” The Old Man introduces.

“So the rumours of your return are true” The Chief bows to Aang. “It is the greatest honour of a lifetime to be in your presence” Aang bows back.

“Nice to meet you too” Aang offers and then there is a pause where everyone is silent. “So...is there something I can help you with?” Aang eventually asks.

“I'm not sure...” The Chief answers.

“Our village is in crisis, he's our only hope” The Old Man argues with him before turning to Aang. “For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei-Bai, the black and white spirit”

“Why is it attacking you?” Sokka asks.

“We do not know, but each of the last three nights he has abducted one of our own” The Chief answers, moving to stand in the open doorway to look outside. “We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near”

“What happens then?” Katara inquires.

“As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely” Rana offers in way of an explanation, Katara nods a little, understanding.

“Hei-Bai is already causing devastation and destruction” The Chief adds. “Once the solstice is here there is no telling what will happen”

“So, what do you want me to do exactly?” Aang asks.

“Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the spirit world than the Avatar himself?” The Old Man asks. “You are the great bridge between man and spirits”

“Right...that's me” Aang agrees, rather reluctantly and without any confidence in himself.

“Hey, ‘great bridge guy', can I talk to you over here for a second?” Katara asks as she moves away from the group of villagers. Aang follows her and Sokka and Rana share a look before they are right there behind them.

Chapter 31: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Katara stands with Aang, Sokka and Rana at a nearby window, she looks out and over the village outside, and the damage that's already been done. She lets out a breath and then turns to Aang.

“Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this.” She comments.

“Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world” Aang admits exasperated. “It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!”

“So, can you help these people?” Katara counters, Aang shrugs and then smiles a little.

“I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just... come to me” Momo jumps onto Aang's shoulder and chitters. Aang is surprised, but then smiles a little more.

“I think you can do it, Aang” Katara assures him, Rana hums in agreement and then nods.

“Yeahhh, we're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster” Sokka points out, Rana's tail smacks at him and she gives him a look.

…......

As the sun sets, Rana sits wedged in a window, Vulpix curled up on her lap as they watch Aang head through the village, alone. She'd argued against that whole plan, but agreed to sit aside in case he desperately needs her help. Hence her window perch. Close enough to bolt into action though should she be needed to do so.

“Hello? Spirit, can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm... here to try to help stuff” Aang calls out. Rana closes her eyes and sighs.

“Sweet spirits” She complains a little and rubs the back of her neck.

“Vulpix” Vulpix grumbles in agreement with her. Sokka moves closer to them, standing at Rana's side.
“This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up”

“That's what I said” Rana points out.

“I agreed” Sokka reminds her, she hums and nods.

“If anyone can save us, he can” The old man argues from behind them.

“He still shouldn't have to face this alone” Rana counters. “I'm supposed to help him” She whispers. Sokka touches her shoulder and squeezes trying to reassure her, but her entire body is on edge. She doesn't like leaving Aang out there alone. Outside, the sun sets. The world darkens as Aang stands at the village gate, like a gunslinger.

“The sun has set. Where are you, Hei-Bai? Well, spirit, uh, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!” He twirls his staff like a marching baton and then plants it in the ground like a flag. His expression is resolute. “Okay. Well, I guess that's settled then” Aang turns and begins to walk back to the village. Suddenly a massive shape emerges from the forest, its huge feet making large thudding sounds each time they hit the ground. Aang is still walking placidly up the village street, unaware that Hei-Bai is following right behind him. Hei-Bai is as big as a house, with six legs and black and white orca-like markings all over his body. He is vaguely mammalian and has razor-sharp teeth. Aang realizes something is amiss and stops. He turns, looks up at the monster, and smiles.

“You must be the Hei-Bai spirit” Aang bows his head. “My name is..” He is cut off by a blast of air and purple energy from the mouth of the creature. Rana is suddenly stood there, her hands held out in front of her, the purple energy halted, she shifts her hands, bending the energy into a ball that she holds in her hand and looks at Hei-Bai. “Rana” Aang warns as the Hei-Bai turns and makes its way towards her, but she stands resolute. Suddenly, her tails fan out behind her, all nine flickering and moving. From the ball of energy three more erupt and float around her. Purple mist blasts through the village as Hei-Bai presses its face into her outstretched hand. Aang moves closer, slowly approaching the two of them. “My name is Aang. I'm the Avatar...” Hei-Bai turns and growls at him. Aang swallows a little. “I would like to help!” Rana groans, her tails flickering in and out of existence as she falls to her knees. Her energy spent. The Hei-Bai turns on Aang without her there to stop it.

“No, hey, wait up!” She complains as she reaches out for the Hei-Bai before she literally falls flat on her face, soft snores leaving her. Aang stares down at her before he looks at the Hei-Bai and smiles nervously. The spirit then destroys in rapid succession two houses and a watchtower using its brute strength and purple energy, Aang follows it around trying to get its attention.

“Uh...” He tries to think of something to say but this is a huge scary spirit monster who is destroying the village. “Please, would you stop destroying things and listen?” He jumps on top of the building between them. He sees Hei-Bai pounding a building into the ground with his fists. “I'm just trying to do my job as spirit bridge. Excuse me, would you please turn around? I command you to turn around now!” At this the monster does indeed turn around, swatting Aang backwards off the top of the building. Aang flies through the air and hits a nearby roof. He slides off and collapses on the ground.

“That's it! He needs help!” Sokka shouts and then hurries out of the hut.

“Sokka wait!” Katara wards as she goes to follow only to be stopped by the old man.

“It's not safe!” The monster is now standing over Aang as Sokka, hefting his boomerang, runs towards them.

“Hei-Bai! Over here!” Sokka shouts and lets loose the boomerang, it swings around and hits the creature's butt, and then bounces off. It falls on the ground. Sokka runs up to Aang.

“Sokka, go back!” Aang scolds him.

“We'll fight him together, Aang”

“I don't wanna fight him unless I – huh!” Hei-Bai appears in a flash and takes Sokka. Both disappear in an instant, cutting Aang off in mid-sentence. Aang opens his staff into glider mode and takes off. The monster is running back into the forest with Aang gliding in pursuit. Katara runs out of the hut and to Rana, gently pulling her onto her back as she watches Aang disappear after the creature.

“Rana” She pleads and looks down at her friend with worry.

…........

Zuko lowers a tree branch so he can move forward, a Fire Nation soldier behind him. He barges into the clearing where Iroh had been bathing in earlier, but all that is there now is nothing but a ruined hot tub.

“Uncle, where are you?” Zuko asks as he stares at the tub.

“Sir, maybe he thought you left without him?” The soldier offers, Zuko shakes his head.

“Something's not right here” He examines the hot tub, now with stone projectiles embedded in it. “That pile of rocks...”

“It looks like there's been a landslide, sir.”

“Land doesn't slide uphill” Zuko points out like the soldier is an idiot, and to be fair, with those sort of statements, Zuko isn't entirely sure he is not one. “Those rocks didn't move naturally. My uncle's been captured by earth-benders!”

…........

Katara sets a damp cloth on Rana's head. She's yet to wake up and seems to be burning up. With Aang and Sokka having run off, Katara could really use Rana's help here. Vulpix lays curled up at the foot of the bed, waiting on Rana to wake too. The old man comes up behind Katara while the noises of the night fill the air.

“Your friend is still not awake?” He asks, Katara shakes her head and touches Rana's hand.

“She's just really tired” Katara offers. “She'll be fine” Katara then turns to look out the window, watching for Sokka and Aang.

“I'm sure they'll be back too” He adds.

“I know” Katara agrees. The Old Man drapes a blanket around Katara's shoulders.

“You should get some rest” He offers and then walks away. Katara clutches to Rana's hand, Sokka's boomerang in her other.

“Everything's gonna be okay,” Katara tells Rana as Vulpix nudges her leg, trying to wake her up herself.

Chapter 32: Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zuko stands beside his war rhinoceros on a dirt road that seems to go on and on and on. He lets out a breath as he looks down. Sees a sandal laying on the road. Just sitting there in the middle of the road. Zuko tilts his head before he picks up the sandal and sniffs it, a look of disgust spreading over his face.

"Yup, that's Uncle Iroh" He comments and then looks out over the distance of the road before he turns and swings himself up onto the rhinoceros' back.

......

Appa and Katara flying reconnaissance over the forest looking for Aang and Sokka. But they find nothing and no one. There isn't even a trail for them to follow. She sighs.

"It's no use, Appa. I don't see them anywhere. Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait" She turns Appa to fly back to the village.

.........

Zuko sits atop his war rhinoceros, who looks over his shoulder to see Appa flying in the distance. His heart beating in his chest begins to pick up at the thought of how close Rana and the Avatar are to him. Just over the ridge. Just little ways that way. He yanks the reigns to turn the beast back, but then he looks down the trail that leads to his captured uncle. He looks back again in the direction he saw Appa, indecision marking his face.

...........

Katara sits on the porch of the hut where Rana is still sleeping, the sun is setting above the village and there has been no sign of Sokka and Aang yet. Katara rests her chin on her knees and closes her eyes. There is a shuffling noise behind Katara who turns to look up. Her eyes finding Rana as she rubs at her eyes, still coming around from sleep. Katara launches herself to her feet and at her friend, hugging her tightly.

"What's this for?" Rana asks.

"You've been asleep all day" Katara answers when she pulls back. "And Sokka and Aang are gone"

"Gone where?"

"I don't know" Katara admits and runs her fingers through her hair. Rana touches her arms and then stops her from pulling out her hair.

"Okay, from the beginning..." She starts. "I remember passing out...what happened after that?" The sun sets and both look over their shoulders to the forest.

"Rana" Katara offers worried.

"Tell me what happened, Katara, quickly before it comes back" Katara nods and turns to her friend.

..........

Iroh and his captors are in an earthen pit, where he is stretched over a large rock in the centre of a pit, his hands spread before him as the earth-benders watch him, guard him. Their captain stood with his arms ready at his side to bend.

"These dangerous hands must be crushed" He states and then cries aloud as he raises a huge boulder from the ground and moves it to hover over Iroh's hands. He drops it. A moment before it crushed Iroh's hands and arms, Zuko kicks it out of the way. He lands and breaks the chains holding Iroh's hands bound with a kick. Iroh rises with a smile.

"Excellent form, Prince Zuko" Iroh praises.

"You taught me well" Zuko counters with a sliver of fondness.

"Surrender yourselves, it's five against two. You're clearly outnumbered" Iroh and Zuko stand back to back, surrounded by their would-be captors.

"Uh, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched!" Iroh argues. All five earth-benders launch stones at the pair. Iroh swings his chains and breaks them into pieces mid-flight, while Zuko blasts the two nearest him with fire. Two soldiers behind Zuko have just shot two large rocks at him. Zuko is about to be hit when the stones are wrapped in Iroh's chains. He swings them around his body and releases them back at their captors. They are hit in the stomach and are both knocked out. The Captain launches several rocks at Zuko, who dodges them and returns fire. The fire blast is blocked when the Captain lowers his head and the fire breaks harmlessly over his helmet. The Captain raises two huge sheets of rock and Zuko looks afraid, but then chains wrap around the Captain's feet and he is pulled to the ground by Iroh. The rocks land on top of him. All the Earth Kingdom soldiers are groaning and buried in dirt, Iroh and Zuko standing over them. They look at each other and smile, Zuko putting his hand on his uncle's shoulder.

"Now would you please put on some clothes!" Zuko begs of him.

......

Rana and Katara sit together now, Momo on Katara's shoulders and Vulpix in Rana's lap, Wartortle, Pichu, and Rockruff sat at their feet as Noivern flies overhead, keeping watch. Katara told Rana everything that happened after she went down. Rana lets out a breath and nods to herself.

"I think I know what to do" Rana admits and looks at Katara.

"You're going to face that thing....alone?" She asks, Rana shrugs and then nods.

"Yep," She lifts Vulpix from her lap, setting her on the floor before she stands. "No matter what" She looks at Katara. "Don't get involved...." Katara nods a little.

.......

Rana stands at the village gate, staring out into the forest. She can feel it in there. Watching her. Waiting. She looks to her hand and produces a purple orb, bounces it from hand to hand to her tail. Trying to coax the spirit out of the woods. And there it is. Slowly leaving the forest, eyes locked on her before it stops. Standing there. Watching her. Rana cocks her head. It roars, releasing purple energy from its mouth. Katara stands on the porch watching in horror as it flies towards Rana.

"Rana, what are you doing? Run!" Katara yells at her as her pokemon all shout at her. But Rana doesn't run away. The creature roars and runs towards her, but Rana runs underneath its legs and then jumps up onto its forehead. Her hand glows light purple and she sets it against the creature's head before resting her own forehead against it.

"Shhh," She whispers, soothing it. As it calms, its image flickers between its monstrous form and that of a panda bear. "You're the spirit of this forest" She offers softly. "You're upset and angry because your home was burned down...." He lets out a sad noise. "I know" She whispers and nods. "But come with me," She tells him as she drops back down to the ground and begins to walk away. Katara stares after her.

"Rana!" She shouts but Rana and Hei-Bai disappear into the trees.

Chapter 33: Chapter Twenty-Nine

Katara is looking downcast as she stares into the trees. Not one. Not two. But all three of her companions have now disappeared. She lets out a sad breath and looks to Noivern who nudges her shoulder with his head. She doesn't know what to say to them. Suddenly, Aang comes into view riding his glider, weaving down from the sky and lands near her. She rushes to hug him and Momo flies to perch on his master's shoulder.

“You're back! Where's Sokka?” Katara asks him.

“I'm not sure” Aang whispers and then looks around. “Where's Rah?”

“I don't know, she left with Hei-Bai” Katara admits, the two of them sharing a look. Aang looks up at the sky and then into the forest.

“I know where they went” Aang adds and then hurries to Appa who makes an excited and welcoming noise. Katara looks Noivern who makes a noise and lowers himself for Rana's pokemon to climb on, Katara smiles and hurries to join them, climbing up into his saddle.

…........

Katara and Aang walk away from their mounts as they head to the newly refreshed forest where they can see Rana stood with the spirit panda who bounces around playing with a butterfly that has flown through.

“Wow” Katara whispers seeing a different side to the spirit. Aang touches Rana's arm, moving his fingers to cling to her sleeve when they join her. “He wanted the forest back” Katara realises. Hei-Bai turns to them, his eyes settling on Rana, they turn sad, knowing that he has to leave now. But he nods in acceptance of the revival of the forest. He lowers his head in a bow before he turns and walks away. Rana looks at Aang who smiles up at her. As the panda disappears through the trees, a thicket of bamboo grows to man height in seconds. A moment later, Sokka and a few villagers exit the thicket looking confused. “Sokka!” Katara shouts and runs to him, wrapping her arms around him. The other villagers are confused but Aang moves to them to explain what happened. Rana looks down at the grass before she kneels and runs her fingers through it with a soft smile.

“What happened?” Sokka asks his sister.

“You were trapped in the Spirit world for 24 hours. How are you feeling?”

“Like I seriously need to use the bathroom!” Sokka answers and Katara smiles, relieved that he's back, and still Sokka. Aang moves back to Rana as she lets out a deep breath.

“Thank you, Rana” Aang tell her, she hums and nods before she looks at him.

“I did my job,” She tells Aang. “To pick up the slack whilst you learn, you don't have to thank me for doing that”

“Of course I do” Aang defends. “If you hadn't stepped in...” He shakes his head and kneels at her side. “I wonder if it was like this for the others” He whispers touching the grass. “If it was this hard”

“I am pretty sure that even Kyoshi struggled,” She tells him. “Everyone struggles. Life's a struggle....”

“Maybe” He whispers.

“Please” She teases. “I know Roku made mistakes. I bet he accidentally set fire to the curtains at some point, I know I did....” She nudges him and he chuckles, looking up at her. The two of them sharing a look. She nods softly and pulls him into a hug, Aang hugs her back. He gets it now. Why the True Elementals are so important to the Avatars. To make sure everyone around them is safe if they can't do something. If they can't help, then at least their companions can. What he doesn't understand is why they never seemed to get any credit. The Avatar is the hero. But the Elementals must have had to work so hard too. Done just as much to help. They deserve just as much of the credit.

…......

Rana presses her forehead to Noivern's head as he coos. Pleased that she's back in one piece. That she is okay. This whole destiny thing is proving to be rather hazardous and given that they had it rather quiet up until Arkala. They spent their days together, bonding. Now they are running around. Fighting. Bonding still but with a bit more danger. It's not exactly fun.

“Yeah, I know” Rana voices and looks down at Vulpix looking at her rather sternly. “I won't do it again”

“Vulpix” Vulpix comments, disbelieving of her. Behind her, Aang stans with Katara and Sokka talking with the Chief.

“Thank you, Avatar. If there only were a way to repay you for what you've done” The chief offers, and yet again the Avatar is getting all the credit, when he did nothing, not really. Rana is the one that saved them. That led the bear away from the village. That gave it back what it wanted. She pretty much did everything.

“You could give us some supplies and some money” Sokka offers earning an angry elbow from Katara at his side.

“Sokka!”

“What? We need stuff.”

“It would be an honour to help you prepare for your journey” The chief offers and then walks away. Aang moves to Rana as she checks Noivern's saddle. The two of them sharing a look, she gives a small smile before he turns to Sokka and Katara.

“There's something else” Aang admits quietly.

“What is it?” Sokka asks.

“I need to talk to Roku and I think I've found a way to contact his spirit” Aang admits as he crouches to scratch at Wartortle's head.

“That's great!” Katara offers warmly.

“Yeah” Rana agrees.

“Creepy, but great” Sokka adds.

“There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island, and if I go there on the solstice I'll be able to speak with him” Aang continues and stands again. He doesn't exactly look as excited as he should, considering the news.

“But, the solstice is tomorrow” Rana points out with a look.

“Yeah, and there's one more problem. The island is in the Fire Nation” He tells them. Sokka and Katara look terrified whilst Rana looks disinterested in returning home.

….........

Zuko sits on his bed with Rana's tome open in front of him, he thought to find a weakness, something to exploit against the Avatar, and yet he can't bring himself to look for that information. So instead, he reads about the powers. The gifts. The true nature of these True Elementals. He's reminded a lot of the girl he was friends with. That showed him kindness and compassion. That showed him adventure and fun. Showed him how to be brave, even if he got hurt for it. He touches the back of his hand where he had once been burnt. The same bravery that marked him later. Who knows who he would have become without her in his life when she was. He sighs and closes the book. Everything inside of him is telling him to leave her be. But that desire for his honour to be returned pushes him forward. To get the Avatar. To get the True Elemental. To bring them in. To capture them and take them to his father.

…......

Rana lays on the back of Noivern, watching the stars above her as they fly onward towards the Fire Nation. She lets out a breath and draws her fingers over the button on her dress. She doesn't like not having her pin. She keeps worrying her dress is going to fall open and that's so stupid. The button is firmly in place and works perfectly. She can't believe she forgot where it came from. That she just pushed that memory away. That she'd forgotten just how Zuko had smiled at her when he gifted it to her. With a little box with a ribbon around it, his mother stood behind him with a soft smile. Rana had loved the pin the second her eyes had landed on it. Not just because it was beautiful, but because he had given it to her. Because he had gone out of his way to find something he thought she'd like. She smiles to herself and then shakes her head. Her relationship with Zuko when they were children was uncomplicated. They ran around and played and had fun. She'd talk him into doing things he knew he would get into trouble for, but he did them anyway, because those things made him happy. Her eyes sadden as she thinks about who he is now. That dark, angry, hateful person that took her. That mask he wears. She knows her friend is in there somewhere. The boy she called her best friend. The boy that made her laugh and smile. He's in there. She has to believe that. Otherwise, she knows she will lose hope in everything else. That there is no light left in the world if it can kill that boy.

Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty

Appa moves through the sky with some speed as the sun begins to rise. Rana has joined the others on Appa's saddle to make it easier to discuss their plans for once they get to the temple. She is the former Fire Nation girl after all. Aang looks over his shoulder at the rising sun. He turns forward with a determined look on his face.

“Come on, boy! We've got a long way to go! Faster!” Aang pushes a little and Appa lets out a noise before picking up speed. Rana holds to the edge of the saddle, her eyes on the clouds above as Noivern flies, trying to keep up with them, he didn't want to go into the ball and she couldn't force him. She lets out a breath and shares a look with Sokka who has a white knuckle grip going on.

….....

Zuko stands at the front of his ship as it races through the ocean waters, a high powered spyglass pressed to his eye as he searches the skyline for Appa. Iroh stands at his side looking rather irritated.

“Sailing into Fire Nation waters...” Iroh complains but there is a lot of frustration and concern in his tone too. “Of all the foolish things you have done in your 18 years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish”

“I have no choice, Uncle” Zuko counters.

“Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?!?!?” Iroh asks as if Zuko needed reminding. “What if you're caught?” Zuko turns around from the spyglass to look at Iroh.
“I'm chasing the Avatar. My father will understand why I'm returning home”

“You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type” Zuko turns back to the spyglass, he searches the skies for a few seconds and identifies Appa's flying form in the distance.

“There they are! Helmsman, full steam ahead!” Zuko orders, ignoring the look Iroh sends him. Zuko clenches his fist at his side and lets out a breath. He's so close.

…......

Sokka glances behind them as if sensing something. And right there, in the waters below them, he spots Zuko's ship. He hits Katara's arm to get her attention, she turns and follows his eyes.

“Aang, we got trouble” Katara points out.

“Yeah, and it's gaining fast!” Sokka adds.

…......

A catapult is raised from below onto the deck of the ship and then is loaded with a steaming and smouldering projectile. Zuko and Iroh are standing behind the catapult. Iroh, fanning himself, wrinkles his nose in disgust.

“Really, Prince Zuko, couldn't you shoot them down with something more fragrant?” Iroh complains. Zuko shoots a fireball at the projectile and it ignites. He raises his arm in the air.

“On my mark.........Fire!” A Fire Nation soldier cuts the catapult's rope and the fiery projectile is hurtled into the air.

…...........

On Appa's back, Katara turns around and shouts to Aang over the sound of the wind around them.

“Fireball!”

“I've got it!” Rana counters and then whistles sharply. Noivern bursts out of the clouds and flies towards the fireball. He lets out a sonic blast the destroys the fireball into tiny little pieces and Noivern flies under Appa and then back up to fly above them.

“We have to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot stinker at us!” Katara complains as the smell from the destroyed ball hits them.

“Can't you make Appa go any faster?” Sokka asks. Aang holds his nose.

“Yeah, but there's just one little problem” Sokka, Katara, and Rana move closer to him to peer over Appa's head to see what he's talking about. Their eyes widen.

…......

Zuko stares ahead, his own eyes widening as he sees just what they have.

“A blockade!” There is a double line of Fire Nation warships, stretching to the horizon and likely beyond. Each and every single one of the warships is lined with trebuchets. Iroh pulls on his beard thoughtfully.

“Technically you are still in Earth Kingdom waters. Turn back now and they cannot arrest you” Iroh points out. Zuko glares at his Uncle.

…....

Aang on Appa's back is looking at the line of warships, behind him, Sokka, Rana, and Katara are watching the blockade.

“If we fly north we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way” Aang offers.

“There's no time” Katara argues.

“This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. It's too dangerous” Aang comments, hating that he's put his friends in danger.

“And that's exactly why we're here” Sokka argues.

“Let's run this blockade” Rana agrees, Aang looks at her, she nods, reassuring him. Aang nods in agreement and turns to get settled with Appa.

“Appa! Yip! Yip!” Appa growls affirmatively and soars forward.

…......

Zuko watches as Appa picks up speed, realising that they're not stopping or slowing down. The Avatar and Rana flying further and further away from him. He lets out a breath and closes his eyes before he opens them again, looking more determined.

“He's not turning around” Zuko voices.

“Please Prince Zuko, if the Fire Nation captures you, there is nothing I can do. Do not follow the Avatar” Iroh argues and then gives Zuko a look. “Don't follow her” He adds softer, Zuko bows his head.

“I'm sorry, Uncle” Zuko turns to his helmsman and then points forward. “Run the blockade!”

…..........

On one of the blockade ships, Zhao is peering through a spyglass, focused on Appa first, before he moves on to look at Noivern and then Zuko's ship.

“The Avatar, the vastaya...and the banished Prince. This must be my lucky day” He comments.

“Commander Zhao, what are your orders?”

“Shoot the Bison down” Zhao orders.

“But there's a Fire Navy ship out there, Sir, one of our own. What if it's hit?”

“So be it” Zhao argues. The soldier starts back in alarm. “It belongs to a traitor” Zhao turns towards a soldier standing ready at the trebuchet. “Ignite!” The soldier ignites one trebuchet, and each soldier on each ship ignites his assigned trebuchet. “Launch!!!” Fireballs fly into the air on either side of Zhao.

…...

Rana watches the fireballs heading towards them and then looks up at Noivern before deciding, she stands and moves to the edge of Appa.

“Rana!” Sokka scolds but she jumps. Katara screams and moves to the edge as Noivern bursts past them following her. Rana twists herself in the air and Noivern slides forward under her so she can grab the saddle and pulls herself into place. She pulls on the reins and turns him, dodging the fireball.

“Come on, Noi...let's get their attention!” He roars out in agreement and flies towards the blockade.

Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-one

Rana pulls Noivern up away from the water and back towards Appa, dodging fireballs to get to him. They need a plan, they can't just fly through fire balls. She can take their attention whilst is looks like Aang and the others are escaping. They can then go up and over the blockade and into Fire Nation waters.

“What are you doing?” Aang asks her as he leans over.

“Go up, get into the clouds, use it as cover....” She tells them and nods upwards, Aang shakes his head. She gives him a look back before she pulls on Noivern's reins. he darts left, away from Appa, not really giving them a chance to argue with her. After the last time she did this. Putting herself between them and the Fire Nation, she ended up getting kidnapped. But she is right about their attention. Zhao is in charge. And first things first, he'll be getting his daughter back and under his control. He'll deal with the Avatar after that. The trebuchets turn, aiming at Rana giving Aang a break to get up into the clouds. Zuko watches from the deck of his ship as Appa disappears, his eyes then moving to Noivern as they fly towards his ship, pulling around in front of it.

“What is she doing?” He muses to himself. Facing them herself is suicide. Zhao orders another round of fireballs towards Noivern and Rana. But she moves Noivern out of the way quickly, putting Zuko's ship in the direct line of fire. A soldier is trying to keep his balance as the ship is rocked by waves created by the fireballs hitting the water close to the ship. One fireball lands extremely close to the ship and generates a wave that breaks across the deck. Another fireball hits the back part of the ship. Zuko braces himself against the catapult. He turns towards the front of the ship. The engine master calls to him as he runs up onto the deck and Zuko turns around to speak to him. The engine master points to the billowing fire and smoke behind him.

“Prince Zuko, the engines are damaged! We need to stop and make repairs!” Zuko turns back towards the front of the ship.

“Do not stop this ship” He orders. Noivern flies through the sky, heading up towards the clouds himself, following behind Appa. Rana is trying to help Noivern avoid the fireball bombardment. In front of them, 12 fireballs shoot through the clouds, smoke trailing behind them. Noivern swerves to miss one on his left then dives down through the clouds again to avoid the fireballs. The smoke trails from multiple fireballs surround them. Two fireballs collide and explode directly in front of Noivern who growls and rears up to avoid the combustion. He bucks and Rana is thrown from his back, she reaches out, trying to grab hold of something. Anything. She begins to fall and disappears into the clouds below. Noivern roars out and twists turning to follow her. But it's not Noivern that catches her, it's Appa's saddle beneath her as she lands. She sits up alarmed and stares a little as Sokka who sits across from her. He waves and smiles at her. Appa hits the water, each of his six legs using the ocean's surface like a trampoline. He begins his ascent as Noivern twists under him and then bursts up from his side, eyes seeking out Rana, happy she's unharmed, he flies around Appa. The Fire Navy ships let loose another barrage of fiery missiles. Rana holds her hands together as she concentrates before throwing them out. A huge wave erupts between them and the barricade catching the fireballs in the waves. Katara stares amazed as the wave climbs higher and higher.

“Get ready” Rana manages through gritted teeth. Aang leans forward, Appa's reins in his hands. Rana throws her hands forward and the wave curls and splashes down over the Fire Nation ships. Soaking them. Zhao glares up at Appa as he flies through the Fire Nation blockade. Rana drops back onto the saddle, letting out a tired breath. Aang raises his left fist into the air.

“We made it!!!” Aang cheers and chuckles looking at Rana who nods in agreement. Sokka and Katara both look shocked and amazed that they did.

“We got into the Fire Nation......” Sokka comments, his shoulders slump. “...Great...”

…...........

Zhao is approached by one of his soldiers as all the men around them try to shake off water.

“Where do you think they are headed, Sir?” Zhao bows his head, thinking.

“I'm not sure” He then turns his head towards Zuko's approaching ship. “But I bet a certain banished prince will know”

…............

Zuko's ship is approaching the Fire Navy's blockade. As Zuko's ship gets closer, the ships of the blockade move towards each other in order to bar his way. Iroh and Zuko are on the deck of the ship, watching it happen. Zuko lets out a determined breath, not that there is anything that can be done about it unless he really wants to damage his own ship more than already has been.

“We're on a collision course!” Iroh points out.

“We can make it!” Zuko counters, leaning forward with anticipation.

…......

On Zhao's ship, a large group of Fire Nation soldiers stands at parade rest behind him. Their leader snaps to attention and speaks.

“The boarding party is ready to apprehend Prince Zuko, Sir”

“Wait” Zhao stops him. “Cut the engines. Let them pass”

“Sir?” Zhao does not respond, just watches as Zuko's ship slides easily through the blockade.

…........

The temple they are looking for is situated on a cliff directly below the volcano. Here, Appa lands near the temple followed by Noivern who looks at Rana apologetically as she climbs from Appa's back, but she just hugs his neck instead. She's just pleased they all got out of it alive and with all limbs.

“You did so well” She assures him, her voice breaking slightly. All her adrenaline fading from her as she pulls the crystal ball from her necklace. Rana touches Noivern's face softly and then presses the crystal ball to his head, he disappears and she lets out a tired breath. Behind her, Aang pats Appa's face lovingly.

“You did it, buddy. Nice flying” Aang praises Appa who then groans and rolls onto his side in pure exhaustion. Katara walks towards Appa and begins to rub his tummy. Sokka is stretching in the background.

“Oh! You must be tired!” Katara tells Appa, though Sokka assumes she is talking to him.

“No. I'm good” Sokka then starts jogging in place. “Refreshed and ready to fight some fire-benders” Katara turns towards Sokka, a wry look on her face.

“I was talking to Appa” She argues. Sokka stops jogging.

“Well, I was talking to Momo” He argues. Momo is hanging upside down from a nearby tree. He chitters and looks quizzically at Sokka. Rana moves closer to them as she attaches the ball to the chain.

“I was thinking...that maybe someone should stay out here” She offers. “Keep watch” They turn to her. “We don't know how far behind us they are and we don't know how long this is going to take....”

“She has a point” Sokka agrees. “I'll stay” He offers. Rana shakes her head.

“No, I'll stay” She argues. “I know their tactics, I'll see them coming”

“Are you sure?” Katara asks, Rana nods.

“Yeah, I got this” She assures them. Katara hugs her quickly before she heads away with Sokka. Aang looks at Rana who nods back at him.

“Be careful” Aang begs of her, she nods and watches as he jogs to catch up with the others. Rana lets out a breath and spins her sword as she pulls it from her back. She taps the blade to the ground and then takes a seat on the steps. She knows they'll turn up. They're not about to let Aang go without a real fight.

Chapter 36: Chapter Thirty-Two

Zuko's ship still makes its way through the water, despite the damage dealt to it. Zuko clutches to the railing as he stares out over the sea, a confused expression on his face. He doesn't understand Zhao's actions at the barricade. He could have had them. He could have arrested them easily. But he chose not to. He let them pass, Zuko knows that. Iroh moves towards him, leans on the railing at his side. The two of them are silent for a moment.

“What's he up to, Uncle?” Zuko asks. “Why didn't Commander Zhao arrest me?”

“Because he wants to follow you. He knows you'll lead him to the prize you're both after...” Zuko looks at Iroh who gives him a look back. “Rana”

“I'm after the Avatar” Zuko argues and looks back out of the water.

“Zuko” Iroh scolds. “I understand why you are so invested in the girl, but if it puts you in harm's way to chase her across the world”

“Why am I so invested in her, Uncle?” Zuko asks. “She's the enemy, a traitor....nothing more than an obstacle in my way...and yet...” He lets out a breath. “I find myself thinking about her....all the time...every waking moment I cannot stop no matter how hard I try”

“Ah, young love” Iroh teases, Zuko shoots his uncle a glare.

“I am not in love with her” Zuko defends as he leans away from the rail.

“All those memories and feelings from your childhood that you are now remembering, seeing her again after all this time...It's natural for you to be attached to her, even if you do feel like you are on opposing sides, and of course, I am sure she is an attractive young woman...”

“No, stop” Zuko warns him. “Please, never say those words again, especially in regards to her”

“Zuko...” Iroh argues, but Zuko gives him a look to please stop talking about this. “You are a young man, with complex and changing feelings and emotions”

“Oh Spirits above stop talking” Zuko pleases with him, pressing his hand to his head. He can't believe his uncle thought to talk to him about this stuff. Iroh shrugs a little but smirks slyly as he turns to look out over the water. Zuko lets out a breath and closes his eyes. He understands the emotional attachment with Rana. Yes, they were friends, that is bound to leave a mark, but they aren't anymore. They haven't been for a very long time. That shouldn't be there. Not to this level. Not for some simple nostalgia. He knows that she is beautiful. A far cry from the awkward child that needed to grow into her ears and tail. Maybe that is why this is different. Maybe it's not just about emotional attachments. Maybe because they are older, it is something more than....what they had. Zuko shakes his head and opens his eyes to glare at the water. He's got more important things to worry about than the way he's feeling about the enemy girl. Like capturing the Avatar.

…......

Rana sits on a tree branch where she sits, swinging her legs as she watches the sun setting. She's hoping they got here in time for Aang to get the answers he needs. Her eyes find the Fire Nation ship in the water, smoke rising from it. Damaged. She can see it's smaller than Zhao's fleet. She knows who this one belongs to. She jumps down from the tree and lands next to Vulpix who growls, understanding what she's seeing. The two of them watch the ship. Seeing what he's going to do here.

….......

Zuko has instructed the men to open the back hatch of the ship where a smaller vessel is being lowered into the ocean. Zuko stands with Iroh, watching as it is lowered.

“Uncle, keep heading north. Zhao will follow the smoke trail while I use it as a cover” Zuko comments, Iroh grunts, strokes his beard and shakes his head disapprovingly.

“Hmmm” He murmurs, concerned for his nephew.

….........

Just as Zuko predicted, all Zhao can see through his spyglass is the black smoke from the damaged ship. He lowers the spyglass and appears thoughtful.

….......

Rana watches the second, larger Fire Nation ship. But it doesn't follow after the smaller one. She tightens her grip on the sword and moves up the steps towards the temple. She can cut Zhao off. Stop him from getting to Aang for as long as physically possible.

….......

Zuko in his smaller sailing vessel heading towards the island, notices movement at the temple doors, the swish of a tail. Rana. He looks up at the rest of the temple before his eyes go back to where he saw Rana. Thinking about what his uncle told him.

….....

Rana is an idiot. She knows that now. And she knows she is not ready for this responsibility. She is far from ready. Zhao gets the best of her in the fight. Easily disarming her. He is one of many that trained her. He knows how she moves. And now....now he holds her sword, pressing the tip of it to her throat as she presses herself back against the wall trying to escape the blade. She misjudged how ready she was to face him. To stand in front of the man that raised her. The man that is her father, in everything but blood.

“Silly little girl” Zhao scolds her, tears gather in her eyes. “Do you have any idea what you have done?” Zhao steps closer to her, the blade breaking the skin on her neck. Behind him, Zuko appears, but then is quick to duck out of sight, pressing himself back against the wall. He closes his eyes and sets his head against the wall. Just leave her. He tells himself. Just leave. Get the Avatar whilst he's unprotected. He clenches his jaw and his fingers into his palm. Everything in him is telling him to help her. To protect her from Zhao. To protect his friend. That stupid instinct is back. He sighs and then pushes himself up. He turns from cover and makes his way towards them. He is quick to bend a fireball towards Zhao and his men, causing them to stumble back, surprised when it hits. He uses the smoke produced to cover them as he then rushes to Rana, threads his fingers with hers. The two of them share a look, she shows her surprise at him helping her before he is pulling her along with him and up the stairs away from Zhao who shouts orders at his men behind them. Zuko knows he is going to get into so much trouble for this. Zhao isn't far behind them. Zuko glances back and then up at the nearest door. He releases Rana's hand, instead, places it on the small of her back to lead her onto a floor and away from the stairs. The two of them hurrying down the corridor as Zhao and his men barge through the door behind them.

 

Chapter 37: Chapter Thirty-Three

It's silent. Except for Zuko and Rana's heavy breathing as they hide in a tiny alcove against the wall, and it really is a tiny space, a tight squeeze. The two of them pressed up against the walls and one another, wedged into the space to hide. To catch their breath. Zuko has no idea what he's just done. He really betrayed the Fire Nation and one of its commanders for this girl. He looks down at her as she huffs and breaths and tries to catch her breath. Blood leaking down the side of her neck from where Zhao cut her. A tear rolls down her cheek before she can stop it. He reaches up and brushes it away for her, drawing his hand over her cheek to dry it. She looks up at him surprised by what he just did. More than clearing her tear, but that he actively went against a Fire Nation commander....for her. She doesn't know why he did it. Why he did that for her. His hand has found its way to her waist, holding her still, holding them both still. Listening for any sounds from Zhao and his men. They got lucky. Used the element of surprise to their advantage. It won't work a second time. She goes to move but he tightens his hand on her waist to stop her, she frowns at him. He shakes his head. She then goes to talk, to ask him why but he presses his free hand to her mouth and she gives him a glare. He stares at her. Her gaze softening when she takes note of something in his eyes. It's different. Different from when she was on his ship. He was always on edge. Waiting for her to escape. To make her move to attack. But something's changed in him. Something's changed between them and she can't work out what it is.

“Shhh” He whispers and then moves his hand around to her cheek before it drifts lower to her neck where she's bleeding. They both listen. But it's silent around them. Nothing. But she knows that isn't always a good thing. She needs to find Aang and the others. She needs to find Vulpix. She pushes against his chest and he groans as she tries to wiggle free. Unfortunately, all it does is dislodge them both from the alcove. They both fall from the hiding space, tumbling to the ground, Zuko catching himself over her, eyes bearing down into hers. The two of their faces are so close they can feel one another breathing. His nose is practically touching hers. There is something here. Something that passes between them. Heat rushes down his spine and he's never felt that before. It stirs something in him. He wonders if this is what his uncle was talking about. It's scorching. And all he wants to do is close that sliver of space between them. To kiss her. He's never wanted to kiss someone this badly before. To forge a physical connection. And the way she's got her fingers curled into his uniform tells him she's thinking the exact same thing. That whatever he is feeling, no matter how confusing, she feels the same. He shifts his weight, his thigh nudging at her leg beneath him, it pushes him closer to her.

“How touching” Zuko and Rana snap their heads around to find Zhou and his men watching them. “Childhood friends reunited” His tone indicates that he is not at all happy about this. Zuko turns his gaze, taking in the fact that they are outnumbered and surrounded. Whatever heat had been in his veins, has been doused. He changes, suddenly he's leaning over her to defend her. Zhao holds out Rana's sword, to mock her slightly. “Take them”

….........

In another part of the temple, a Fire Sage, Shyu, who happens to be on the Avatar's side, unlike his other Sages, who have turned on the Avatar, following years of devotion, leads his fellow Fire Sages to the sanctuary's doors.

“Hurry! The Avatar has entered the sanctuary” Shyu states, alarmed, fanning the flames of worry in the other Sages.

“How did he get in?”

“I don't know. But look at the scorch marks and down there!” Shyu points to the space between the doors and the floor. A shadow, as if of two feet, moves back and forth.

“He's inside. Open the doors immediately before he contacts Avatar Roku” One of the Sages orders. Behind them, Aang is actually perched on the dragon's tail wrapped around the columns. He slowly inches his way to the floor, ready to run the minute the Fire Sages open the doors. The five Fire Sages drop into a fire-bending pose. They shoot five fire blasts into the lion's heads on the face of the door. Smoke appears around the door jambs. As the fire blasts work their way through the lock, the doors begin to creak and open slowly. The light from the interior of the sanctuary is initially blinding. As it begins to dissipate, the Fire Sages see a lone Momo inside the sanctuary. Momo sneezes and looks quizzically at the Fire Sages. “It's the Avatar's lemur! He must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!” Momo suddenly leaps at the Fire Sage's face, knocking him down. Katara and Sokka jump from behind two columns and grab the two nearest Fire Sages. They pull the Fire Sages' clothes over their heads. Shyu grabs the last Fire Sage. All four Fire Sages are subdued.

“Now, Aang!” Shyu shouts just as Katara voices.

“Aang! Now's your chance!” Zhao steps out from behind a column, he has taken Aang prisoner. He is holding Aang's arms tightly behind his back, Rana's sword against his throat.

“The Avatar's coming with me” Zhao points out as his soldiers join him. One has Zuko restrained. Another has Rana. Both subdued. “I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him,” Zhao tells Shyu who lowers his head.

“Commander Zhao...”

“Three traitors, in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased” Zhao comments. Rana glances at Zhao and Aang, then to Sokka and Katara, and then the open doors as they begin to close. They are running out of time. She throws her elbow back into the soldier who releases her with a grunt of surprise. She lunged at Zhao who turns, releasing Aang as he tries to deal with Rana's attack instead.

“Go!” Rana shouts at Aang, who then run towards the doors of the sanctuary which are beginning to close. Zhao turns, slashing at Rana with her own sword, she goes down onto her front. Zuko struggles against the soldier holding him. Aang banks left and jumps into the air to avoid a fire blast. He does several turns in mid-air. Aang uses the heads of two of the Fire Sages as stepping stones on his way to the doors. He sails through the doors just as they are closing. The doors shut and the locks grind. Katara and Sokka rush forward to check on Rana, only to be restrained by the Sages.

“No” Katara snaps. “Rana” She whispers staring down at her friend as blood seeps onto the tiles.

Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-Four

Zuko struggles against the chains that have been wrapped around him and the column behind him. Across from him, Sokka, Katara, and Shyu are tied to a second. They have been bound. And they can do nothing about it. Zuko's eyes flicker to where Rana is propped up against the wall. She's alive and conscious but that cut looks nasty. Zuko turns a glare on Zhao.

“You're too late, Zhao. The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed”

“No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out” Zhao comments and then crouches in front of Rana who leans against the wall, her eyes on him, but her hands tied behind her back. “And I still have one prize claimed” He adds. “Are you going to behave?” She clenches her jaw, keeping quiet. He looks over her. Checking on the wound on her neck and then the second one. The new one. The one that is sat across her collar bone, it's still bleeding but not heavily. Zhao touches the edge of the wound and she cringes, trying to pull away. He hums a little then grabs her chin and lifts her face, so she has to strain her neck.

“I hate you,” She tells him. He pouts mockingly at her and releases her face.

“I am your father, you're not supposed to like me” He points out.

“You're not my father” She hisses at him. “You slaughtered my real father” She reminds him. “My whole family”

“Yes, I did” Zhao agrees and brushes her hair back from her face. “Your human family too”

“And my people” She adds, he nods.

“I did” He agrees again. “I cut off their tails” Tears gather in her eyes. “And their ears....” She looks away from him as she sniffles. “And I strung them up”

“Stop it” Katara snaps at him.

“And I set them on fire” Zhao continues, ignoring Katara. “One by one” He strokes Rana's hair, patting her head. “Just to get to you...now imagine what I will do to your friends if you don't behave yourself....” She looks away from him, and everyone else as tears slide down her cheeks. Zhao turns to his men. “When those doors open, unleash all your fire-bending power” Zhao orders of his men, Rana shifts her arms, moving her hands behind her back.

“How's Aang going to make it out of this?” Katara asks Sokka.

“How're we going to make it out of this?” Sokka counters, more alarmed by that thought. Rana then starts laughing and looks at Zhao who is surprised by the outburst.

“You really are sort of dim,” She tells him. Repeating words he has long said to her. “Or did you just forget?” She asks, he moves closer to her. “I never fight alone” She reminds him and Zhao leans up, eyes scanning around.

“Where are they?” He asks, she smirks and sets her head back against the wall. She then lets out a sharp whistle and Vulpix comes charging out of the shadows and straight for Zhao, she blows out fire to stop his fire-bending soldiers from approaching. Vulpix snaps her teeth around his leg and he cries out in pain before he kicks, sending Vulpix skidding across the floor, but she is quick to get back to her feet, a howling noise riding from her throat. The crystal ball around Rana's neck begins to glow as Vulpix does. She chuckles and glares at Zhao. Vulpix vanishes in the bright light before it disappears to reveal, in her place, a beautiful white Ninetails. Rana pulls her hands apart, tearing her bindings and lunges forward, tackling Zhao to the floor, her sword sliding away from him. She scrambles up and after it. “Watch the door” Zhao orders and pushes himself after Rana who grabs the sword and hurries off. Zhao is right behind her. Sokka watches her go before looking at Katara.

“Did she just leave us here?” He asks her as Ninetails hurries after her. Suddenly, a blinding white light is coming from inside the sanctuary. Zhao's troops stand at the door, ready as smoke billows out into the entryway from the bottom of the door. The Fire Sages look at the floor in shock and fear. Sokka, Katara and Shyu still tied to a column have to shield their eyes from the light as does Zuko. As the doors begin to fully open, two large glowing eyes are visible in the dark of the sanctuary. Smoke continues to emanate from the sanctuary. Sokka and Katara are struggling against their chains.

“No! Aang!” Katara begs as Zhao's soldiers shoot fire blasts into the sanctuary. In total, eight soldiers are concentrating all their firepower at the entrance to the sanctuary. Suddenly the chains around Sokka, Katara, and Shyu drop and Rana hurries around the column, her sword in her hand. Sokka pulls Katara behind the pillar when she goes to get Aang. Rana grabs the chains around Zuko, the two of them sharing a look, she yanks the chains lose, freeing him, and he pulls her around to shield behind the column as the fire blasts from the fire-benders are being manipulated into a gigantic ball of swirling fire. At the heart of the fireball is Avatar Roku, his eyes glowing. From behind the pillar, Sokka, Katara, Shyu, Zuko, and Rana watch with surprised and shocked faces.

“Avatar Roku” Zuko whispers, his hand tightening against Rana's waist. Avatar Roku draws the fireball back towards himself and shoots it out. Ninetails suddenly jumps up and takes the fireball in her mouth before she lands, turns towards Zhao's men and then howls, the fire from inside the ball is sent out in a steady blastwave that blasts all of Zhao's soldiers to the floor. The blast even breached the temple walls. Roku'sentire body is now glowing as he feeds fire into the Ninetails ball. The cowering Fire Sages take fright and run for their lives.

“It's going to destroy the temple!” Shyu warns. “We have to get out of here!”

“Not without Aang!” Katara counters.

“Or Vulpix” Rana shouts over the noise, her eyes on Ninetails as she controls the blast of fire from Roku. Roku raises his arm and brings it down on the floor of the temple. The force of his strike rends the floor. Molten lava rises to the surface. Roku lifts his hand, pulling the magma from deep within the volcano. A wall of magma shoots up through the entire temple structure. The lava explodes out of the very top of the temple. Rana lets out a breath and then pushes away from the pillar. Zuko's arm snaps out and grabs the top of her arm to stop her. They share a look, he shakes his head and she pulls her arm away from him before she rushes around the corner and approaches Roku.

“Rana!” Katara shouts and moves to help her. Sokka stops her.

“She might be the only one that can stop him” He warns. Rana approaches Roku slowly despite the pressure from the blast. Roku's eyes dropping to her. Behind her, her nine tails fan out and he softens a little. He stares down at her, but he has stopped his destruction. Sokka glares at Zuko who glares right back. Each of them waiting to see who makes the first move here. It's Zuko. He looks at Rana before he hangs his head and backs away, before he turns and flees the temple. She's fine, she has her friends and the Avatar with her now. As much as it actually pains him to walk away from her. Something's different now. Something's shifted between them. He can feel it. In his chest. His stomach even. It doesn't sit well with him that he's abandoning her. Roku bows his head and then disappears upward in a column of smoke. Aang is now standing in the entryway to the sanctuary. His eyes are glowing. He closes his eyes, groans and sinks to the floor. Rana, Katara and Sokka run to him to help him as Ninetails lowers to the ground, whining a little, unsure about their reactions to her now.

“We got your back” Sokka assures Aang who clutches to Rana's hand.

“Thanks. Where's Shyu?” He asks them.

“I don't know,” Katara answers as she looks around for the Sage.

“We need to leave” Rana offers as she helps Aang to stand, her own eyes looking for Zuko but he's gone. She doesn't understand why it upsets her to find him gone. That he's just left. “Right now” She grabs the crystal from her neck and holds it out. Noivern bursts into existence via a bright light and lets out a roar. They all move to him as he dips down to allow them onto his saddle. Ninetails makes a noise and Rana looks at her as Sokka helps Aang into place. “Come on,” Rana tells Ninetails who jumps up behind Katara. Once everyone is in place, Noivern bursts out of the side of the temple, blowing a hole with a sonic blast. He flies them away from the burning temple. Appa suddenly flies up from underneath them, Momo sat on his head, Momo has the hat of one of the Fire Sages on his head. Noivern hovers closer to Appa when they line up and with help, Aang manages to slide along Noivern's wing and onto Appa's back. Sokka jumps down next followed by Katara. Ninetails pounces down leaving Rana alone. She sets the ball to Noivern's head and he disappears again. She drops from the sky and luckily onto a quick-thinking Appa's back.

Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty-Five

Zhao stands on his ship as he watches Appa fly off into the sunset. His fist angrily clenched at his side.

"No vastaya. No prince. No Avatar. Apparently, the only thing I do have is five traitors" He turns to the five Fire Sages lined up behind him.

"But Commander, only Shyu helped the Avatar"

"Save your stories for the Fire Lord" Zhao stops him. "As far as I'm concerned, you're all guilty! Take them to the prison hold!"

.............

Zuko stands on his own ship, his spyglass pressed to his eyes as he too watches Appa fly away. He lowers the spyglass and swallows before he lets out a shaky breath. He looks down as a stray tear slides down his cheek, but he is quick to wipe it away. Behind him, Iroh watches him. Concerned but proud of him. Zuko stood up for what he believed him. And he believed that Rana shouldn't have been hurt by Zhao. He stood up for someone he cared for. And he left her behind because it was best for her. Not for him. He put her first. That's a big step for his nephew.

..............

Sokka bandages up Rana's cuts but even he can tell she's distracted by something. Her eyes are on the horizon behind them as they fly away. Her new Ninetails is wrapped around her back, her tails tucked in Rana's lap. Tears suddenly stream down her cheeks and she closes her eyes, trying to hide it from them. She's not sure what she is upset about the most. What happened with Zuko. With Zhao. If she's just in pain. Tired. Stressed to the point of collapse. Or all of it. Sokka hugs her tightly as she cries. Even for him, what Zhao said was harsh. The way he taunted her with how he killed her people. Her family. From a man that called himself her father. Aang and Katara watch but neither know how to help here. Aang seems to have a sudden idea.

"I know you're upset" Aang starts as he digs in a little round bag against his side. "But I found this in the temple" He pulls out a pokemon egg and holds it out to Rana who leans up from Sokka to look at it. She stares at it before she reaches out and takes it from him, pulling it into her lap. It's not got any markings on it. Not like the others did. No way to tell which one it is going to be when it hatched. Aang sits at her side as Sokka touches her shoulder, squeezing gently. Katara sits across from Rana. With the egg sitting between the four of them. They all need to stick together now. Whatever happens now. They'll do it together. They'll look after each other.

......

Katara wraps a blanket around Rana as she sleeps, her head in Sokka's lap as he comfortingly touches her ears. The new egg is protected by Ninetail's tail. Aang sits on Appa's neck, directing him. None of them has any idea where they are going now. Just flying to fly whilst they all wrap their heads around what happened at the temple.

"She'll need to rest but those wounds should heal just fine," Sokka tells them as he checks Rana's bandages. "Maybe we can find a village for a few days....." He draws off as he looks at the others. They are all feeling the effects of the last fight. He sighs and goes back to stroking Rana's ears, turns out it is more than just comforting for her.

........

The sun is rising in the distance illuminating where Sooka is sat in Appa's saddle with some form of makeshift sling across his chest where Rana's pokemon egg rests. It's been days since the fire temple and it has yet to hatch, not even hinting at it yet. Rana sits at his side, resting, she stills has a bandage across her chest but she shouldn't need it for much longer. She's been tapping into spirit-bending to heal herself, like she did when she was a child with Zuko and his burn. She's been thinking about him a lot. About what happened between them at that temple. The situation they were in. The way he felt against her. The way he smelt. The way he looked at her. It's a hard thing for a girl to forget. Especially given how it made her feel. All warm and tingly. She's never felt like that before, with anyone. The way her heart rate changed, fluttered and sped up. There was a fizzy feeling in her stomach. Nervous but the good kind of nervous. She swallows and looks away from Sokka who raises an eyebrow at her.

"My life is terrible right now" She admits.

"You mean you specifically? Or us in general?" Sokka asks.

"Me" She answers. Sokka nods and pulls a face, because technically all of their lives suck right now.

"Well, yeah" He agrees, Katara shoots him a look and then smacks his arm. It's very clear that Rana's going through something, something they haven't talked about because she's actually rather private about her life, like the fact that Zhao was her father. That she's trying to talk to them about whatever this is, is a big step.

"What happened?" Katara asks her. Rana lets out a sigh and slumps against the saddle.

"I realized that I think I might be in love, and it sucks" She admits.

"Oh, c'mon!" Sokka teases and nudges her. "That's great! Falling in love is not a bad thing, don't fight it!"

"It's Zuko" Rana admits, they all stare at her. She knew that they'd have this reaction. Sokka blinks slightly and then frowns. But it's Aang that has the outburst.

"You fight that feeling..." He tells her. "YOU FIGHT IT LIKE IT'S A MONSTER! YOU PUNCH ITS HEAD RIGHT OFF!" Aang punches his own hand and then shakes it, hurting himself.

"Don't tell her that" Katara scolds and moves closer to Rana. "Rana" Rana looks down and pulls her knees up to her chest. "Something happened in that temple, didn't it?" She asks. "Because you were together when Zhao found you..."

"Yeah" Rana whispers. "Zu saved me" Sokka snorts a laugh.

"Zu" He teases, Rana looks at him.

"It's what I called him when we were children" She admits. "Zuko was my best friend for a few years" She shrugs. "It's different now, but...I don't hate him...."

"That doesn't mean you love him" Katara offers. "Maybe you just feel like you love him because you used to be friends. We always feel attached to them, no matter how long it's been...."

"Yeah, maybe" Rana agrees and gives her a soft smile before she stands and whistles. Noivern bursts down out of the clouds. "I think I need to ride on my own for a little while," She tells them before she slides down Appa's tail before she climbs onto Noivern's back, settling into the saddle before he flies higher with her, up into the clouds. Katara shoots Aang a look.

"Really?" She asks him. "Fight it like a monster?"

"He keeps trying to kill us" Sokka reminds her.

"Does he?" Katara counters and gives them another look, she taps her head. "Think about it" She offers and looks up to spot Noivern, but he's in the clouds now.

 

Chapter 40: Chapter Thirty-Six

Sokka drives Appa now, Rana leaning back against his back, the egg sling now across her chest, her fingers drawing over the shell. Katara sits in the saddle watching Aang who paces up and down Appa's back, a worried expression on his face. Aang's been getting increasingly agitated. Rana's been quiet. She's been thinking about how she feels and what Katara said about it being some lingering affection from their childhood. She doesn't think that's right. Katara meant well, but she's a bit young for Rana to be taking advice from her, especially about things like love. Rana's never really been interested in boys. Not in the romantic sense. She's barely had friends let alone a lover. Zhao would never have allowed it anyway. Even if it's not love, it is something. Deep attraction. Lust. Like. There is something there. Something in her heart she guesses.

“You okay?” Sokka asks her quietly, she hums. “Is it about what they said about Zuko?” She turns her head slightly to peer at him. “Don't listen to them” He offers and shrugs. “He might keep trying to kill us...” He teases. “But if you're into that sort of thing then so what” She elbows him a little but smiles. She gets what he's saying to her. That he's okay with it at least. If it's what she wants. If that is how she feels. 

“I know nothing will come of it,” She tells him and lets out a breath. “Whatever happens with the Fire Nation and the Avatar, we're on different sides...”

“Forbidden love” Sokka teases, she snorts and leans against him. “Look, whilst your feeling it, don't worry about it....enjoy the warm and fuzzies...Just at least make an effort to fight him when he jumps us or something” He adds as she hugs him, careful of the egg against her chest. “Make it look real” She nods against his shoulder. This is a friendship she didn't see coming. But he listens to her and she listens to him. He gushes about Suki and she doesn't make fun of him. He should offer her the same to make it an equal friendship. “And you know, you listen to me when I talk about Suki, so...if you want to talk about Zu” He snorts a little. “Then you can talk to me...” She nods and pulls back from him, going back to resting against his back. “And I promise I will only make fun of him a little bit” He adds, she smiles to herself and nods. Aang is still pacing. “Would you sit down?” Sokka complains. “If we hit a bump you'll go flying off! What's bugging you anyway?”

“It's what Avatar Roku said” Aang admits. “I'm supposed to master all four elements before that comet arrives”

“Well, let's see, you've pretty much mastered air-bending and that only took you 112 years...” Sokka points out. “I'm sure you can master three more elements by next summer”

“I haven't even started water-bending and we're still weeks away from the North Pole! What am I gonna do!?” Aang has put his head in his hands in frustration before letting out a groan. Katara reaches up and takes his hand as it falls to his side.

“Calm down” She offers warmly. “It's going to be okay. If you want, I can try and teach you some of the stuff I know”

“You'd do that?” Aang asks her. Katara nods her head and smiles. She and Aang then crawl over to the edge of the saddle to look down.

“We'll need to find a good source of water first” Katara points out.

“Maybe we can find a puddle for you to splash in” Sokka comments dryly, Rana sits up.

“Actually we should find somewhere for the pokemon to stretch their legs too and get something to eat” She offers. “I hate keeping them all cooped up in that ball...I know we're running out of space and Ninetails and Wartortle are bigger now”

“We'll find somewhere” Katara assures her with a smile. They all know it's been tough on her, with her mood, her injuries and being away from her pokemon because of their limited space. She used to have them with her all the time before. When she travelled on foot with her Fire Nation guards. Now she feels like she barely sees them anymore.

…............

Appa lands next to a waterfall in a clearing. This will do for some water-bending practice and there should be some fish and berries or nuts around for the pokemon. This will work well for what they want. Rana lets out all her pokemon who stretch and greet one another once they have their feet on the ground. Ninetails moves to Rana and looks up at her. Still unsure now. She bonded with Noivern straight away after his evolution. And with Wartortle. But there is something different with Ninetails. Maybe it's because Rana has been in a bad mood since. Maybe it is nothing to do with Ninetails but just Rana. She sighs and crouches in front of her. She really is a beautiful pokemon, she just wishes she had her tome back to read about it.

“Come on,” She tells her softly. “Let's go find some food for everyone” Foraging is going to help with that bond. Doing something together. Ninetails nods and swishes her tails. Rana stands and then moves to Sokka who pulls a few supplies from the back of Appa. “Sokka” She starts, he hums and looks at her. “Will you keep an eye on them whilst we go searching for some berries?” Sokka nods and pulls a face at Rockruff who runs towards him, Rockruff goes into a play bow as he pulls a face back. Rana smiles and then walks away with Ninetails who follows behind a little slower.

Chapter 41: Chapter Thirty-Seven

Rana drops the bag in her hand and lets out a breath before crouching, resting her arms on her knees. She thinks she's done alright, a good number of fruits around here. No meat, which is a bit of a problem for Rockruff and Ninetails who do need it, and herself, of course. They can eat berries for now, but she should pick up something from a market when they get a chance. Ninetails sets a second, smaller bag down next to Rana and then sits to look up at her. Seeking approval. Rana smiles at her and nods.

“I know I’ve been in a bad mood lately” She crouches in front of her again. “But it’s not because of what happened at the temple, I’m not upset with you for evolving, and I’m not upset because of what happened with Roku” Ninetails cocks her head. “I'm not upset with you at all” Rana assures her. “I'm just upset” Her eyes turn purple as Ninetails yips slightly. Rana snorts. “Wow, you guys see everything don't you” She comments, Ninetails cocks her head and stares at Rana. “Yeah” Rana whispers reading what Ninetails is telling her. That they are part of her. That they are connected, so they understand what she's feeling. That they know how she feels about Zuko. “Any advice?” Rana asks. Ninetails pounces around, waving her tails over her body before fanning it out. Seemingly do some kind of dance. Rana turns to watch her. “That doesn't work for people,” Rana tells her with a smirk. “We don't do....mating displays” She is trying really hard not to chuckle. Ninetails huffs a little and then sits, cocking her head. “I don't know why” Rana answers something. “But I am sure that any male Ninetails would have instantly swooned” There is something in that that makes them both shift, falling silent and sad. Because there won't be a male Ninetails for her. There won't be any partners for any of them. No children. Nothing. “Guess we're all going to be the last of our kinds, huh?” She asks her sadly and then scratches at her neck. “We'll stick together though....”

….....

Zuko stands on the deck of his ship sparring with one of the other fire-benders. It's the only way he has to break up the tension in his body. A deep-seated coil ready to snap. He's one wrong move away from just exploding. And his uncle isn't helping either. Making comments and cryptic idioms about things he doesn't want to be discussing with his uncle. It's worse since the temple. Everything inside of him feels ramped up. He feels the fire in his veins. And he knows why. Because it's worse when he thinks about Rana. He knows it would be better if she was here. With him. But he also knows she's better off with the Avatar. That's what she wants. That's where she wants to be. But it doesn't stop him from hating it. He knows she felt it too. He could read it in her eyes. Whatever this is. She felt it too. It's not as simple as enemies or friends. He's thinking about her in a way that doesn't belong in either of those categories. He turns, just missing the fire blast sent at him by his opponent, he then counterattacks with his own blast. Suddenly the ship tilts to starboard, knocking both combatants off balance.

“Someone's changing our course!” Zuko points out and then runs off towards the bridge.

…........

Zuko hurries onto the bridge, glaring at the helmsman that stands at the wheel. Anger boils in Zuko as he moves into the room.

“What's the meaning of this mutiny? No one told you to change course!” He scolds the helmsman who almost shrinks away from the anger in Zuko's eyes. Behind him though, Iroh and some other crewmen are playing Pai Sho.

“Actually, someone did. I assure you it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko” Iroh offers, Zuko looks at his Uncle.

“Is it something to do with the Avatar?” He asks.

“Even more urgent. It seems... I've lost my lotus tile” Iroh moves a piece forward on the Pai Sho board, Zuko looks utterly mystified by this.

“Lotus tile?”

“For my Pai Sho game. Most people think the lotus tile insignificant, but it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ”

“You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?” Zuko asks, his anger boiling higher and higher.

“See, you, like most people, underestimate its value” Iroh answers and looks up at Zuko, there is something passing there, something that tells Zuko he's not talking just about the lotus tile. “Just give me ten minutes to check the merchants at this port of call. Hopefully, they'll have the lotus tile in stock and I can get on with my life!” Zuko works hard to contain his anger, ultimately releasing a gout of flame from his mouth the licks over the ceiling. Iroh is smiling, clouded with smoke. “I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew”

…...

Wartortle is floating on the surface of the water, his tail used as a rudder to move around Sokka as flosses Appa's toes with a leafy branch. Appa grunts happily.

“Yeah, don't get too happy. You gotta do me next” Sokka comments and then looks up as Rana and Ninetails return to them. “Hey, any luck?” He asks, Rana sets the bags of berries down on the bank and shrugs.

“Some berries, couple of roots....” She answers and pulls her braid over her shoulder to untie it. She glances to where Aang and Katara are water-bending.

“You don't want to join in?” Sokka asks. “Don't you want to learn?”

“It's not important I learn” Rana argues and sits down to dip her feet into the water after she's pulled off her boots. “I can protect Aang with what I have” Aang is moving around his stream of water as if it were a toy as Katara stands motionless. After a few minutes of frolicking, Aang turns to look at Katara who definitely looks sour. She drops her water stream. Aang plays with his for a few more seconds and then dumps his back into the river.

“Nice work, though the over-the-head flare was unnecessary” Katara comments.

“Sorry. Well, don't stop now, keep'em coming!”

“Well, I kinda know this one other move, but it's pretty hard. I haven't even totally figured it out yet. The idea is to create a big, powerful wave...” Katara concentrates, raises a blob of water out of the river, but it falls back upon itself when Katara's concentration collapses. Aang sets up to try.

“So, like this?” He raises his hands and a huge wall of water shoots up into the air and heads towards Sokka. He turns and his eyes go wide.

“Aang!” He gets soaked as the wave breaks over him, Wartortle, and Appa.

“Looks like I got the hang of that move! What else ya got?” Aang asks Katara, both ignoring what has just happened to Sokka.

“That's enough practising for today” She answers, clearly upset that Aang is mastering moves that have taken her a long time to learn.

“Yeah, I'll say!” Sokka agrees as he watches a bunch of bags floating down the river. “You just practised our supplies down the river!”

“Uhhh... sorry” Aang whispers. Rana pushes herself to her feet.

“I'm sure we can find somewhere to replace all this stuff” She offers and brushes dirt from the back of her dress with a sigh when she notices that her berry bag is gone too. “Great” She whispers and rubs at the space between her eyebrows.

Chapter 42: Chapter Thirty-Eight

Rana walks at Ninetails' side as they move through the village. The other pokemon had been left back at the clearing with Appa. She heads to where Katara and Aang are stood waiting for Sokka in the store next to them. Rana just wanted to take a look at some stalls before they left again. She has no money but she can look. Rana reaches the two of them just as Sokka exits the shop.

“We've got exactly three copper pieces left from the money that King Bumi gave us. Let's spend it wisely” Sokka points out.

“Uhh, make that two copper pieces, Sokka. I couldn't say no to this whistle!” Aang produces a white whistle in the shape of a bison from behind his back. Aang draws in a great breath and blows into it, Sokka sticks his fingers in his ears to stop the sound he believes is coming. Nothing happens – only the sound of rushing air.

“It doesn't even work” Sokka points out as Momo chitters into Aang's ear as his master stops blowing into it. “See, even Momo thinks it's a piece of junk”

“No offence, Aang, but maybe I'll hold the money from now on” Aang looks guilty and then hands over the money to Rana who curls her fingers around the coin purse before attaching it to her belt as they walk away from the store, heading along the port docks. They pass by a pirate ship where a pirate stands trying to entice customers into the ship.

“Earth Nation! Fire Nation! Water Nation! So long as bargains are your inclination, you're welcome here! Don't be shy, come one by!” The pirate barker runs right up to them, but they keep walking along. “Oh! You there! I can see by your clothing that you're world-travelling types. Perhaps I can interest you in some exotic curios?” Aang stops and turns then to look at him.

“Sure! What are curios?” Aang asks. The pirate barker pauses.

“I'm not entirely sure, but we got'em!” The pirate takes Aang by the shoulders and bustles them onto the ship.

…...

Inside the four of them meander through the ship, looking over the wares. Katara is momentarily mesmerized by a stone monkey richly jewelled with large, blood-red rubies. Rana has found a small fox-like figurine sitting on the table. She picks it up and turns it around in her hand before she looks down at Ninetail who nudges her.

“Yeah, it does kind of look like you” Rana agrees and looks back at the figurine before setting it down.

“I've never seen such a fine specimen of vastaya, or any specimen actually” Rana stiffens and turns to find the pirate captain watching her from a darkened doorway. “She would fetch me a hefty sum, if you'd be interested in bartering” Aang hugs Rana protectively from behind as Ninetails growls.

“Rana's not for sale” He scolds and glares at the captain. Katara walks over to a scroll rack. One of them, the thinnest, has the water symbol on its end. She opens it and sees the instructions on how to perform various water-bending moves. Her eyes light up and she draws an intake of breath.

“Look at this! It's a water-bending scroll. Check out these crazy moves!” Katara tells Aang who turns to look at the captain.

“Where did you get a water-bending scroll?” He asks when suddenly the Captain's hand suddenly slams down upon the scroll and picks it up, rolling it up and smiling at them.

“Let's just say I got it up north at a most reasonable price. Free!” He places the scroll back into the rack. Sokka, who is looking over a merchandise shelf, turns around, puzzling something out.

“Waaait a minute...sea-loving traders...with suspiciously acquired merchandise...and pet reptile birds...You guys are pirates!” He points out.

“Really?” Rana asks him. “You just figured that out?” The pirate barker from outside buts his arm around Sokka's shoulders and smiles.

“We prefer to think of ourselves as high-risk traders” He offers. Katara is still watching the scroll rack, she turns to the Pirate Captain.

“So, how much for the, uh, 'traded' scroll?”

“I've already got a buyer, a nobleman in the Earth Kingdom. Unless, of course, you kids have 200 gold pieces on ya right now?” The Captain asks them. Aang and Katara withdraw slightly to speak in private. Aang puts his hand out towards Rana who raises an eyebrow at him.

“I know how to deal with these guys, Rah, pirates love to haggle” He wiggles his fingers at her looking hopeful, Rana and Katara share a look, Katara shrugs a little, they both know that they are not going to get the scroll for 2 copper coins. Rana takes the coins from the little purse on her belt and drops them into Aang's hand. “Watch and learn” Aang walks over to the Pirate Captain. “What say to the price of... one copper piece!” Aang holds the copper piece up to the Captain, a wide grin on his face.

“Hahaha! The price is 200 gold pieces. I don't haggle on items this rare”

“Okay – two copper pieces!”

“It's not as amusing the second time, boy” He warns leaning forward menacingly. “Of course” He then starts and looks at Rana. “We could always trade” She pulls a disgusted face.

“She's not for sale” Sokka repeats Aang's earlier statement.

“Let's just get out of here” Rana adds. Sokka nods in agreement.

“Aye, we be castin' off now!” Aang comments to the pirates in a mock pirate tone, he grabs his staff and follows Katara and Rana out of the ship, followed by Sokka. Rana shudders and shakes the ship off of her. “We'd never sell you” Aang assures her, she looks at him softly and smiles.

“Good, because who else would stop Sokka from giving you food poisoning?” She asks him, giving Aang a little nudge. Behind them, the pirate who solicited them originally runs across the deck shouting.

“Hey you, get back here!”

“Well, well, look who's come to their senses. Told ya the haggling would pay off” Aang teases Rana who shakes her head. She is pretty sure that's not what this is about. She is pretty sure she knows exactly what this is about. Like angry bees from a beehive the pirates are exiting their ship to come after Aang, Rana, Ninetails, Katara and Sokka. Suddenly, the group is faced with a dozen or so well-armed and obviously angry pirates.

“I...I don't think these pirates are here to trade with us!” Katara points out.

“Run!” Rana tells them and they all break out into a run away from the pirates who chase after them in pursuit.

 

Chapter 43: Chapter Thirty-Nine

Rana stares out over the waterfall, her mind catching up with how they very almost didn't escape pirates. It was close. And if not for Ninetails they likely wouldn't have made it at all. She crouches and shakes her head. Adrenaline is fading and the reality of it sinking in. Aang looks rather downtrodden behind her with Sokka and Katara.

“I used to kinda look up to pirates, but those guys are terrible...and disgusting” Aang comments and huffs as he sits down. Rana pulls something from the sleeve of her dress as she turns towards them.

“I know, that's why I took this!” Rana smirks and holds out the water-bending scroll that Katara had wanted. Aang gets up, a happy look on his face.

“No way” He comments. Katara takes the scroll from her and smiles.

“Isn't it great?” She asks.

“No wonder they were trying to hack us up” Sokka scolds Rana. “You stole their water-bending scroll”

“I prefer to think of it as high-risk trading” Rana counters with a smirk. Aang laughs a little.

“Haha! Good one, Rah”

“Sokka, where do you think they got it?” Katara asks him. “They stole it from a water-bender...”

“It doesn't matter” Sokka counters and turns to Rana. “You put all of our lives in danger just for some piece of paper”

“They are real water-bending forms. You know how crucial it is for Aang to learn water-bending” Rana argues, Sokka scoffs and turns, walking away from them.

“Whatever” He grumbles.

“Well, what's done is done. We have it. We might as well learn from it” Aang tells them and looks between Katara and Rana.

…...........

Zuko's ship is now docked at the village that Rana and the others have just left. Zuko himself stands in the marketplace with Iroh, his arms are folded across his chest, clearly unhappy about stopping here at all.

“I've checked all the shops on this pier. Not a lotus tile in the entire marketplace” Iroh comments. Zuko turns to look at his uncle.

“It's good to know this trip was a complete waste of time for everyone!”

“Quite the contrary. I always say the only thing better than finding something you were looking for, is finding something you weren't looking for at a great bargain!” Behind Iroh, a parade of Fire Nation soldiers walks by carrying armloads of merchandise that Iroh has just bought. One of them is some kind of brass musical instrument.

“You bought a tsungi horn?” Zuko asks, indigent about this whole thing.

“For music night on the ship. Now, if we only had some woodwinds” They begin to walk away, heading down the dock where they approach the pirate ship. “This place looks promising!”

…...........

Iroh is peering at the red jewelled monkey Katara had eyed earlier, he turns his head one way and then another as he takes in the details. Zuko shifts behind him, peering over a shelf of trinkets.

“Ooo! That is handsome! Wouldn't it look magnificent in the galley?” Iroh comments. Behind them, tucked away in the doorway, is the Pirate Captain, who is speaking with the Pirate Barker. Zuko listens to their conversation. Meanwhile, Iroh picks up the jewelled monkey with a huge grin on his face.

“I want that vastaya girl” The pirate captain growls, curling his fingers into his palm. Zuko stiffens slightly, pretending to look at the fox-like figurine he picks up from the table. “The prices men would pay...She could be a gold mine....plus the sale of that scroll could set us up somewhere. Open up a little place...they'd come from miles away to catch a glimpse...or a feel...” Zuko clutches the fox statue in his hand til lit shatters, he glares down at the pieces as he releases them. “Hey!” The Captain snaps. “You break it, you buy it” Zuko turns to the Captain, holding his hands behind his back.

“This vastaya, was she travelling with a little bald monk with an arrow on his head?” Iroh gives Zuko a look from behind. He is only going to be able to hide behind searching for the Avatar for so long before he is going to have to admit that he's actually chasing after Rana. Zuko's head and his heart are chasing two different things. His head is going after the Avatar, logically it is his only way to go home. His heart is chasing Rana and this warmth she gives him, the sense of belonging that he's never felt before, the true sense of home.

…......

Rana goes through the berries and roots that she'd gone out to collect, again, following their earlier disaster. She even managed to find some mushrooms this time. She prepares dinner. It won't be much. But enough to get them through the night. Somewhere behind her, Aang and Katara are practising water-bending with the scroll Rana stole from the pirates.

….........

Later, Sokka, Aang, and Katara are all fast asleep, the campfire still blazing so they haven't been asleep very long. Rana moves around the camp, stepping over Aang and silently removes the water-bending scroll from Aang's bag. She backs quietly away from the camp, heading through the trees towards a point on the river further down so as not to disturb them whilst she gives it a go. To be honest, she didn't want to fail in front of them.

…..........

Rana is getting increasingly frustrated as she fails to water-bend. She doesn't understand why one minute she can create a giant wave but a little thing like a small whip, she struggles with. She hangs her head and closes her eyes. When she's in danger she has no problem doing the moves that are needed, which means they are buried inside of her somewhere. She takes a deep breath and holds out her hands, concentrating again. She lifts a globe of water out of the river and tries to manipulate it, but it pops. As does the next. And the next. And the next.

“...ugh!” She actually stomps her foot and lets loose fire from her hands in annoyance. She takes a deep breath to calm herself before glaring at the water. Suddenly she hears the noise of grinding metal. She runs over to a row of bushes on her left and drops down to hide behind them, her fingers part them to reveal a cutter craft now beached on the river bank. Which means they've already disembarked. She needs to warn the others. She needs her sword. She turns to run, but there stands a pirate, who grabs her to stop her. She lets out a humph and struggles against his hold on her arm. She then bends a water whip around and smacks the pirate in the face. He lets her go, but she runs right into Zuko, who is quick to grab her arms, pulling her closer to him. The two of them sharing a look. She swallows a little. Of course, he would turn up right after she realised that she might actually be in love with him. She should have predicted this.

“Hello, Princess” He greets softly. He doesn't know where that came from. He's never called her by anything until now. Refusing to even say her name because he knew it would break him to do so. He has no idea where that nickname just sprang from. She clenches her jaw and looks over her shoulder at the pirate who rubs his face walking towards them.

“Seriously?” She asks and looks back at Zuko. “You couldn't use a messenger like a normal person?”

“Don't flatter yourself” He argues. “I'm not here for you.....Where is he?” She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “If you tell me...I'll save you from the pirates”

“I don't need your help” She growls at him and then stomps on his foot, he stumbles back and she turns and bends a fireball at the pirate who's eyes widen, he dives out of the way when she throws it. Zuko grabs her from behind, lifting her up a little, she squirms and wriggles trying to get free from him.

“Stop squirming” He scolds into her ear, her breath catching feeling his fan over her face. “Trust me” She laughs and struggles against him.

“Trust you?” She snaps a little. “Why should I do that?”

“Because I saved your life” He reminds her. “And I could have left you to Zhao” She stops struggling and hangs her head. He leans back from her and lets out a breath as she leans into his chest, his hand softening against her stomach.

Chapter 44: Chapter Forty

Rana sits in the sand now, her hands bound in front of her, but with rope and loosely, Zuko making a show of it but not taking it seriously. She's not sure what to make of it. She knows he wants to Avatar, but that puts him up against her. Yet he seems to be on her side right now against the pirates. He's so confusing. The pirates gathered across from Zuko watch them as the captain steps forward.

“You promised the girl!” The Captain reminds Zuko. Rana looks at Zuko and gives him a look but he refuses to look at her, simply staring back at the Captain.

“Once I have the Avatar..” He argues. “Until then...she's mine” He growls the last word. “Search the woods for the boy and meet back here” The captain searches for honesty in Zuko's face and eyes before he turns.

“Fine” He grumbles and waves for his men to head off into the trees. He follows them. Leaving Rana with Zuko and Iroh and the other Fire Nation soldiers. Rana lets out an annoyed breath. Zuko hooks his hands under her arms and pulls her up to her feet, moving around to untie her hands.

“Stealing from pirates?” He asks. “How could you possibly get into this much trouble in one day?”

“It didn't take me the whole day” She counters, his lip twitches into a smile before he looks down at her, the two of them stood almost up against one another. He reaches up and brushes sand from her cheek with his thumb. “Thanks, I guess,” She tells him.

“I wasn't going to let them hurt you” He whispers, looking away from her with his admittance. She snorts and shakes her head.

“You didn't do this for me” She reminds him. “You did it for the Avatar” She mocks a little and nudges him away from her with an eye roll. She turns her back on him, folding her arms over her chest, she misses the look that flashes across his eyes. The regret. The shame. He's so confused. With everything.

…..........

Katara, Aang and Sokka are still sleeping. Sokka rolls over, starting to wake. He notices Rana's empty sleeping bag and sits up.

“Huh? Where did she go?” He wonders. Maybe she's gone to spend the night in the cave with her pokemon. Or for a walk. Or a fly. He looks up at the sky.

“What's going on?” Aang asks as he wakes, rubbing at his eyes.

“Rana's gone” Sokka answers. “Do you think she went to.....?” He is cut off when his hands get wrapped in a sling, he is them pulled right off his sleeping bag screaming. He lands on the ground and is faced by a pirate who throws another sling at him. He rolls out of the way, picks up his spear and charges the intruder. Aang, in the background, turns to see a huge beefy pirate hefting two crossbows with a net tied between them. He aims and fires. Aang fires an airball at the approaching net, but the air passes right through it. The net rolls him up into a nice neat bundle and he is thrown backwards onto the ground, where another pirate begins dragging him away. They instantly leave Sokka alone with Katara who is sat up in her own sleeping back kind of still half asleep and dealing with what just happened.

“I got him, come on!”

“Oh, what? We're not good enough to kidnap?” Sokka complains. He is answered by another net which scoops him up, followed by another that grabs Katara.

“I hate you so much,” She tells Sokka who then screams as they drag them away.

….......

Back on the riverbank, the pirates, Zuko and his men lined up facing each other. The pirates have Sokka, Katara, and Aang tied up at their feet, Zuko holds tightly to Rana's arm. Iroh standing on her other side.

“Nice work” Zuko comments. “Now, give me the boy”

“You give us the girl first,” The captain asks looking at Rana in Zuko's hold. Zuko tightens his hand around her arm and lets out a breath. He had no intention of actually handing her over to them. He never did. But he has no way out of this. He didn't think this far ahead. He didn't think the pirates would be this persistent. Sokka seems to clock on first. Sees something in Zuko's eyes and seems to realise that Rana's feelings aren't one-sided here. That Zuko is feeling things for her too. That as much as he wants the Avatar, he's not willing to give her up for him.

“You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for some vastayan girl?” Sokka asks. Zuko snaps his gaze to Sokka who gives him a look back. Zuko lets out a breath, figuring it out. Buying time he can do.

“Don't listen to him!” Zuko argues. “He's trying to turn us against each other”

“Your friend is the Avatar?” The pirate captain asks as he looks at Aang.

“Sure is, and I'll bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market than that scrawny little fox girl” Rana pulls an offended face and takes a step forward.

“You listen here...” Rana starts to scold but Zuko yanks her back and covers her mouth with his hand to stop her from ruining this. She grumbles against his hand before she licks it, Zuko ignores the heat that tears down his spine and keeps his hand in place, yanking her closer to him. 

“Shut your mouth, you water tribe peasant!” Zuko scolds Sokka.

“Yeah, Sokka, you really should shut your mouth...” Aang adds noting the anger in Rana's eyes.

“I'm just sayin', it's bad business sense. Just imagine how much the Fire Lord would pay for the Avatar. You guys would be set for life and beyond!” The Pirate Captain points to Zuko.

“Keep the vastaya!” He tells Zuko who lets out a small relaxing breath. “The boy will fetch so much more” The pirates begin to walk away with Katara, Sokka, and Aang until they are out of sight and Zuko releases Rana who whirls on him.

“You make me angry so quickly. It's remarkable”

“I literally said six words to you!” He argues with her.

“Yet here I am, boiling with rage” She adds. “All that to not get what you wanted?!” She snaps at him. “What is wrong with you?! You could have just handed me over to get the Avatar! Isn't that what you want?! Why didn't you just make the trade?” She asks him, staring at him. He raises an eyebrow at her.

“Are you done?” He asks her, she huffs and folds her arms over her chest. “Where's your sword?”

“Back at camp, probably”

“And your pokemon?”

“In a cave inland, sleeping...” She answers, he gives her a look. “Oh,” She whispers and looks down, figuring it out. Going after the pirates now will give them the element of surprise. Gives her a shot with her sword and her pokemon to help them. To rescue her friends. To even the odds a little. They were outnumbered, even with Zuko's men.

“Uncle” Zuko starts turning to Iroh who hides a sly smile.

“Stay and watch the ship” Iroh comments before he can tell him anything. The two of them share a look. Zuko nods and walks away with Rana.

Chapter 45: Chapter Forty-One

Rana and Zuko move through the trees following after Rockruff who leads the way, sniffing at the ground to track Aand, Sokka, and Katara. Pichu clings to Zuko's back, he's been unable to shake the mouse at all and eventually caved, allowing it. Ninetails and Wartortle follow behind them and above Noivern searches the skies. Rana and Zuko crouch in some bushes, watching the pirates on the beach as they set up camp for the rest of the night. They know that they'll have to go back past Zuko and his soldiers to get to their ship, and will likely wait it out until they think they've left. Zuko then frowns slightly before he lets out an amused breath.

“Is that your hand on my butt?” He asks her. She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

“It was an accident” Rana answers, her eyes on the pirates ahead of them, Zuko looks at her.

“Princess, your hand's still on my butt” He points out, his lip twitches into a smirk.

“It's still an accident” She argues. She then turns sharply and looks at Ninetails. “That is not what this is” She scolds, Zuko raises an eyebrow as he looks between them.

“Pichu” Pichu comments and Zuko hums a little, his eyes then soften as they look at Rana, she's blushing, turned back to keep an eye on the pirates who have Sokka gagged now, which is probably a smart move on their behalf.

“You know you are going to have to make it look good” Zuko starts, she frowns and turns to him, finds him already watching her.

“What?” She asks him.

“Your escape” He answers, he looks away and she just stares at the side of his face. She has no idea what he's playing at here. He wants the Avatar but he's talking to her about an escape plan.

“By that you mean....?”

“All of you” He answers, seemingly understanding what she's asking him.

“I don't get you” She whispers with a deep frown. He hums slightly. Right now, he's pretty much confusing himself.

“Neither do I” He agrees and then looks at her. Her eyes soften and she reaches up, touches his cheek, cupping her hand around it, thumb brushing over his scar, he leans into her hand and closes his eyes. He doesn't like people making note of his scar, touching it, even looking at it. But there is something soothing in her touch. Comforting.

“You're not so bad” She whispers teasingly, he opens his eyes to look at her. “Not really” He reaches up and covers her hand with his own. Movement out the corner of his eye catches his attention and he is quick to lay back flat on the ground, pulling her down with him. The two of them holding their breath as they listen to the pirate's footsteps moving closer to their hiding space. Rana curls up, laying on his chest, her ears flattening against her head to hide them. She can feel his heart beating under her hand on his chest, rapidly pounding against his ribcage, her fingers curl into the cloth of his uniform. He has an arm around her, hand flat against the small of her back, his other touching her arm, holding her from completely sinking into him. The two of them remain still, silent, they can hear Aang talking, a few pirates talking. Footsteps and the crackle of a fire. Rana presses her forehead to Zuko's shoulder and lets out a breath. How do they keep ending up in these positions? She lifts her head and looks at him, finds him looking back at her. His hand coming up to brush her hair back from her face. He lowers an arm so he can lean on his elbow, pushing himself up. His nose brushing over hers. Everything in him is telling him to kiss her. To just do it. He wants to. That's not the issue here. The issue is her moral stance. They could give it a try at least. If nothing comes of it then what they are feeling is to do with that former friendship and nothing more. Easy to move on from that. She draws her hand to his neck. Eyes searching eyes. But Aang's voice stops them both. A reminder of just what they are here to do. Zuko swallows a little and nods, Rana touches his shoulder as she pushes herself away from him. Just as she does, a purple spark jumps between them, heart to heart, seeping into both of them.

“What did you just do?” Zuko scolds her under his breath, she pushes herself up a little but hisses at her to stop.

“I didn't do anything” She grumbles. “I don't know what that was” She risks a look through the bushes and finds that the pirate has moved on so she leans back touching her chest. He frowns and touches his own. Nothing feels out of place. Nothing feels wrong, but something definitely happened there.

“Let's just get this over with” He mumbles and turns to look at the pirates, all sinking in to relax for the night. Sokka has even started to doze against Katara who pushes him over so that he face plants into the ground.

“Wartortle” Rana states and nods towards the pirates. The blue turtle pokemon nods and then heads through the bushes. Waddling along towards the camp. Zuko closes his eyes and lets out a breath, then turns to Rana to apologise but she's disappeared. He looks around for her before he sinks into the ground covering his face with his hands. Why is he so bad at this whole thing? He can't pick which target he's running after. He can't admit to himself that he's got these real feelings for a girl he shouldn't. He can't pick between his head and his heart. He scrubs at his face and then sits up determined. There is no time for self-pity now. He needs to help her deal with the pirates. She can't do it on her own.

Chapter 46: Chapter Forty-Two

Rana can't help but find it all stupid. So very stupid. This whole thing is stupid. How can she possibly have feelings for that....jerk. He makes her so angry. Infuriatingly indifferent about it all. Rana pulls her sword from her back, carefully watching Wartortle who moves towards Aang, the pirates have not seen him or aren't taking much notices of him. Wartortle sends out a water blast that throws a pirate back, initiating the fight and Rana uses this moment to rush out of the trees and takes down two pirates before they notice that she's there. Zuko takes out two more as he joins in, followed closely by Pichu who runs after him with its hands held out. Behind Rana, Ninetails and Rockruff race into the fight. The pirates jumps into the midst of the fight with a rallying cry. Zuko, Rana, and her pokemon bear down on the still bound Katara and Sokka as Wartortle gets Aang free. The Avatar jumps up and races into the fight too, grabbing his staff from the ground. As they get near, four pirates jump into the frame to defend their captives. They drop smoke bombs and the battlefield instantly becomes a foggy mess. Aang uses his staff to air-bend a sort of fan move that clears the fog almost instantly. From the trees, coconuts are suddenly flung by Momo who chatters from a branch. Launching the projectiles at the pirates with a rather happy look on his face. Rana and Zuko reach Sokka and Katara and untie them as the pokemon chase off the pirates who run away, disappearing into the trees. Ninetails barks happily, bouncing around to celebrate their victory. Aang and Katara turn to Zuko as Sokka picks up Rockruff to scratch at her head.

“What now?” Katara asks Zuko who glances at Rana as she slides her sword away.

“Go,” He tells them as he folds his arms over his chest. “Go on, before I change my mind...consider it...a head start” He looks at Rana who gives him a smirk, but there is pride in her eyes too. Sokka looks at Rana and touches her arm before walking away with Katara and Aang, the pokemon following behind them, except for Pichu who still stands at Zuko's side.

“Pichu” Pichu whispers and reaches up for Zuko, he caves and picks up the little mouse thing, scratching at its head as Rana moves closer to him.

“Thought you wanted us to make it look good” She teases as he hands Pichu to her, he then clears his throat and shrugs.

“Let's just say that this is for old time's sake” He counters. “Princess” He teases a little.

“Just old times, Zu?” She asks him, he looks at her. The two of them sharing a look. He touches her face, brushing her hair back, he fully intends to kiss her, but he realises that he can't. It wouldn't make either of them feel better about this. There has to be a line drawn, he knows this. He can't. He closes his eyes and then settles on kissing her forehead instead. Lingering there before he pulls back. She sighs sadly, but seems to understand, she pats his chest before she follows after her friends. Zuko lets out a breath and then touches his chest, settling his hand over where that spark hit him. He has no idea what that is. And from the look on her face when it happened, he is actually inclined to believe that she doesn't either.

…......

Iroh and the other Fire Nation soldiers are waiting for Zuko when he returns to them. Alone. Iroh raises an eyebrow but does have an idea of what happened to the others. His nephew has a heart buried deep, especially for Rana.

“Where is the Avatar?” One of the soldiers asks. Zuko clenches his hands at his side.

“Got away from me” He answers and heads back towards the ship waiting for them. Iroh catches up to him, walking at his side.
“Hehe, Prince Zuko, you're really going to get a kick out of this. The missing lotus tile was in my sleeve the whole time!” Iroh produces the missing lotus tile with a huge smile on his face. Zuko stares at the tile before he lets out a breath, trying to calm his now growing anger. Rana's smiling face flickers in his mind and his anger dissipates from him.

“Good” Zuko tells him. “Then we get going” He turns and walks onto the ship.

…....

Rana sits on the back of Appa with Pichu in her lap as it seems to cry. It is rather attached to Zuko. She assumes it is because he was there when it hatched. Today was an experience. She sighs. She doesn't know if it was a good or a bad experience. She touches her chest, rubbing at where that spark went in. She has no idea what that was. She's never heard of anything like that happening.

“Who needs that stupid scroll anyway” Katara offers as she sinks against the saddle. Sokka holds out his hand towards her, revealing the scroll.

“Is that really how you feel?” Sokka asks.

“The scroll!” She reaches for it, but Sokka pulls it away and gives her a look.

“First, what did we learn?” Sokka points out giving Rana a look, she hums and looks at him.

“Oh,” She whispers and then smirks. “Stealing is wrong” Katara takes the scroll from him.

“Unless it's from pirates!” Katara adds cheerfully.

“Haha! Good one, Katara” Aang agrees. The four of them smiling together. Aang and Katara going over the scroll together but Rana's smile fades, she looks down at Pichu who stares up at her. Feeling feelings for the enemy, it's never going to work out. She has to get over herself. Get over those feelings. Concentrate on her duty as True Elemental. Focus on Aang and the Avatar. She lets out a breath and nods.

…......

Steam rises from a mug of tea as Iroh carries it into Zuko's quarters where he sits at his desk, Rana's tome open in front of him as he absent-mindedly stares at it.

“I need to make a choice” Zuko admits as he reaches up and touches the tome. “To focus on one pursuit”

“Is that so?” Iroh asks as he sets down a cup of tea beside Zuko's hand. “Are we going to finally forgo pretences and admit that we are pursuing Rana now?”

“No” Zuko answers and looks at his uncle. “I must focus on the Avatar” Iroh sighs. This is not the path his nephew was meant to take. And relinquishing his pursuit of Rana is a mistake. Iroh knows that Zuko's future lays with that girl. She is the only thing that would be good for him.

“Zuko” Iroh scolds.

“I cannot concentrate on bringing in the Avatar if my mind is divided” Zuko argues. “The Avatar is my way home...” He turns to Iroh. “She will not get in my way again”

“And you know that going home and restoring your honour will not make you happy” Iroh counters, Zuko looks away, staring down at the book.

“What does my happiness have to do with anything?” Zuko comments. Iroh looks at him sadly.

“There is nothing I can do or say to change your mind?” Iroh asks him, Zuko shakes his head. “Very well” Iroh sighs and walks away from him.

Chapter 47: Chapter Forty-Three

The sun is setting above the river where Aang, Katara, Rana, and Sokka have stopped for the night with Appa, Momo and the pokemon. They just need a few hours to sleep. Specifically, Rana needs to sleep. She's been pushing herself so hard the last few days. Really hard. Rana crouches at a river's edge as she bathes. A moment to wash all the bad days off of her. Cleanse herself of her feelings for Zuko. Just shake them off. Focus on her duties and her destiny with the Avatar. He's supposed to be her main focus. She dunks her head into the water, soaking her hair through before she leans back. It's been five days since the pirate incident. Five days of fighting everything inside of her. Of pushing herself to learn how to better herself. How to be a better elemental for Aang. Pushing her bending techniques. Pushing her pokemon too to learn with her.

“Have you slept at all?” Sokka asks as Rana flips her wet hair back from her face, she glances at Sokka stood behind her, Rockruff sleeping in his arms.

“No” She answers. “I want to get some more meditation in...”

“You need to sleep” Sokka argues as he moves closer. She pushes herself up and moves to meet him. The two of them sharing a look. Sokka showing just how worried he is about her. How worried they are all about her. 

“I need to not listen to you” She argues and then pokes his nose before walking away. He lets out a breath and shakes his head before he turns and moves to their little camp set up. Katara and Aang are already there and ready to sleep. Sokka drops onto the ground and lets out a groan. Katara turns to him from where she had been watching Rana.

“How long has she been awake now?” Katara asks him.

“Five days” Sokka answers and flops back against his sleeping bag. “How can she do it?" He asks. "I want to sleep....alllll the time" Katara rolls her eyes slightly. "Who's turn is it on Rana watch?” Sokka asks but he's already falling asleep, curling around a pokemon egg. Aang watches Rana as she wades into the water and holds her hands over the top of it, the water rippling as she water-bends it. Katara turns to Aang to ask him what he thinks.

“I'll do it” Aang assures her. “I have an idea anyway...” He then takes off into the trees leaving Katara to stare after him, she looks at Sokka who curls around the egg tighter and she shakes her head before turning to Rana who bends some water around her, but her arms shake with how tired she is. She's pushing herself too hard. They've told her that she doesn't need to. She doesn't need to be some legendary figure to be their friend, to help them. She just needs to be herself.

…...

Zuko sits at his desk, a report in his hand, clenched tightly. Eyes swimming with how exhausted he is. Iroh walks into his quarters with a tea tray, heading towards his nephew. Iroh sets a steaming mug at Zuko's hand, and motions for him to drink it. Zuko is sure he's said something too but he can't focus enough to hear him. He hums though. Acknowledging him.

“I don't want any of your tea, Uncle” Zuko scolds as he re-reads the report for the third time. His eyes are so tired. He is so tired. He refuses to sleep. If he sleeps, he knows he will think about Rana. So he works. Reads report after report on the Avatar. Of course, the doesn't actually stop him from thinking about Rana. He still thinks about her. All the time. His self-ultimatum did nothing to stop that.

“Do an old man a favour, but his old heart at ease” Iroh pushes and Zuko lets out a breath before looking at the tea at his side. If it is going to be the only way his uncle is going to leave him alone. Fine. Zuko picks up the mug and drinks the entire thing in one go. He then blinks and it's instant. Zuko's head clunks to the top of the desk, fast asleep, as Iroh takes a seat picking up the Elemental tome to read it.

….......

Aang is boiling some water over the fire, dropping leaves and herbs into the water as he watches Rana practising water-bending, despite the fact she hasn't been sleeping, she has been getting better at it, with Katara and Wartortle's help. The pokemon are all asleep now too. Close by to the camp this time. Keeping watch despite their unconscious states. Rana wades out of the water and pulls her dress back on.

“I made some tea” Aang offers, she looks at him. “Please...” He adds and smiles at her. She lets out a breath and nods, moving to sit with him at the fire. He sets the little cup down on the ground next to her sleeping bag. Aang pours himself some, as if he is going to join her. She sits cross-legged on the top of her sleeping bag before picking up the cup. She looks exhausted, like every step she takes is agonising. Rana takes a sip of the tea and hums, giving Aang a small smile. He smiles back and blows on his own whilst still watching her. Waiting. Rana blinks a little, eyes drooping. She sets the mug down, luckily, before she falls back against her sleeping bag. Fast asleep. Aang smiles and pours out his own tea before crawling into his own sleeping bag. Everyone gets to sleep tonight. 

Chapter 48: Chapter Forty-Four

The sun is shining high in the sky as Zuko opens his eyes, his face warmed by the celestial body. Here. Wherever here is. He turns a little and looks around to find that it's a clearing set in the middle of a forested area. A calm and serene place. Quiet almost. There is a trickling sound. A fountain or small spring somewhere close by. Zuko frowns and turns again, this time his eyes land in the centre of the clearing where there is a small river leading to a little house lit up with lanterns. Zuko doesn't know where this is but he heads towards the house.

…..

Zuko lets himself into the house, listening for sounds of anyone being here but there is nothing. So he looks around. It's not as sterile or organised at the palace. This house is lived in. It's loved. His fingers touch the back of the couch, feeling the soft fabric beneath his fingers before he moves on. heading towards a row of shelves covered in books and tomes. They seem to cover topics on various different things. Military strategy. Diplomatic techniques. Pokemon. He touches the spine of that tome and looks around the rest of the room. He wonders who lives here. There is noise from the back, outside on the small porch overlooking a pond. He sets the children's toy down and moves to the back screen door. Zuko opens the sliding door and steps out to find whoever it is. A figure stands with their back to him but he knows who it is instantly from the nine tails fanned out across the floor behind her. Rana. Her ears flicker on the top of her head before she turns to face him.

“Princess?” He asks, though he's not surprised to see her in his dream, there is something different. His eyes travel down to look at her dress, and it hits him. It is her normal dress just longer, more fitted around her body until the skirt, which flows behind her, leaving the front open to show her legs off and in all white and the train at the back splits for allowance of her tail. He didn't think that would be what he'd dream about her wearing. She looks over him and then smirks.

“Nice dress” She teases as she turns away from him. Zuko frowns and then looks down, he makes a surprised noise to see he's wearing his formal royal robes. He pulls at the collar and cringes. He hates this outfit. So stiff and constricting. Chokes him. He feels there might be a metaphor that his uncle would see in that somewhere but he's more interested in why she's here. He moves to Rana's side at the railing of the porch.

“What are you wearing?” He asks her, she looks down and shrugs.

“I had one like this when I was little, though that one was red” She answers. “Shakra made it for me” Zuko hums a little.

“She was your nanny, right?” He asks her, she nods.

“She was” She agrees and rests her elbows on the railing. He mirrors her actions.

“And the colour? Why white?” He counters, she hums and then frowns looking at him.

“Why? What's wrong with it?” He shrugs and touches her waist, feeling the fabric under his fingers, moving his hand around to her back to pull her closer. If this is a dream. He can do whatever he wants and he doesn't have to feel bad about betraying the Fire Nation and his father. She touches his chest, drawing her hand under his shoulder guards. She pulls her hand back and looks up at him. The two of them staring at one another before she steps back from him. She holds out her hands and air floats up over him, under his clothing and up through his collar, ruffling his hair. She chuckles and runs away from him. He finds himself smiling though. She turns back to him and holds out her hand in invitation as her tails disappear behind her.

….....

Silhouetted in the night, Rana hops up onto a rock and peers down into the water below, beyond her waterfalls cascade down. Rana smiles softly as she watches the water ripple and shifts. Her fingers pulling at the button on her dress before she undoes it, the white fabric dropping away from her body. Zuko stops behind her, his eyes locked on her as she turns her head to look at him. She then turns and dives into the water below. Zuko touches his own clothing before quickly disrobing and following her into the water. Underwater, they swim side by side, over glowing anemones that illuminate them. Gorebyss swirl around them. Their hands come together, fingers twining, as they float through the warm waters.

…........

Laughing, Rana runs ahead of Zuko who follows her into a group of willow trees. Long faintly glowing tendrils hang straight down in pastel curtains. Underfoot, a bed of moss glows faintly. It reacts to their footsteps with expanding rings of light. Zuko looks down amazed. He's never seen anything like this before. Rana chuckles and shifts behind him, watching that joy on his face. She can't imagine the real Zuko would feel that way, for anything. Not any more. Not since they were children. She lets out a breath as she turns and looks around the rest of this beautiful spot. Zuko's hand finds her back before it moves to take her hand.

“What is it?” He asks her, she looks up at him

“They're spirit trees” She offers. He looks at her. “Vastayan legends” She adds. “I read about it in that tome...” She steps towards the trunk of the tree, moving ahead of him. “There was only one left...In Vasta” He follows her, clutching to her hand.

“Which was destroyed by my grandfather” Zuko whispers, she looks at him and nods. “It's beautiful” He whispers. The willows stir, responding to their presence. Rana holds up her hands, letting the tendrils wrap around her wrist.

“It was supposed to be our connection to the White” She watches as the tendrils start to glow. He frowns at her, she smiles softly though. “The Spirit realm” She explains for him. “Our connection to our dead, to our ancestors, to the ghost pokemon” Zuko puts out his hands and the tendrils play over his fingers, his palms, his forearms. His eyes go wide as he hears the whispering of ancient vastayan voices. It vibrates all over his skin. It's incredible.

“It’s like...a sound you can feel” He whispers and looks up at the tree, closing his eyes to listen to the voices. A few Morelull circle around them, alighting their mushroom caps. Zuko opens his eyes to look at Rana at his side. They stand very close together now. Her eyes are intense, almost luminous in the dark. His fingers thread with hers at her side, curling together perfectly as he stares into her eyes, feels drawn into them. He touches her cheek, pulling her closer to him. His nose brushes against her softly, lips so close to hers.

….........

Zuko wakes with a start, lifting his head from the desk with a groan. His back and neck aching. He glances around his quarters. Iroh is no longer here, and neither is Rana's book. But there is a note from him. Just saying that he added a little something to his tea to help him sleep. Zuko shakes his head and then leans back in his seat, letting out a soft breath before touching his lips. Almost. That seems to be a very big theme in their relationship. Almosts. Even in dreams. He lets out a breath and closes his eyes. Strange dreams at that. He looks down at his outfit and then checks he's back in his softer uniform, then relaxes. His eyes seek out the pokemon tome to look up the ones he had seen in his dream but it's gone from his desk.

“Uncle!” He yells as he stands. “Where's that book?” He moves to the door to go in search of the tome, he's sure he probably just saw their sketches in the book and made up the rest of their design.

….....

Rana blinks awake, laying in her sleeping bag, she shifts and turns to sit up. Sokka sits at the dying fire, poking at the food in the pan. The sun has risen, but not by long, but it still feels like Rana was asleep for a while. She's not even sure what to make of her dream. She's had some weird ones in the past, but that was surreal. With the pokemon and the paradise land and the Spirit trees and then there was Zuko. Relaxed and happy. It was strange. She frowns as she leans on her knee. Sokka giving her a concerned look.

“How long was I asleep?” Rana asks as she pushes herself up to her feet to stretch her arms over her head. Her back and neck aching a little. She lets out a breath. 

“All night” Katara answers as she packs up her things. “We should be leaving...” She gives Sokka a look, he was the one that wanted to let Rana sleep a little longer, but they've lingered here too long. Rana moves away from the camp, heading towards her pokemon that frolic and relax close by. Aang waves at Rana as he climbs from Noivern's back.

“Sorry,” Aang tells her, she frowns at him.

“Why are you sorry?” She asks softly.

“I thought you might be mad at me for making you a sleeping tea....” Aang admits. Rana touches his head and moves on to her pokemon. Aang turns to watch her. She doesn't seem angry at him, but girls can be confusing sometimes.

"I'm not mad" She assures Aang over her shoulder. "I think it was the wake up call I needed" She smiles at him and turns to Noivern who bumps her shoulder softly. 

Chapter 49: Chapter Forty-Five

Rana crouches over a pile of berries from which she picks out ones to snack on. They're down to the last of their supplies. She's distracted. Very distracted. Thinking on her dreams of late. It feels different. Not like her usual dreams. She tends not to remember them after the fact, but she's waking and remembering everything. Even smells. And touches. Especially the touches. It never goes anywhere with Zuko in her dreams. They don't even kiss, not after that first almost one. But he holds her hand. He touches her back. Her arms. Her face. It's ridiculous how much a simple lingering touch sets her entire soul on fire. She'd probably die if he actually ever kissed her. Just melt to a puddle on the floor. This is wholly unfair. The way he is with her there. They spend their nights explore that 'dream' place. Spend time with the spirit trees and the pokemon there. Pokemon she's never seen. They swim. And star gaze. They do a lot of things they did when they were children. Simple things. It's a lot more peaceful there than out here in the real world. It's no wonder she chose to dream about it.

“Where's Momo?” Aang asks as he looks around for the lemur. Rana looks at him, pulling herself from her thoughts, and then around. Last she saw, Momo was heading up through the trees. Momo's yowl suddenly echoes through the forest. Aang shoots up to his feet, staring up into the trees. Sokka and Katara appeared worried too from where they sit. They look around, trying to tell where the call came from. Rana moves first, jumping up into the trees with some height before hurrying across the branches.

….......

Rana finds Momo in a snare, tangled up and stuck. She pushes herself up and onto the higher branch, her hands grabbing on before she spins herself up and over, landing in a crouch over the top of the trap.

“Hang on, Momo” She assures him softly as she tries to find a way to free him. 

“Rana!” Katara shouts.

“Up here!” Rana shouts back as Katara appears below her at ground level, Aang and Sokka nearly going into her back when she stops. Rana's eyes land on the tree's trunk where a small winch is attached with the rope going to the snare. She moves to the trunk and grabs the rope, releases a latch on the winch, and carefully feeds more line, lowering the snare down through the trees. Sokka and Katara ease the snare down to the ground between them where Aang then pulls the squeaky slats apart enough to exit. Momo immediately hops out and runs to the foreground to finish a handful of the nuts, his peril forgotten. Sokka and Katara release the snare, and Sokka groans and slaps his forehead at the lack of gratitude. Rana jumps down from above and looks up. Aang, Sokka and Katara also lookup to find two more snares with hog monkeys trapped in them, making pleading sounds at them. The traps are suspended near each other on a different branch.

“Alright, you too” Aang assures them, he crouches, then springs up in a spiralling column of air-bent wind that carries him up through the trees, Sokka reaches behind him to wrap his fingers around his boomerang.

“This is gonna take forever.” Sokka throws his boomerang in one fluid move; with a whiz, it zips up and the boomerang cuts the ropes. The ropes fall away; There's the sound of crashes and panicked beast barks echo around them. On the ground, the hog monkeys are loose; their cages open like clamshells. They walk on all fours to the foreground. One disappears between the framing trees, the other climbs up the tree framing the left and disappears. Rana approaches one of the busted snares and kneels to examine it. She doesn't like what she sees. She knows where these are from. Sokka crouches at her side and seems to the same conclusion. The two of them sharing a look, she nods in agreement. “These are Fire Nation traps...” He tells the others as they move closer. “You can tell from the metalwork” He adds.

“We'd better pack up camp and get moving” Rana offers firmly. They need to move now, just in case. 

…....

Sokka is crouched pulling the ropes on his gear tighter, sealing it all up with his bedroll. Behind him, Rana picks up her sword and slides it into place on her back. Katara hands a gear roll up to Aang, who is sitting on Appa's head. Sokka sees this. He leaves his roll and walks over to them.

“Ah-ah...no flying this time.” Sokka scolds.

“What?” Katara asks. Aang hands the roll to Sokka, who puts it on the ground.

“Why wouldn't we fly?” Aang counters, confused.

“Think about it. Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa—he's just too noticeable” Sokka answers giving Appa a glance.

“What! Appa's not too noticeable!” Katara argues.

“He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head—it's kinda hard to miss him!” Sokka points out. Rana nods a little in agreement. Appa turns his head and goans at Sokka. Aang is in the ‘driver's seat' holding his reigns.

“Sokka's just jealous ‘cause he doesn't have an arrow” Aang offers comfortingly to Appa.

“I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk,” Sokka tells them, he glances at each of them as he talks, to make his point.

“Who made you the boss?” Katara asks him.

“I'm not the boss...I'm the leader” Sokka tells them. Katara, Aang and Rana all turn to Sokka.

“You're the leader?” Katara asks. “But your voice still cracks!”

“I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior” Sokka defends and then tries to speak deeper. “So...I'm the leader!”

“If anyone's the leader, it's Rana” Katara argues, Rana makes a distressed noise and looks at her. “I mean, you're the same age...and she is the True Elemental”

“It's okay, he's the boss” Rana argues and pats Sokka's shoulder before she moves to grab her bag from the ground. “I don't want to be the leader” She adds as she picks it up. Sokka motions to Rana and nods.

“See...” Sokka pulls his pack onto his back.

“Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader? I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl” Katara comments.

“I-I've kissed a girl—you...just haven't met her” Sokka argues, offended at the idea.

“Who?” Katara asks. “Gran-gran? I've met Gran-gran”

“No.....besides Gran-gran. Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts”

“Okay, we'll try it your way Oh Wise Leader” Katara comments with a scoff. Aang steps over, now wearing a backpack. Momo is sitting on the top.

“Who knows—walking might be fun,” He tells them with a broad smile. Rana smiles softly at him. So young. So naïve. He's going to absolutely hate this.

Chapter 50: Chapter Forty-Six

Rana takes up the rear of the group, keeping an eye on Aang who struggles to keep to his feet, with how tired he now is. Rana knew this would happen, and fast. He's still just a kid at the end of the day. And a rather small one at that. Sokka, taking the lead, turns to look back over his shoulder. He and Rana share a look. They are the oldest. It is their job to keep an eye on Aang and Katara. Aang throws his head back with a groan.

“Walking stinks!” Aang complains. Rana snorts and smirks. She knew this would happen. “How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?”

“I don't know Aang. Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts.....they seem to know everything” Katara mocks slightly.

“Haha. Very funny” Sokka comments dryly.

“I'm tired of carrying this pack” Aang complains. Rana moves to catch up with him, she motions for him to give her the bag. He shrugs out of it and smiles up at her widely as she takes it from him.

“You know who you should ask to carry it for a while? Sokka's Instincts!” Katara teases with a smirk. Rana chuckles and bites her lip.

“That's a great idea!” Aang agrees. “Rana" he teases and elbows her side. 

"Hey, Sokka's Instincts, would you mind.....?” Rana starts with a smirk.

“Okay, okay” Sokka stops him. “I get it. Look, guys, I'm tired too. But the important thing is that...” He pushes the branches from two rust red-leafed bushes and holds them, focussing his attention on Aang, Rana, and Katara. “We're safe from...the...” He finally turns around to see what's beyond the bushes. “Fire...Nation...” Rana, Sokka, Aang, Katara and Momo have just walked into a clearing with a Fire Nation encampment in it. On the opposite end of the clearing are three Pavilion tents, and an active fire pit with logs as benches on two sides. The camp is occupied with soldiers who are all now staring at them. Just as surprised. “RUN!” Sokka shouts. As they drop their packs, The soldiers leap up from the logs, swords out. The one-eyed soldier takes a bender's stance and launches a fist-full of fire at them. The fire misses them—mostly—but sets the bushes behind them alight. “We're cut off!” Sokka points out, meanwhile, the left sleeve of his tunic is on fire.

“Sokka, your shirt!” Aang points out. Sokka looks, and then screams in panic. Rana turns and fire-bends the fire from him, using it to fuel her own attack, she runs the ball of fire down her leg to her foot and into the ground, she then stomps her foot with a yell and from the impact point, the ground rumbles and rushes away from them. It erupts around a soldier, spewing earth and fire upwards around him. “Looks like all that meditation paid off!” Aang offers as they turn to find them surrounded. Soldiers all around. They put their backs together and face the warriors, ready to fight if necessary.

“If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you,” Sokka tells the captain, trying to sound confident, but failing miserably. They are teenagers. And this camp is full of groan men. Soldiers that have been fighting and training for years, and they are incredibly outnumbered.

“What are you doing?” Katara asks Sokka under her breath.

“Bluffing?” Sokka answers with a questioning tone. The One-eyed Captain smiles.

“You? Promise not to hurt us?” The Captain asks, Rana raises her fist back and punches him in the face. He goes flying back against the tree far across the camp. She shakes out her hand and smirks. Another soldier moves towards Sokka with menace. There is a quiet zip and thud. The soldier looks surprised for a moment, then groans and collapses face-first on the ground. Sokka hasn't moved.

“Nice work, Sokka! How'd ya do that?” Aang asks.

“Uh...instinct?” Sokka offers.

“Look!” Katara points to somewhere above where there is a figure standing on the massive branch of a nearby tree. That person drops something and draws two blades from the middle of his back. He steps off the back of the branch, his weapons held high, but instead of falling straight down, the weapons catch on the branch, allowing him to fling himself in the direction of the camp. The stranger kicks over two of the soldiers and lands with a foot on each of their backs. This is Jet. He is a young man, only a few years old than Katara, but younger than Sokka and Rana. He rushes forward, his twin hook sword in each hand. He hooks a leg each on another pair of soldiers and sends them head over heels. With a polished body flip, he launches them through the air. They end up in a heap on top of their now prone captain. Jet lands on his feet, ready for more. The quartet looks up from the little pile-up at him. A soldier rushes up from behind Jet, sword raised. The young man hooks his opponent's sword hand as he spins. Jet finishes where he started—ready to face a new opponent—while his opponent is sent flying. The man lands at the feet of a quartet of sword holders. The closest then looks up.

“They're in the trees!” A small boy drops from above and lands on the soldier's shoulders, then spins his helmet around, blinding him. He staggers off, his small attacker still on his shoulders and laughing all the while. Before the remaining three swordsmen can react, arrows zip from above, disarming each man without hurting him. The archer is sitting on a branch. He reaches for a quiver on his back and fits two arrows to the string of his bow. The archer swings backwards, until he is hanging beneath the branch by his knees. He lets his arrows fly. Four soldiers trying to take a defensive position together, two have their swords knocked from their hands by the arrows, while an individual leaps from a low branch to the ground. As the two disarmed soldiers runoff, a swordsman charges the newcomer. This freedom fighter ducks, lets the swordsman run into (and across) his back, and tosses his opponent up onto the branch with a shrug. The second swordsman is more cautious, but with speed and strength, the rebel grabs him, spins him around and throws him. The barehanded rebel turns and heads for new targets before his old one hits the ground. Meanwhile, a boy with a knife and red face paint drops to the foreground and runs off to fight.

“That's it” Rana comments and then pulls her sword from her back before rushing into the fight. She's not letting them have all the fun. Katara and Sokka share a look before she shrugs and uses her water to take on a foe and beside her Aang bends the air, dragging two soldiers in a dusty circle around the pair. Sokka with his boomerang raised in both hands, shouting a war cry. A soldier charges him, but before they meet Jet enters the scene. He uses his swords to pole vault him into the chest of the swordsman, who goes flying in the opposite direction. Sokka stops shouting and sags out of his battle stance.

“Hey, he was mine!” Sokka scolds.

“Gotta be quicker next time” Jet turns and rejoins the battle. Katara is left impressed, while a grumpy Sokka walks off annoyed. Two soldiers back towards the forest, but before they can escape, a massive rebel drops to the ground. As they turn to face him, their faces register shock as he comes out of his drop crouch...and towers above them. Quickly, however, they recover and take a battle stance. The grinning giant simply reaches over his shoulder and pulls out a log thicker than a man's leg. He raises it two-handed over his head, and with a growl lowers the log. Jet turns from his current opponent to watch the two swordsmen backing away, they turn and then flee. Jet grins and turns to face the determined spearman. The man jabs for his throat, but he catches the spearshaft with the hooks of his swords. They struggle for a moment, before Jet spins and sidesteps the spear. With one sword free, he hooks the man, who goes flying. The soldier's spear is also sent flying. Its butt-end strikes the back of a nearby swordsman's helmet, knocking him out. Another spearman attempts to strike at Jet from behind. Just in time, Jet catches the spear-point and redirects it away from his head. The soldier quickly follows the spear, pushing it free and facing the young man again with a flourish. Jet also quickly recovers his stance. Jet catches the spear-tip with his hooks this time and angles the spear into the ground. He runs up it, leaps, kicks off the back of the soldier's helmet and stumbles a few steps forward before stopping in front of Katara as if he'd meant to do all of it.

“Hey” He greets, nonchalantly.

“Hi” Katara counters, blushing slightly. Together they turn to take in the camp, now deserted by all but the newcomers.

“You just took out a whole army almost single-handed!” Aang offers in awe. Rana and Sokka both look at him, because firstly, not single-handedly, everyone contributed and secondly...

“Army? Pfft. There were only, like, twenty guys!” Sokka complains.

“My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters” Jet offers. “Sneers” He motions to the Weaponless rebel, who is eating from one of the soldier's bowls. “Longshot” Jet motions to the archer; he raises his paddy-hat covered head at his name. “Smellerbee” Jet continues to the rebel with the facepaint and knife. His knife between his teeth, a captured Fire Nation Sword slung across his back and he has one in each hand. He brandishes them when Jet names him. “The Duke and Pipsqueak” They are standing next to each other. The Duke is the littlest rebel, the one who rode the soldier's shoulders. He raises his quarterstaff slightly at his name. Pipsqueak is the giant, who puts his log away as his name is called. Aang walks up to the Duke and Pipsqueak.

“Pipsqueak—that's a funny name” Aang comments. The Duke sniffles, his nose is runny and his helmet hides shed tears. Pipsqueak, slightly glowering, bends down.

“You think my name is funny?” Aang looks a little nervous. He plasters a smile on his face.

“It's hilarious” Aang answers, Pipsqueak goes from glower to guffaw in a heartbeat. Aang, Pipsqueak and the Duke share the laugh together. Pipsqueak slaps Aang on the back, which unintentionally knocks the Avatar flat on his face. The Duke stops laughing, but smiles again when Aang looks up and chuckles weakly: all among friends.

Chapter 51: Chapter Forty-Seven

The group is still at the Fire Nation camp, the central fire is out, and members of Jet's freedom fighters are near it, checking weapons or investigating supply crates. The freedom fighters appear to be giving Rana a wide berth, she assumes that's because she was fire-bending and that would instantly be a red flag to those fighting against the Fire Nation. Sokka watches as Smellerbee passes him with an armful of staves. Jet is reclining against the trunk of a tree on the perimeter of the camp when Katara approaches him.

“Um...thanks for saving us, Jet,” Katara tells him. “We were lucky you were there”

“I should be thanking you” Jet counters. “We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning......we just needed the right distraction. And then you guys stumbled in”

“We were relying on instincts” Katara counters, clearly attempting to flirt with him.

“You'll get yourself killed doing that” Jet points out. Sokka is close enough to hear the conversation, he closes his eyes in frustration at his bad call and walks away. Behind him, Pipsqueak and the Duke investigate the inside of a barrel next to one of the pavilion tents. The Duke reaches in and pulls away a finger coated with green goo. He sniffs it experimentally.

“Hey, Jet, these barrels are filled with blasting jelly”

“That's a great score” Jet offers as he moves closer to look into the barrel. Pipsqueak holds up a large crate.

“And these boxes are filled with jelly candy!” Pipsqueak tells Jet who nods.

“Also good. Let's not get those mixed up.” Aang and Momo watch Pipsqueak, the Duke and Sneers loading up a four-wheeled wagon.

“We'll take the stuff back to the hideout” Pipsqueak offers.

“You guys have a hideout?” Aang asks Jet.

“You wanna see it?” Jet counters and Katara literally slides up to him, her hands are clasped together; she's practically begging.

“Yes, we wanna see it!” She assures him, Jet looks at her, his brow softens, but his self-assured smile never wavers.

…......

Rana follows the group through the forest. Sokka grumpily sulking at her side. He clearly doesn't like being upstaged by strangers, and then for his baby sister to decide to cosy up to him. Even Rana has to admit that Katara is being a little obvious in her affections. She also doesn't like this whole set-up. Something about it is sending warning signals down her spine and into her gut. She feels like they should leave. Her fingers twitch at her side, wanting to reach for her sword. In front, Jet has stopped, which causes the whole travelling group to stop.

“We're here” Jet offers the group, Sokka frowns and looks around at the forest, just as it is. There is nothing here that is remotely like a 'hideout'.

“Where...there's nothing here!” He voices.

“Hold this” Jet hands Sokka a rope with a loop on the end. The other end is somewhere above them.

“Why...what's this do?” The loop ends up around Sokka's wrist. Without warning, he is pulled up by his arm into a nearby tree canopy. As a final insult, Sokka gets momentarily stuck in the leafy branches before he disappears. “Woah!” Jet turns to Rana and looks over her outfit, clenching his jaw.

“The fire-bender can camp down here” He comments, and there is a tone to his voice. She can see that he didn't attack, simply because she stood against the Fire Nation soldiers.

“She's not a fire-bender” Aang argues, moving to Rana's side. “Well, I mean, yeah, technically, but...she's not with them...”

“It's fine” Rana stops Aang as takes a step back. “I think I'd rather be down here anyway” She turns and heads back into the trees. Aang and Katara share a look. Jet turns the rope to Aang and Momo.

“Aang?”

“I'll get up on my own” Momo launches himself from Aang's shoulder. Aang follows with an Air-bender leap. Jet holds a rope and offers his free hand to Katara.

“Grab hold of me, Katara” She takes his hand and he pulls her into a spin that ends with her against his chest. She blushes noticeably. The rope slowly pulls them into the air, the embrace Katara's only means of support.

….....

Rana sets up a camp in the trees, a small fire lit in the centre as she rolls out her sleeping bag. Ninetails yawns and curls around Rockruff, Pichu, and Wartortle. Noivern sits staring through the trees, a grumble in his chest. Rana is ignoring him though. He's telling her that he doesn't trust this. He doesn't trust Jet. She doesn't need him to tell her that. She knows. She doesn't trust him either. She doesn't trust any of this.

….....

Perched on a branch as the sun rises in the distance, Rana watches Jet and Sokka below. She's going to keep an eye on them because something is going to go wrong. She can feel it. Pichu is perched on her shoulder, watching too.

….....

Jet cups his hands and makes a whistle like a bird call; several trees down Pipsqueak and Smellerbee step into view from their branches. There is a reply call. Sokka rams his jawbone knife into the trunk of the tree.

“What are you doing?” Jet asks Sokka.

“Shh...it amplifies vibrations,” Sokka tells him. Jet looks momentarily surprised and then impressed.

“Good trick” Sokka cups his hands around the pommel ‘bone' and puts his ear to it.

“Nothing yet” He offers and then lowers his voice when he does hear something. “Wait! Yes, someone's approaching”

“How many?” Jet asks, Sokka concentrates, listening.

“I think there's just one” Sokka answers, Jet whistles again.

“Good work, Sokka. Ready your weapon” Sokka pulls the knife out of the tree and waits. His eyes go wide when the 'someone' comes into view: a stooped old man with a cane. He wears a simple red robe.

“Wait! False alarm...he's just an old man” Sokka argues. Jet stands and extends his hook swords anyway, then leaps to the ground in front of the traveller. Sokka watches with horror.

“What are you doing in our woods, you leech”

“Please sir, I'm just a traveller” Jet takes a step, and with one swipe of his sword sends the man's cane flying from his hand. The old man backs away, but when he tries to flee the way he came, he runs face first into Pipsqueak's chest. The force of the impact knocks him to the ground; the giant looms over him. He tries to crawl away, but Pipsqueak's foot on his backside effectively pins him.

“Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families? Do you?!” Jet snaps at the old man.

“Oh...please let me go...have mercy...”

“Does the Fire Nation let people go?! Does the Fire Nation have mercy?!” Jet winds up a kick, but his foot is snagged by Sokka's club before it can be delivered. Sokka releases him

“Jet, he's just an old man!” Sokka scolds him. He can't believe this is happening. It really was too good to be true.

“He's Fire Nation! Search him!” Jet argues. Pipsqueak holds the prisoner and Smellerbee steps up.

“But he's not hurting anyone!” Sokka adds.

“Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother? Remember why you fight!” Jet tells Sokka who takes a step back as if stung by that.

“We've got his stuff, Jet” Smellerbee holds up a shoulder satchel the old man was carrying. The old man is back on the ground.

“This doesn't feel right” Sokka points out.

“It's what has to be done—now let's get outta here” Jet pushes past Sokka. Pipsqueak and Smellerbee follow. Sokka looks at the old man still on his hands and knees. “Come on, Sokka!” Sokka slowly turns then runs after the others. From the trees, Rana shakes her head as she watches them walk away. She waits until she can no longer see them before she swings down to the ground, approaches the old man who struggles to get back up to his feet. Rana moves to his side with a sad sigh before she helps him up to his feet.

“Are you okay?” She asks him as Pichu jumps from her shoulder and picks up the cane to give it back to the old man.

“Yes, thank you” He answers though he does sound pained, he then takes the offered cane. Rana turns and whistles quietly, and from the bushes, Ninetails walks out to join them.

“She'll take you home” Rana assures him and then turns to Ninetails. “Don't leave his side until this is over” She adds quietly to her. She's not sure that Jet's freedom fighters won't go back to finish the job. Pichu jumps up onto her shoulder before she jumps up into the trees again. She's not having this.

Chapter 52: Chapter Forty-Eight

Aang and Katara enter the hut that's been set up for them to use, Sokka is already there, tying up a roll on the floor. He doesn't like what happened. He doesn't like Jet. He doesn't trust him or this place. They need to leave. They should have left the second Jet outcast Rana. Relegated her to the forest floor. That should have been the first warning sign.

“We can't leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!” Katara scolds Sokka who closes his eyes as he takes and releases a deep breath before he turns to his sister.

“I'm sorry, Katara. Jet's very smooth, but we can't trust him” He tells her.

“You know what I think? You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!”

“Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet. It's just that my instinct....”

“Well, my instincts tell me we need to stay here a little longer and help Jet.” Katara points out and then turns to leave and finds a dark shadow in the doorway, Rana then steps into the light and Katara lets out a breath.

“We're leaving,” Rana tells them. “Pack your things” Sokka lets out a relieved breath that at least someone has his back here.

“We're staying” Katara counters. “The Fire Nation...” Rana rolls her eyes a little.

“Look” She stops Katara. “I saw what they did to the old man” She offers. “I don't know what they thought they saw in him....and whatever Jet thinks he's going, he's wrong...we can't be a part of this” She shifts closer to Katara. “And I know...I was your age once...” She whispers to Katara. “I know that when you meet a boy, a cute boy and you get that flutter in your chest....”

“When your taste in boys is Zuko” Katara stops her. “Don't tell me how to feel”

“Low” Sokka scolds his sister. “Blow...”

“Fine” Rana holds up her hands, she's not about to argue with a hormonal teenager. “In the morning, I'm going to the village to pick up supplies and check on the old man before I leave, if you change your minds, you can find me there” She turns and disappears into the trees again.

“I'm going with her” Sokka tells them. “If you're smart, you will too” He turns and leaves the hut. Katara stares at the doorway and then sighs. Aang looks at her and then to where his friends went.

….......

Rana doesn't sleep that night. Instead, she finds a perch in the trees to spy on Jet and his camp. She wants to make sure they can't hurt anyone else before she leaves. She can't allow them to keep going, she can't let them go on to hurt anyone.

….......

Sokka sleeps propped up against his still-packed gear while the others sleep in their bedrolls. He is stirred by sounds outside of the hut. Voices and rushed footsteps.

“Let's go” Jet's voice reaches him. Sokka shifts closer to the door where he lifts the flap aside enough to see some of Jet's followers descending on the rope lines. Sokka stands and then follows them.

…........

Jet and his boys emerge from the forest, he goes to the cliff edge and looks down on the dam below. The reservoir behind it is low. He turns back to the wagon.)

“Now, listen, you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal,” Jet tells his men. “If the reservoir isn't full, the Fire Nation troops could survive” Duke jumps off the wagon and walks towards Jet.

“But what about the people in the town, won't they get wiped out too?” Duke asks, Jet places a hand onto his shoulder.

“Look Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the Fire Nation.” Jet answers and then turns to Longshot. “Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal, got it?” Longshot nods. Sokka watches incredulously from the bushes. He frowns and hears rustling just before Pipsqueak drags him out by his topknot. Smellerbee's knife is instantly at his throat.

“Where do you think you're going, ponytail?” Smellerbee asks with a growl. Jet watches as Pipsqueak and Smellerbee drag Sokka between them. Pipsqueak still has a handful of Sokka's topknot.

“Sokka. I'm glad you decided to join us” His captors send Sokka to his knees. He rubs his shoulder.

“I heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town” Sokka points out.

“Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation” Jet argues.

“There are people living there, Jet, mothers and fathers and children”

“We can't win without making some sacrifices” Sokka points a finger at Jet.

“You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire!” Sokka accuses him.

“Because they don't understand the demands of war” Jet argues. “Not like you and I do”

“I do understand. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want” Sokka tells him, not even considering that this is a good idea, it is not, it is very far from a good idea.

“I was hoping you'd have an open mind, but I can see you've made your choice” Pipsqueak and Smellerbee grab for Sokka. Before he can even react, Jet has his wrist pinned with the hooks of his hook sword. Sokka's other hand is forced behind his back. “I can't let you warn Katara and Aang” Jet releases Sokka's hand; it is immediately forced behind his back. “Take him for a walk--a long walk and then find the Fire Nation girl....get rid of her” Sokka struggles against the hold on him. He knows what 'get rid of' means. They're going to kill Rana and all those people down in the village.

“You can't do this!” Sokka snaps angrily.

“Cheer up, Sokka” Jet tells him. “We're gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today” Sokka is dragged away by Pipsqueak and Smellerbee.

Chapter 53: Chapter Forty-Nine

Pipsqueak and Smellerbee follow Sokka, who has his hands tied behind his back. Smellerbee gives his prisoner a shove; Sokka stumbles but remains on his feet. He rolls his eyes and lets out an annoyed breath.

“Come on, move along!” Smellerbee pushes of him. Sokka clenches his jaw in annoyance.

“How can you stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out a whole town?” Sokka asks them.

“Hey, listen, Sokka” Pipsqueak answers. “Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says, and things always turn out okay” Sokka notices a rustling in the bushes before two eyes peer out surrounded by a cute round blue face. Wartortle. They stare at one another before Wartortle charges out of the bushes startling Smellerbee and Pipsqueak before he lets loose a water blast that sends the two of them flying backwards. Sokka pulls his restraints, undoing them before he scoops up Wartortle and runs away with him. Smellerbee and Pipsqueak chasing after them. Noivern flies down towards them, Sokka holds up his hand and Rana's fingers wrap around his wrist as they fly past, pulling him up onto Noivern's back with Wartortle. Rana steers them away from their pursuits and heads back towards the village.

“Your timing,” Sokka tells her with a smile. “Wait” He looks at her face. “How long were you following us?”

“Don't worry, Wartortle was keeping an eye on you whilst I checked on Aang and your sister” She answers. “Now, hush, I have to concentrate on steering” Sokka hmms a little and then peers over the side of Noivern.

…....

Katara and Aang are standing on the edge of the cliff where they look at the base of the dam, here, four of Jet's people are unloading barrels from the wagon and arranging them.

“...What are they doing?” Katara asks.

“Hey, those are the red barrels he got from the Fire Nation” Aang points out.

“Why would they need blasting jelly?” She muses. Aang figures it out first. He sees it all playing out in front of his eyes.

“Because Jet's gonna blow up the dam” Aang realises.

“What? No, that would destroy the town. Jet wouldn't do that” Katara argues. Aang snaps his glider wings open.

“I've got to stop him” Aang runs for the edge.

“Jet wouldn't do that” Katara repeats, though she sounds less convinced now. Before Aang can reach the edge, Jet crosses his path from behind and snatches the glider. Aang is left wobbling precariously on the edge, and uses an air-bending move to get himself back on stable footing.

“Yes, I would” Jet argues with Katara whose face falls.

“Jet...” She whispers. “Why?”

“Katara, you would too if you just stopped to think” Jet scolds her. “Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother. we can't let them do that to anyone else, ever again”

“This isn't the answer!” Katara snaps.

“I want you to understand me Katara. I thought your brother would understand, but...”

“Where's Sokka?” Katara asks as tears fall from her eyes. “Where's Rana?” Jet reaches out and touches her face.

“Katara” She bows her head, then with a shout sends Jet flying with the water from her waterskin. She draws it back into the skin when she's done.

“I need to get to the dam,” Aang tells Katara who nods. Aang's closed glider is on the ground. As he reaches for it, the crescent end of one of Jet's hooked blades pins it like an axe. Jet has the two weapons hook to hook; with a yank, he pulls the sword and Aang's glider to him.

“You're not going anywhere without your glider” Jet swings the swords, still hook to hook, at Aang. Aang somersaults backwards to avoid the extra reach. Aang finishes his retreat in a nearby tree.

“I'm not gonna fight you, Jet”

“You'll have to if you want your glider back” Aang retreats back into the forest, as Jet hooks the branch and pulls himself up. Katara follows on the ground. Jet attacks; Aang defends himself with balls of air, which Jet ducks. Jet attacks head-on, but Aang blocks with his arms and sends his opponent flying into a tree trunk with an air kick. Jet combines his swords again and advances. Aang avoids the flail-like move and sends another air blast. Jet stoops down and lets the airflow over and past him, then lunges. They continue the chase through the many levels of the forest. Jet catches up to Aang and sends them both free-falling, attacking as they go. They both end up on a branch. Jet continues his attack. Aang avoids it all. Jet charges again, but Aang hits him with a jet stream of air. Jet falls. He recovers but loses the glider in the process. Before Aang can get to the ground Jet kicks him into a trunk. He lands with a thud next to his glider. Before Jet can take more than a step, however, he is hit by a large water strike. Katara is there; she uses water from the river to throw Jet against the trunk of the tree. Over and over she attacks; Jet is unable to cut the water and its force plasters him against the trunk. She bends the water to ice; the soggy renegade is left frozen from toe to neck.

“Why, Jet? I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me, you're sick and I trusted you!” A signal call is heard. Katara and Aang are startled, then look to the valley beyond, where it's coming from. Jet gives an answer call. “What are you doing?” Katara asks him.

“You're too late,” Jet tells them.

“No!” Katara shouts, horrified. Aang snaps open his glider and runs for the nearby cliff. His glider's wing is so shredded, however, that he has no lift and slams back into the ground near the edge. Katara runs over to help him.

“Rana and Sokka are still out there” Aang reassures her. “They're our only chance” Katara nods and looks down, knowing that she has some apology to give to Rana and Sokka. She doubted both of them, and they were right all along. Longshot stands on a branch, his bow pulled. He has a fire arrow on the string He sights, then lets it fly. It arcs down to the base of the dam. The centre of the dam explodes in a cloud of smoke and fire. Katara and Aang watch a massive wall of water go over the ‘dry' falls and races towards the town. Noivern bursts through the trees behind them, picking up dust and dirt as he moves at some speed. Katara and Aang look up, relief filling them as they see Rana riding on his back, She twists and turns Noivern closer to the rushing waters. Rana knows it is going to take everything in her to stop it. And by that, she's going to have to go big. She shifts Noivern, flying him upwards instead. Rana then backflips from Noivern's back and sails downward towards the ground below to intercept the rushing water. Her tails fan out behind her as she lets her power rise inside of her. Her body twists and turns until she is upright and floating in the air. Globes of purple energy swirling around her. She takes a deep breath and bends the world around her. The water halts immediately and then is freezing into a sort of ice dam. The earth below erupts into columns to support it before the earth envelops the ice, stabilising it. Rana shifts her hands and arms, bending nature around her. Trees and grass and bushes and plants fill up the space between the new dam and the village. Her arms sag as her energy is spent before she is falling backwards, unconscious.

“Rana!” Katara yells after her and then turns on Jet. “You were going to let all those people die!” She moves towards him. “Jet, you monster!”

“This would have been a victory, Katara” Jet argues. “Remember that. You should have let the village drown. The Fire Nation would be gone and this valley will be safe”

“It will be safe” Sokka's voice rings out. “Without you” In shock, Jet looks up to see Sokka, Appa and Momo rise from below the level of the cliff. Sokka has Appa's reins. Rana is unconscious in the saddle, but alive, Ninetails curled around her.

“Sokka!” Katara shouts with utter relief.

“I warned the villagers of your plan, just in time.....just in case” He looks at the new dam and then back at Rana. “At first they didn't believe me. The Fire Nation soldiers assumed I was a spy. But one man vouched for me—the old man you attacked. He urged them to trust me, and we got everyone out in time”

“Sokka, you fool! We could've freed this valley!” Jet scolds Sokka, struggling

“Who would be free?” Sokka asks him. “Everyone would be dead”

“You traitor!”

“No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people” Sokka argues.

“Katara” Jet begs as she climbs onto Appa, moving to check on Rana. “Please, help me”

“Goodbye, Jet,” Katara tells him as she sits down, her back to him. Sokka gives Appa's reigns a flick.

“Yip yip” Jet is left behind on the ground, still frozen to the tree. Aang sits behind Sokka and watches him a moment as Noivern flies overhead.

“If you knew Rana was going to the dam, how come you went to the town?” Aang asks. Sokka shrugs a little.

“Rana told me to” Sokka answers. “She wasn't sure she was strong enough to stop it...I told her that she was....that it was my...”

“Lemme guess...your instincts?” Katara teases a little, Sokka looks back at her.

“Hey, sometimes they're right” He offers. The three of them look at Rana, Katara brushing her hair out of her eyes. Aang then frowns and looks around.

“Um...Sokka? You know we're going the wrong way, right?” He asks. Sokka is surprised, but quickly recovers.

“..And sometimes they're wrong” With a grin, he pulls Appa's reigns.

Chapter 54: Chapter Fifty

Fingers touch Rana's neck and chin, ghosting over her flesh, pulling her from her deep sleep. It takes some recovering from a full nine tail event. The touches disappear and she sinks into sleep again. She feels touches again, this time tracing the tip of her ear, toying with the fur there. She hums and turns a little towards where it is coming from.

“You going to wake up any time soon, Princess?” Zuko's voice rumbles in her ear, it rumbles through her entire body. It tingles. He moves his hand, the backs of his fingers brushing over her cheek. “Wake up” He whispers closer to her ear, lips brushing over it.

“Do I have to?” She complains and shifts, her eyes blinking as she fully wakes. She sits up to find that she's alone in a cave. No Zuko. No Aang. No Sokka. No Katara. No pokemon. But the campfire is still pretty fresh. They're around somewhere. She sighs as she touches her face and closes her eyes, leaning into her own hand.

…...

The sun is starting to set beyond the cave as Rana makes it to the mouth where she finds Ninetails laying alert, watching over her. Rana unclips the ball from her necklace and holds it out. Rockruff and Pichu appear at Ninetails' side. Noivern makes a noise from above them as he swoops down to land. Rana touches his face as he moves to her.

“Where are the others?” She asks, Noivern turns his head and looks away from her. Rana turns to follow his gaze and finds Wartortle, Katara and Sokka are in the clearing close by unpacking Appa, so they haven't been here very long. Rana lets out a breath and heads towards them.

…....

Sokka unwraps and sorts his supplies with Wartortle who helps, the turtle now carrying the pokemon egg from the temple in a sling, as Rana reaches them, her hair swaying in the wind that picks up.

“What are you guys doing?” Rana asks.

“Setting up camp” Sokka answers. “Urm, we put you in the cave to rest till we were done...”

“We didn't want you getting cold” Katara adds as she moves closer to Rana.

“How are you feeling?” Sokka asks, Rana hums and shrugs.

“Tired, still” She complains, she is aware that Katara is staring at her, waiting for her attention, but Rana knows what she wants to talk about and to be honest, she doesn't really want to go there today.

“Rana...” Katara starts.

“Let's not” Rana stops her. “I'm still tired, and I really don't want you to apologise for calling me out for the terrible taste I clearly have in boys...I know that my feelings for Zuko are...” She sighs and stops herself. She doesn't want to talk about it. “I'm working on it” She adds. “He's the enemy, I get it....”

“No” Katara stops her. “I shouldn't have said what I said, it's different. You and Zuko were friends, you know a different version of him...a version we'll probably never see, and I know that he only let us go because of you, because of that friendship. We kind of owe it....so I'm sorry” Rana waves over her shoulder and heads back towards the cave.

“Get some more rest” Sokka shouts after her. Rana waves over her shoulder to acknowledge him. She's still too tired to argue.

….

Ninetails stretches and curls up again as Rana passes her by, heading into the cave to rest. She's starting to think that being alone would be preferable to this. The constant exhaustion. She could go off on her own for a bit. Get a better handle on her powers. Learn how to do better. To be better. If she could learn how to use all of her abilities, then she will be better at protecting Aang. What good is she if she keeps passing out? Anything could happen. Not for long. Just a little while. She sits on the ground and stares into the fire. Maybe some time away will take her mind off of Zuko too. Some 'me' time. Just for her and her pokemon.

“Hey, Rana” Aang greets as he sits at her side. “You were so awesome” She glances at him, finds him smiling brightly at her. She can't help but smile back at him. “You okay?” He asks her.

“Just tired” She whispers and looks at the fire. “You know how it is” She waves a little and the fire moves with her hand, dancing around as she picks up the movement. “Everything was so much easier when I was just a fire-bender” She throws out her hand and the fire moves with it, dancing around the walls of the cave. “I could do that, it was what I'd trained my whole life for....but the rest?” She shakes her head. Aang cringes a little.

“I know I'm supposed to say something that will help” He starts. “But I'm not very good at that” She wraps an arm around him and pulls him into a side hug.

“You don't have to be” She assures him. “Just be Aang” He nods and smiles as he hugs her. Something moves, something that looks suspiciously like Zuko passes by the corner of her eye, she turns her head to watch it disappear into the shadows. Something is going on. First, she wakes up with him in her ear and now she's seeing him floating around. “I must be really tired” She whispers to herself as she rubs at her head. Things have been getting weirder since that little purple spark thing. The dreams. The whispers. She looks at Aang who dozes against her side. Tired himself. She smiles sadly and nods. Of course, he's tired.

Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-One

Fire. Fire burns through the spirit trees as Zuko watches. Rooted to his spot. Literally rooted. His legs and held down by huge tree roots. He holds out his hands, to bend the fire away from the trees but nothing happens. He has nothing here. He can't help. He can't put it out. He can't save them. A hand grabs his shoulder and pulls him back. The roots disappearing from him as he tumbles with the hold. He blinks and when he looks back at the trees, they are fine, untouched by fire. Nothing bad happening to them. He looks up, to seek out his saviour but he is pretty sure he already knows who it is going to be. Rana. She touches his face, eyes shining with worry as she looks over him. He closes his eyes and lets out a breath, leaning into her chest as he calms down.

“What happened?” She asks him.

“Just a nightmare” He whispers, leaning into her hand. He had no idea where that nightmare came from. It just happened. Maybe he was more bothered by the past. Maybe it did bother him a lot more than he thought that his grandfather destroyed the last spirit tree. Rana's hand finds his chest, resting over his heart as it rapidly beats.

“Zu” She starts, he shakes his head and holds her hand there when she goes to pull away. They both can feel his heart calming. Iroh would read something into the imagery. That's what dreams are, right? Manifestations of the subconscious. Like Zuko's the fire and Rana's the spirit tree. It's a manifestation of his fear of hurting her. Of destroying her. Maybe he also thinks she's the only one to save him. To protect him. To stop him from making a mistake.

….....

Zuko follows Rana as they leave the forest, the spirit trees now far behind them. He takes what he can from these dreams. Moments he will only ever have here with a dream version of her. The version of her that his mind invents. In a place, he can freely show emotions and affection without risk of betraying the Fire Nation. Only in dreamland, can he feel good about betraying them. He knows what admitting that in the real world means. What choosing her means. It means turning his back on his father. On his family. His home. His honour. His life. It's a risk. To lose everything. But she's lost in thought too. Quiet. He touches her back and she glances at him.

“You're quiet” He comments as they move to the edge of a field, the trees now behind them. She shrugs and lets out a sigh.

“Thinking about things” He gives her a soft questioning look. “Fine, I'm thinking about leaving them” She admits as she leans on the rock, her eyes on the field beyond, where Bouffalant, Tauros, Ponyta, and Gogoat are all frolicking together. Pokemon. More pokemon she hasn't seen before. Zuko she gets. But why is she dreaming about these pokemon?

“Leaving them?” Zuko asks as he leans next to her. “I thought the Avatar was your destiny?” He adds, she looks at him and raises an eyebrow.

“What's that tone?” She muses, rolling her finger in a circle in front of his face. “Jealous?” She teases with a smirk.

“The Avatar has all of your attention, of course, I am jealous” He answers, the two of them sharing a look. She blushes and looks down, her fingers playing with the belt of her dress. She then shakes her head a little.

“The Avatar is my destiny” She agrees. “But I'm not ready” She turns to lean back against the rock and holds out her hands, producing two flames in her palms.

“As the True Elemental?” He asks, she looks at him surprised. “Uncle Iroh” He admits. “He told me about the legend....” She lets out a breath, leaning up to turn to face him, her eyes studying him. That's a little weird. If this is her dream then he would know about the Elemental stuff, but not because of his uncle. But because this is her subconscious and therefore knows everything she knows. She shakes her head.

“Well, yeah, that thing” She grumbles. “I can't...” She takes a deep breath. “Seem to use the other elements without trouble...” She hangs her head and lets out a heavy sigh. “What use am I, if I can't do what I am supposed to do?”

“You don't remember, do you?” He asks her, she frowns at him. He leans up and steps closer to her. “When we were children, it was easier for you” She doesn't remember ever using any of the others before. “I never thought anything about it” He touches her arm, drawing his hand down to take her hand. “But you tapped into those elements....almost every single time you were at the palace with me. Water animals in the pond. Blooming flowers. Iced floors. I remember little things....” He looks down at his hand. “You even healed my hand” She follows his eyes to his hand and lifts it up, turns it around in hers, no sign of the burn that Azula branded him with years before Ozai did the same to his face. The same burn she used spirit-bending to heal. “You're too in here” He presses a finger to her forehead. “Stop thinking about it....” He moves his hand to her cheek. “Fire comes easy to you because you don't....” He presses his forehead to hers. “Remember when we're taught fire-bending” He offers. “We're told to feel it...not think it...so just do that with the others”

“Why would you want me to learn how to better defend the Avatar?” She asks him, moving her hand to his chest, touching the fabric of his uniform.

“It's not about the Avatar” He argues and cups her face in his hands, he leans closer to her, leaning in to kiss her. She closes her eyes and curls a hand around the back of his neck.

…...

Rana wakes, cold and back in the cave. Ninetails watching her. She sits up and lets out an annoyed breath, slams her hand into the ground and small rocks fire off into the wall. She lets out a breath, calming herself down. This is ridiculous. They get so close. Every single time. But it never happens. She wakes up before it does. It's no wonder she feels like she's going crazy, feeling things, hearing things, seeing things.....Zuko. Seeing, hearing, feeling Zuko. Her subconscious is torturing her.

Chapter 56: Chapter Fifty-Two

The sun is high in the sky as Rana follows Aang, Katara and Sokka, they are following Aang really. He wanted to show them something. Rana has to admit that she's really now in the mood to deal with them today. She just wants to be alone. To sort out her head. Her heart. She needs to.

“Here it is, guys, the Great Divide” Aang announces as they reach the edge of a great canyon. Katara looks impressed. Sokka and Rana less so.

“Wow! I could just stare at it forever” Katara comments warmly.

“Okay. I've seen enough” Sokka admits, Katara turns to him.

“How can you not be fascinated, Sokka? This is the largest canyon in the entire world.” Sokka stands with Rana, next to Appa and holding his reigns, obviously ready to leave.

“Then I'm sure we'll be able to see it very clearly from the air while we fly away” Sokka adds. Suddenly a man in an ornate white robe rushes past Sokka, rudely pushing him out of the way.
“Hey! If you're looking for the Canyon Guide, I was here first!” He warns them.

“Ooooo...canyon guide. Sounds informative” Katara comments. Rana looks at Appa who glances at her, she shrugs a little at his expression.

“Believe me, he's more than a tour guide, he's an earth-bender,” The man tells them. “And the only way in and out of the canyon is with his help. And he's takin' MY tribe across next!” While he is speaking, Sokka emerges from behind him and silently starts to mock him by opening and closing his hand in the 'this guy talks too much' gesture. After the Scout's speech, he looks at Sokka, who feigns innocence and walks off back to Rana who is smirking a little.

“Calm down, we know you're next” Rana comments with annoyance. The man points at her.

“You wouldn't be calm if the Fire Nation destroyed YOUR home and forced YOU to flee” He scolds, she sighs and looks at Sokka who gives her a look back, because the man has a point there. “My whole tribe has to walk thousands of miles to the capital city of Ba Sing Se!”

“You're a refugee.” Katara realises.

“Humph. Tell me somethin' I don't know” In the distance, a mass of people approaches.

“Is that your tribe?” Katara asks him.

“It most certainly is NOT.” The man argues indigently, offended by the thought. The other people approaching the group. They are dressed in rude animal skins and look generally unkempt. “That's the Zhang tribe. A bunch of low-life thieves. They've been the enemies of my tribe for 100 years” The man whistles rudely at the Zhang. “Hey, Zhangs! I'm savin' a spot for my tribe so don't even THINK of stealing it!” A huge Zhang woman walks towards him menacingly. The Scout leans back, somewhat intimidated.

“Where are the rest of the Gan Jin? Still tidying up their campsite?” She asks him. The scout leans forward to push the Zhang Leader back.

“Yes! But they sent me ahead of them to hold a spot”

“I didn't know the canyon Guide took reservations”

“Heh! Of course, you didn't. That's the ignorance I'd expect from a messy Zhang! So unorganized and ill-prepared for a journey” The entire Zhang tribe begins to grumble loudly at this. An angry mob is about to form. Aang and Katara are looking disconcerted, Momo behind them in the background sitting on a pile of rocks on the lip of the canyon. Suddenly, the sound of moving earth is heard and they all turn to Momo. The rocks underneath him quiver and begin to split apart. Momo jumps out of the way as the rocks are picked up and thrown away by an old man, the Canyon Guide, in a straw hat and green clothing.

“Sorry about the wait, youngsters” He offers and then gestures to the majestic canyon below them. “Who's ready to cross this here canyon?”

“Um...” Katara then points to the right at the other groups. “One of them I think”
“I was here first! My party's on their way!” The scout points out.

“I can't guide people who aren't here” The Zhang filing past the four kids and the fuming Gan Jin Scout.

“Guess you guys'll have to make the trip tomorrow.” The Zhang leader mocks the scout. Just then another tribe enters the canyon entrance area. The Scout points to them in triumph.

“Wait! Here they come!” The Gan Jin walk in stately order towards them. They are all dressed elegantly and wear formal expressions on their faces, the Zhang Leader whips around to look at the newcomers.

“You're not seriously going to cave in to these spoiled Gan Jins! I mean, we're refugees too! And we've got sick people that need shelter” The Zhang leader scolds as she points a finger into the Guide's chest.

“I...uh...well...” A white-haired man, the Gan Jin Leader, stands next to the Scout.

“We've got old people who are weary from travelling” The scout admits.

“Sick people get priority over old people” The Zhang leader argues.

“Maybe you Zhang's wouldn't have so many sick people if you weren't such slobs”

“If you Gan Jins weren't so clean, maybe you wouldn't live to be so old”

“I could smell your stink a mile away”

“Well, Aang” Katara starts. “Ready to put your peacemaking skills to the test?”
“I... don't know” Aang whispers. “A fight over chores is one thing. These people have been feuding for 100 years”

“Everyone, listen up!” Katara shouts over the arguing of the two tribes. She points backward at Aang, a fierce look on her face. “This is the Avatar! And if you give him a chance, I'm sure he can come up with a compromise that will make everyone happy” The two tribes look to Aang for a moment in silence.

“Uh...you could share the earth-bender and travel together?” Aang offers.

“Absolutely not! We'd rather be taken by the Fire Nation” The Gan Jin leader points accusingly at the Zhang. “Than travel with those stinking thieves” The Zhang Leader points an accusing finger at the Gan Jin Leader.

“We wouldn't travel with you pompous fools anyway!”

“I am not pompous!” General pandemonium breaks out as the tribes begin to yell at each other. Rana raises an eyebrow watching this all unfold. It's a little amusing to her. They all think the Fire Nation is the real problem, and she's not saying it isn't a big one, but they can't even spend a day with one another to cross a canyon without fighting and bickering. It's no wonder the Fire Nation found it so easy to tear these lands apart.

“Alright! Here's the deal!” Aang yells and everyone falls silent to listen to him. “We're all going down together and Appa here will fly your sick and elderly across. Does that seem fair?” He asks. The two leaders nod their grudging approval.

….........

Appa's saddle is now full of elderly and sick Gan Jin and Zhang, the two groups eye each other suspiciously in the saddle as they sit as far away as possible from each other. Aang touches Appa's face as Appa makes a noise that makes it clear that he's upset about this.

“Sorry, Appa. You'll have to do this on your own” Appa grunts as Rana approaches them.

“No, he won't” Rana argues. “I'll go with him....” Aang looks about ready to argue with her. “With Noi, I can watch over you from the sky...make sure the way ahead is clear”

“Okay,” Aang whispers and nods.

“Take Wartortle and Rockruff with you” Rana adds as she moves to Noivern, Sokka follows her. Wanting to talk before she goes.

“You've been quiet this morning” Sokka points out. “Everything okay?” She turns to him as she adjusts Noivern's reins.

“Yeah, just have a lot on my mind” She answers. “Obviously” He snorts and nods. “Look, I lived my life practically on my own, for years, and now I am stuck with you three, all the time” She adds with a slightly teasing tone but she's not joking. She's not used to being in such close quarters with people. “Every now and then, I need some space...to think about stuff”

“Stuff?” He teases, she shakes her head and smirks a little. “Sounds exciting” The two of them share a look, he nods and she nudges him before she climbs up onto Noivern's back, pulling the crystal ball from her necklace to call on Wartortle and Rockruff, who instantly appear beside Sokka. Rana reattaches the ball and then pulls on Noivern's reins, pulling him up into the sky followed close by Appa. 

Chapter 57: Chapter Fifty-Three

It is not surprising to Rana that before the two tribes have made it out of the canyon, they turn on one another. She crouches on the top of the cliff edge at the end. Noivern and Appa behind her, play fighting with one another. It's a stark contrast to the actual fight happening at the bottom of the cliff face. Rana sighs, resting her elbows on her knees. She wants to get involved. To snap them out of it. But Katara is right about Aang practising his diplomatic mind. Aang needs to see that he can do this. To believe in himself. She wants to see how he copes with this. If he can do it, then maybe she can take off for a few days to sort through her abilities. Get a better handle on them. If he can't, then he needs her here with him. A test. A minor one. Aang can do this. She knows he can. And she's right. Not fifteen minutes later, Aang has orchestrated their escape from the canyon, by riding on the monster crawlers that dwell there. No one is bickering when they have a common enemy in the crawlers. They climb up the side of the cliff together. Soon Aang and his new crawler mount the cliff. He dismounts and turns to everyone else as they join him. Rana leans up from her crouch to watch them. Standing between the crawlers and the sick and elderly. Just in case this turns nasty.

“Everyone! Get off!” Aang shouts. Katara, Sokka, and the two tribe leaders dismount followed by the rest of the tribe members.

“We made it!” The Zhang leader tells the Gan Jin leader. The Canyon Guide falls off his mount. Aang then throws a bag of food over the cliff, dropping food as it falls. The crawlers run after it. “I never thought a Gan Jin could get his hands dirty like that”

“And I never knew you Zhang's were so reliable in a pinch” The Gan Jin leader compliments back.

“Perhaps we're not so different after all”
“Too bad we can't rewrite history” Gan Jin leader draws his sword and points it at the Zhang leader. “You thieves stole our sacred orb from Jin Wei!” The Zhang leader follows his lead and draws her own sword.

“You tyrants unjustly imprisoned We Jin for twenty long years!” She argues. Aang cries out and grabs the side of his face in frustration. Then an idea lights up his face.

“Wait a second! Jin Wei? Wei Jin? I know those guys!” Aang tells them.

“Yes, yes, we're all aware of the story.”

“No!” The leaders lower their weapons and turn to Aang. “I mean I really knew them. I may not look it, but I'm 112 years old. I was there a hundred years ago on the day you're talking about...There seems to be a lot of confusion about what happened. First of all, Jin Wei and Wei Jin weren't enemies, they were brothers, twins in fact and they were eight and most importantly, they were just playing a game! The sacred orb from the legend...that was the ball. And the eastern and western gates were the goalposts. Jin Wei had the ball and was running toward the goal when he fell and fumbled it. Win Jei didn't steal the ball, he picked it up and started running it back toward the other goal. But he stepped out of bounds, so the official put him in the penalty box, not for twenty long years, but for two short minutes.....There was no stealing and no putting anyone in prison. Just a game” Aang explains. Rana smirks and looks down, her hair falling over her shoulder. That's pretty smart of him and a lot more than she thought he'd do.

“You're saying the sacred orb was actually a sacred ball?” The Zhang leader asks Aang.

“Nope, just a regular ball”

“What about our tribe's redemption ritual?”

“That's what the game was called, Redemption. As soon as someone got the ball from one goal to the other everyone would yell, 'redemption!'” The leaders look at each other. “Don't get me wrong, Wei Jin was kind of a slob and Jin Wei was a little stuffy, that much is true, but they respected each other's differences enough to share the same playing field”

“I suppose it's time we forget the past...” Zhang offers Gan Jin.

“...and look to the future” Gan Jin finishes. The Zhang Leader bows in turn as Aang, smiling, looks on, he turns and looks at Rana who nods and smirks back at him, holding up her hands to slightly applaud him. He smiles wider at her. Aang then runs up and hugs Appa's face. Sokka, Katara and the Guide are in the background, walking over slower.

“Good to see ya, boy! Did you miss me?” Appa licks Aang as the Gan Jin leaders approach.

“I cannot thank you enough, Avatar” He offers. Aang turns to him, drenched in Appa's saliva.

“Well, you know, I try” The Gan Jin Leader shrinks in horror from the horror of Aang's slimed body before he turns and walks away, joining the Zhang leader.
“Let us travel to the Earth Kingdom capital as one tribe!” The crowd cheers and follows the leaders down the path. The Canyon Guide runs between Sokka and Katara.

“I'm goin' too! I'm sick of this place!” He shouts. Sokka folds his arms over his chest as he looks at Aang.

“That's some luck you knew Jin Wei and Wei Jin” He comments. Aang smiles and nods.

“You could call it luck” He agrees, his smile then turning slightly darker. “Or, you could call it... lying!” Katara is holding Momo in shock and Sokka is angry at this pronouncement.

“What?!”

“I made the whole thing up” Aang admits, he looks around for Rana but she's wandered off towards the cliff edge.

“You did not!” Katara argues slightly. “That is so wrong” She adds, this time in devilish admiration. Aang shrugs a little before he moves off towards Rana. Katara and Sokka share a look before they follow after him.

“Rah?” Aang asks as they approach where Rana stands looking out over the canyon, her arms around herself. She hums in acknowledgement and greeting. “You've been distracted the last few days” Aang points out, staring up at her for answers when she turns to face him. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No” She assures him. “You did nothing wrong” She looks back down the side of the cliff. “I wanted to see how you'd do...to see what I would do next. If you couldn't handle it...” She stops and then looks back at them. “I think I need to be on my own for a while” She whispers and looks down. “Figure some things out”

“You're leaving us?” Sokka asks, Rana looks at him.

“For a while, yes” She answers, adjusting her necklace. “I was supposed to have years of training before I joined the Avatar...I'm learning and travelling at the same time, and I need to focus on learning how to control my abilities...I need to find the rest of the eggs, I need to bond with the pokemon.....” She shrugs a little. “I feel like I need to do this...for a few days, a week....I'll head toward the North Pole when I'm ready, catch up with you” Aang nods but looks down at the ground as he scuffs his shoes. He doesn't want her to go, but he knows she's right. “You can keep them alive till I get back, right?” She teases Sokka who nods. The two of them sharing a look before Sokka hugs her, she curls into his chest, his arms tight around her. He's pretty much losing his biggest ally here. His friend too. And he gets it. They are the oldest. But they are still young enough that babysitting shouldn't be their everything. She pulls away from Sokka and clears her throat before she turns and climbs back onto Noivern who looks at Appa before he takes off into the sky, disappearing into the dusk clouds.

Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty-Four

Ninetails is curled up in front of a campfire, her tail resting on the back of a second large pokemon, the evolved form of Rockruff, who evolved after a run-in with the Fire Nation, so now she is Lycanroc, and she is utterly beautiful, with her golden fur and white mane, graceful and powerful legs. Rana moves through the little camp set up, setting down handfuls of food into little bowls for each pokemon she passes Wartortle, Pichu, Noivern, before she crouches in front of two new pokemon. A little brown and white thing that hatched from that temple egg and a little green pokemon that came from a second she found during her little spiritual journey. Eevee and Chikortia. She smiles softly at them and sets food into bowls for them both. Rana settles against a tree, sliding down to sit on the ground. She's added a black cape cloak thing to her outfit, to hide her ears and tail whilst travelling. She knows she sticks out. And she probably should have done something to hide her appearance a while back now. She lets out a breath and picks at her own food. As much as she knows her duty and her destiny lies with Aang, she does prefer to be out here, travelling with her pokemon, learning to control her abilities...alone. Tracking down the rest of the pokemon eggs, keeping tabs on Zhao and where he is in his search for her, careful to stay one step ahead of him, of the Fire Nation ships. She's been staying inland a lot recently. A few rough run-ins with the ships. Noivern only managing to get her out of that trouble. Lycanroc dumps her empty bowl in front of Rana before staring at her to get her point across.

“You want some more?” Lycanroc nods and Rana looks down at the little bowl. She then moves her hands, concentrating, bending, above them, a branch grows from the tree behind her, erupting into fully grown bluk berries ready for eating. The branch then shakes, dropping fruit into Lycanroc's bowl. Rana sinks a little when she pulls back. A wave of exhaustion hit her. But she's learnt to push through it. It works better to push her limits. She learns faster that way. And she's learnt a lot in the last week. Chikorita climbs into her lap with a yawn and curls up, belly fully. “Don't wander off too far” Rana scolds a little as Eevee disappears into the trees. Rana knows she likes to explore after lunch, she just wishes she wouldn't do it alone, that she'd at least take one of the others with her.

…...

Zuko has his hands behind his back as he looks over the market stall, waiting on Iroh who demanded they take some shore leave. Just a few hours to pick up supplies, get a drink, have some proper food. He was against it but Iroh has this way about him, Zuko finds it difficult to argue with him. But he caved because it's been rather quiet on the Avatar front the last few days. Not much in the way of sightings or news. Not much for him to do until gets something. He lets out a breath and looks around the market. Can see his crew moving and talking. They do appear to be slightly more relaxed. He frowns, hearing something. He's not even sure he heard it until it makes a noise again. He turns and shifts his eyes around until they fall on a little brown pokemon. Eevee. Watches him from where it sits next to a large barrel which just makes it look all the smaller. Zuko raises an eyebrow at it. The two of them staring at one another. He doesn't know what it is, so he immediately decides that it must be a pokemon. But he has no idea what it is doing here. His chest aches as he thinks that it might mean that Rana is here somewhere. That this is one of hers. He takes a step towards it before he remembers his line. His choice to not cave into feelings. He can't. He made a stand. He drew a line in the sand. In his dreams, he can indulge in his feelings all he wants with his dream version of Rana, but out here, in the real world. Lines. He hangs his head and backs away, turning his back to the animal.

“It appears to want your attention” Iroh comments as he crouches in front of the pokemon but it ignores him, following after Zuko who walks away. “Zuko” Iroh starts as he stands to follow them. Zuko can hear it behind him, scurrying along. He turns to face it.

“Shoo” He chases it off with a hiss and a fire blast. The pokemon glares at him and then runs away. Zuko looks victorious as he turns to Iroh who shakes his head disappointed.

“They are magical creatures that deserve your respect” Iroh scolds. “And punishing them for the way you are feeling about Rana...” Zuko snaps his gaze to his uncle who sighs. “It is not their fault that you cannot accept...”

“I can accept things just fine” Zuko scolds. “I accept that she turned her back on the Fire Nation, and I have not....” He turns and walks away from his uncle, who doesn't follow this time.

“I could strangle some sense into him” Iroh muses to himself, stroking his beard. “Wonder if locking them in a room would work too?” He turns and walks away, pondering his options.

….....

Rana sits in the lotus position among the trees, meditating. Breathing. Nature around her moves with her as she does. Breathing with her. She tries to do this with every element, all nine of them, throughout the day for fifteen minutes, half an hour if she has the time. Just to bond more with them. Just as she is bonding with her pokemon, she is strengthening her bond with the elements. Dream!Zuko was right. She needs to feel them. Not think about them. It has to come from her heart. Eevee watches from the tree line before it turns and heads back into the trees again.

…......

Zuko looks over a market stall alone now, fingers touching the fabric of a dress in a beautiful dark pink colour. It's enough to remind him of Rana. Everything is enough to remind him of her. And it's ridiculous. He feels like he lost her. But he never had her to begin with. He sighs and moves along the stall to a stand of dress pins. These remind him that he has her dress pin and the stake is bent and likely not useable anymore. He feels bad about it. mostly because he was the one that gave it to her originally. Something nips at his ankle, tugging on his trouser leg. He hisses and looks down at the animal with a glare, finds Eevee glaring back up at him before it then goes to walk away, before it pauses and looks back over its shoulder at him. He frowns. It wants him to follow it. He can read that much in its eyes. He won't tell his uncle but he does feel bad for throwing fire at it. It didn't deserve that reaction from him and he does feel terrible. It was completely about him and his feelings for Rana and had nothing to do with the pokemon. Zuko lets out a breath and closes his eyes. Fighting himself. Head and heart raging again. He opens his eyes and settles them on Eevee who nods with its head for him to follow. Zuko nods back.

“This better be worth it” He grumbles and follows after Eevee who leads him away from the market square. Iroh watching from close by, a smile working onto his face.

Chapter 59: Chapter Fifty-Five

Eevee bursts through some trees, Zuko following behind, brushing branches aside to get clear of the trees. So far, he's not loving this idea. To follow after the strange pokemon. But he's been getting used to them. Seeing them in his dreams with Rana. There has been at least one new type of pokemon in each dream. Eevee trots up a bank towards a cave entrance where it has suffered a recent cave-in. And there, at the base, is a trapped Houndour. Its leg caught beneath a fallen boulder and it's an angry thing. Spitting fire at the sizeable rock, as if the fire is going to move it. It needs help. This is why Eevee had brought Zuko. But it makes him realise that this has nothing to do with Rana. And he is rather disappointed. But this pokemon sought him out anyway. He looks at the Eevee whose eyes are big and wide, pleading with him for help.

“Okay” He whispers and moves towards the rubble and the Houndour. He can free its friend to make up for the fireball and for being mean. He touches the rock and then turns to push his shoulder into it, putting some real effort into lifting it, groaning with it, it before it lifts just enough. Just high enough for Eevee to grab a hold of Houndour's neck and drag it out and free of the rock. Zuko drops the rock down and turns to the two of them. Houndour tries to get to its feet to stand protectively in front of Eevee, but it collapses instead. Too injured to hold itself up. But he's done his part. He freed it. There is nothing else that he can do for them. He lets out a breath and then nods, steeling himself before he turns and walks away.

“Eevee!!” Eevee calls after him. Zuko closes his eyes and hangs his head. Walking away from them feels terrible but he can't waste time on them.

…........

The sun is setting behind Rana as she packs up the little camp. Noivern waiting behind her. All of the others have been tucked into the ball for the night. Rana's come to feel more comfortable doing so. Knowing that it does make travelling a lot easier without them all trying to pile onto Noivern's back, especially with Ninetails and Lycanroc. She attaches the supplies to the side of the saddle before she lets out a breath, yawns and stretches her arms over her head. They need to find somewhere else before nightfall and they are going to be pushing for time. She looks up at the sun as it begins to disappear beyond the horizon. She then turns and climbs up onto Noivern's back. He's fast so they might just find a cave or a clearing or something.

….....

Zuko couldn't bring himself to actually leave them there. Not without doing something. And his reasoning is so unbelievably selfish. He knows that Rana would never forgive him if she were to ever find out. That he just abandoned an injured pokemon. So he returns to where he left them, bandages in his arms as he looks around for them. They can't have gone far with that Houndour's leg but they probably would have found cover to hide them from people and predators. He sees blood speckles in the grass, likely from the Houndour's wound and follows it to a bush under a large tree. He crouches and moves the bush aside to find them curled up together.

“Eevee” Eevee states, seemingly smiling at him. Houndour is less happy about him coming back, seems to be more cautious of him. Zuko and Houndour share a look before Houndour inclines its head and moves to leave the safety of the bush, seemingly understanding that Zuko has returned to help them.

….......

Noivern sails through the clouds, it's dark now, but Rana is in less of a rush to find somewhere to camp, not when she can see the stars like this. It's so beautiful up here. She leans forward and lets out a soft breath. She knows they are going to have to stop to sleep. But just for a little longer, she wants to disappear in the stars.

….......

There is a little fire going now, settled among the trees as Zuko wraps a bandage around Houndour's leg, the pokemon's eyes firmly on him, watching him. Studying him. Wary of him. It's covered in scars. Old ones. New ones. It's been fighting, or defending. Zuko thinks they are scars from defending, probably from defending Eevee. The two of them are clearly very close. He's assuming Houndour has been defending its smaller friend. Kind of like how he used to defend Rana from Azula and her friends. She was always smaller than him, she needed someone to stand up for her. Zuko swallows a little and then clears his throat.

“I have a friend” Zuko starts and then pauses before shaking his head. “Sort of” He corrects himself. "...she'd be better at this” He adjusts the bandage and sighs. “How's that?” Houndour shifts its leg, testing the bandage before it grumbles in some form of an answer. It seems sort of happy with it. Eevee then yawns as it climbs up and settles into his lap, Zuko looks surprised by the action, sitting completely still to the amusement of Houndour who watches them.

….....

Iroh is waiting on the dock for Zuko's return. Admittedly rather worried about him. Zuko misses his own deadline. For a rather punctual teenager that's hardly going to ease his worries. Iroh raises an eyebrow at Zuko who huffs a little, approaching the ship. And right there behind him, is Eevee and Houndour, who limps heavily but manages to stick to its feet. Seems his nephew has picked up a couple of pokemon.

“Not a word” Zuko comments as he passes his uncle who smirks slightly watching Eevee and Houndour follow Zuko's every step. “I can't get rid of them” Zuko growls to himself, clenching his hands at his side.

…....

Rana sleeps inside a small cave, curled up around her is her pokemon, some are away though, watching the storm that rages outside. Pichu is the most interested, shuffling forward just as thunder cracks through the sky. Rana wakes with a jolt, bolting upright in alarm, her hand instantly raising with her sword. The downside of travelling alone like this. She has to look out for herself by herself. She lets out a breath, calming down when she realises it is just a storm.

…......

It's a pile of blankets and cushions set up in the corner of Zuko's quarters by Iroh for Houndour and Eevee but only Houndour is happy enough to stay there. Eevee has other things on its mind. That being Zuko's bed, where he currently sleeps. Zuko is startled awake by the wet press of a nose into his hand. He finds Eevee tucking itself into the crook of his arm. He's never had a pet before. Not in the way other people did. He had a horse growing up. But nothing that wanted to sleep in his bed. He raises his hand and cautiously pats Eevee's head, fur soft against his skin. Eevee coos against his hand and then settles into his side to sleep.

Chapter 60: Chapter Fifty-Six

Zuko stands on the bridge of his ship, his hands folded behind his back as he peers over the shoulder of his lieutenant. Sat close by is Eevee who watches Zuko with complete interest. Houndour sits in the doorway, almost as if on guard. Iroh and some crewmen are playing Pai Sho on the right side of the bridge. Zuko and his lieutenant are looking down at a map laid out on the table.

“We haven't been able to pick up the Avatar's trail since the storm” The position of the Lieutenant's hand and extended index finger indicates that they are currently at the northwest extremity of the Earth Kingdom, close to the eastern most extremity of the northern air nomad lands. “But, if we continue heading northeast...” The Lieutenant is cut off as the light is blocked by an enormous shadow as another Fire Navy ship, a massive hulking thing, is passing them to starboard, headed the opposite direction. Everyone on Zuko's bridge stares at it.

“What do they want?” Zuko asks.

“Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Sho!” Iroh offers hopefully. Zuko's eye twitches in annoyance.

…......

A Fire Nation Herald, stands on the bridge of Zuko's ship alongside two soldiers. Zuko stands in front of him, looking sour, watching as he pulls out a scroll and unrolls it, holding it up for Zuko to see that it is a wanted poster of sorts for Aang and Rana.

“The hunt for the Avatar and the vastaya have been given prime importance,” The Herald tells Zuko. “All information regarding them must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao” The Herald adds. Iroh makes a move on his Pai Sho board.

“Zhao has been promoted?” Iroh asks. “Well, good for him!” Iroh's opponent looks chagrined at the move and slaps his face.

“I've got nothing to report to Zhao,” Zuko tells the Herald. “Now get off my ship and let us pass”

“Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area”

“Off my ship!” Zuko snaps at them and takes a deep breath to calm himself. The Herald turns to the two soldiers who share a look before they nod. The three of them leaving.

“Excellent!” Iroh offers as he leans forward and gathers all the chips on the table. “I take the pot. But, you're all improving. I'm certain you will win if we play again”

…....

Later, Zuko stares out over the water, Eevee sat at his side, leaning against his leg. His hands shake at his side. His mind reeling. But not on the loss of the Avatar. But on Rana. He has no idea what Zhao will do to her if he finds her. The Avatar will be handed over to the Fire Lord, that's obvious. But Ozai will have no interest in Rana. Iroh walks towards him, Houndour following behind him. Zuko keeps his eyes on the water but reaches up to grab the railing.

“Is everything okay?” Iroh asks him. “It's been almost an hour and you haven't given the men an order”

“I don't care what they do,” Zuko tells him.

“Don't give up hope yet. You can still find the Avatar before Zhao” Iroh assures him then notes the twitch in Zuko's face. “Or are you worried about him finding Rana?” Zuko looks down and then at his uncle, desperation and fear on his face.

“He will hand the Avatar over to my father...” Zuko points out. “What he will do with her.....I don't know” He looks back out over the water.

“So find her first” Iroh offers with a half shrug.

“How, Uncle? With Zhao's resources, it's just a matter of time before he captures her” Zuko clenches his jaw. For the dishonour Rana has brought on Zhao, Zuko doesn't want to think of what he'll do to his daughter. He almost killed her once before, and if it wasn't for Zuko he is sure Zhao would have done it back in the temple. He can't believe anything other than that fate for her. He leans on the railing before letting out a breath. Iroh fights the soft smile working onto his lips. Zuko's first instinct wasn't to worry about losing the Avatar or his honour, or his throne, or his country, it was losing Rana.

…...

The sun has set behind Rana who crouches over a pile of leaves that scatter the ground in front of her, behind her, a campfire is struggling to burn. Her focus is on what she is doing and they don't want too bright a fire in case she was spotted. She's close to her target location and doesn't want to draw attention to where she is. She wraps a vine around her wrist and up her forearm before she ties the end around her middle finger. She has a plan to enact. An infiltration. She knows where her next egg is, one of only two that are left and it will likely be the hardest one to get so far. It's with Zhao himself. She's going to have to sneak into his stronghold to get it. She's only been there once before. When she was younger and she is sure a lot has changed since then.

“Wartortle” She glances over her shoulder to find Wartortle dishing out floral crowns to the other pokemon. Rana smiles and shakes her head, amused. She's okay with them having a moment of joy before they do this. It's going to be hard. There are going to be a lot of men and this is going to test how far they've worked, how tight their bond is. She has to put her faith in them. And they have to trust her too. She grabs her cloak and pulls it on, over her head, the hood covering her ears. It's more about cover. Hiding in the night until she is ready for them to know she's there. She's ready this time. Ready to face Zhao, she's sure of it. She's worked hard. She grabs her sword and slides it into place against her back, standing before Noivern who holds his head up, assuring her that he's ready too. She turns to her other pokemon, their floral crowns sliding from their heads. They're all looking at her. Waiting for her word.

….......

In a dark room with only a few wall sconces to offer some level of illumination, Aang is a prisoner in a large room with two stone pillars that have fires on their crests. Aang is shackled to them from his arms, he struggles against his bonds just as the door opens and Aang looks up. Zhao walks into the room towards Aang, hands behind his back.

“So this is the great Avatar?” Zhao asks. “Master of all the elements. I don't know how you've managed to elude the Fire Nation for a hundred years, but your little game of hide and seek is over”

“I've never hidden from you. Untie me and I'll fight you right now!”

“Uhh, no. Tell me, how does it feel to be the only air-bender left?” Zhao moves forward, getting as close to Aang as he can. “Do you miss your people?” Aang's look of defiance melts and he drops his head. “Oh, don't worry, you won't be killed like they were” Aang looks up again in anger. “See, if you die you'll just be reborn and the Fire Nation will have to begin its search for the Avatar all over again. So, I'll keep you alive.....but just barely” Zhao turns to leave, still smirking but then stops and turns back to him. “Where is she?” He asks. Aang clenches his jaw. “Where's the vastaya?” Aang keeps quiet. “Fine” Zhao turns and walks away again. Aang blows a gale-force wind, knocking Zhao until into the wall where he collapses in a heap. He shakes his head to clear his vision and stands up. “Blow all the wind you want! Your situation is futile. There is no escaping this fortress.....and no one is coming to rescue you” Zhao leaves the room, the door slamming shut behind him. Aang hangs his head.

Chapter 61: Chapter Fifty-Seven

A wagon is moving towards a huge fortress, the same fortress where Aang is being kept, a huge building hidden between trees as much as it can considering its size. A figure in all black except for the blue mask covering his face, the Blue Spirit, is clinging to the undercarriage. The wagon then reaches the gate of the fortress.

“All clear” A gate guard looks at the wagon and walks around it. When the guard checks the undercarriage, the mysterious Blue Spirit is gone. The guard gets back up. “All clear. Go on in” The Blue Spirit is now hiding inside of the waggon as it moves through the first of three gates.

…........

Noivern lands on the roof of the massive central tower looming over the courtyard, laying low and flat against the tile to keep himself hidden. Rana shifts closer to his shoulder to look across at the balcony of the main building as the doors open and Zhao appears in ceremonial dress flanked by attendants. Rana scoffs and rolls her eyes but she is a little worried by the number of soldiers gathered there.

“We are the sons and daughters of fire!” Zhao announces to the gathered soldiers. “The superior element! Until today, only one thing stood in our path to victory. The Avatar! I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner!”

“What?” Rana asks Noivern and then leans back a little. That can't be possible. Aang can't be here. She left him in Sokka and Katara's care. This can't be happening.

“This is the year Sozen's comet returns to grant us its power! This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba-Sing-Se and burns the city to the ground!” Rana clenches her jaw, her eyes turning purple as she reaches out to her pokemon. If Aang is here, she needs to move faster to get him and find the egg.

“Let's ramp this up” Rana whispers to Noivern, who rumbles his agreement.

….......

Aang is still struggling fruitlessly against his chains. He finally stops, breathing heavily. Suddenly, frogs start leaping out of his shirt and hood.

“What? No! Don't leave frogs! My friends are sick and they need you! Please go back to being frozen!” He begins to struggle again as the frogs hop away towards the door.

…...

Wartortle is in control of a speeding wagon full of pokemon that is racing towards the fortress pulled by Ninetails. Wartortle looks far too happy and excited about this.

…...

There are four guards standing outside the chamber where Aang is being held. They begin to look confused when they frog noises. They look down to see a few frogs coming from underneath the door. Suddenly they look up as a Fire Nation soldier's helmet comes bouncing down the corridor towards them. One of the guards walks up the corridor and turns right at the first junction, disappearing from view. A gout of flame erupts from the cross hallway as well as the sound of a brief scuffle. Two more guards go up to the junction and turn right, fire-bending stances at the ready. The first guard who went is hanging from the ceiling, tied up. The Blue Spirit is on the ceiling above the two new combatants. He drops down and melee begins, but it is just as quickly over. The last guard is standing at his post but appears more nervous now. He looks up and finds the Blue Spirit at the junction. The lone guard grabs the alarm horn next to him, but a knife thrown knocks it out of his hand. The guard lets loose a gout of flame at the Blue Spirit as he runs down the hall toward the door, but the intruder extinguishes the blast with a bucket of water. The masked figure then sweeps the guard's feet out from under him with the empty bucket.

…..

Noivern circles above the courtyard, Rana watching over his shoulder as she waits on her signal. Her moment. Her chance to descend.

…...

Aang is still struggling inside the chamber. He stops and looks at the noises of violence coming from through the door. These stop abruptly and are replaced by the sound of the lock turning in the door. The door opens and the Blue Spirit enters. He brandishes two curved swords and runs forward to Aang, who screams in fear. The Blue Spirit approaches and swings both of his swords. Aang pulls his arms back in surprise – the Blue Spirit has freed him. He looks at his liberator in wonder. The Blue Spirit comes closer and cuts his remaining bonds, turns and walks back toward the door.

“Who are you? What's going on? Are you here to rescue me?” Aang asks. The Blue Spirit opens the door and motions for him to follow. “I'll take that as a 'yes'” Aang follows him out past the gagged and tied guard at the door to his chamber. He hears frog noises and turns to see his frogs on the floor. “My frogs! Come back! And stop thawing out!” The Blue Spirit comes back, picks him up by the collar and carries him out. “Wait! My friends need to suck on those frogs!”

…........

Wartortle lets out a war cry as Ninetails readies a fire blast, charging with the wagon at the outside gate to the fortress. With a bark it flies from her and hits the gate, exploding it inwards. Blowing their way into the fortress.

…........

Aang is dragged along the hallway by the Blue Spirit when there is a loud crashing noise from the courtyard.

“What was that?” Aang asks as he looks back over his shoulder hearing mayhem from the courtyard. The Blue Spirit keeps on walking away through, dragging Aang along with him. Noivern is suddenly flying through the window and towards them. Aang screams before he realises who it is. “Noi!!” He cheers and then screams again as Noivern refuses to slow down. Noivern lands and skids along the floor to a stop before he hits Aang and the Blue Spirit. Rana jumps from him. “Rah!” Aang moves towards her, she turns and pulls down her hood and mask to shake out her hair.

“What are you doing here!?” She growls a little moving to meet him.

“Urm, you're not here to rescue me?” Aang asks, confused and then looks at the Blue Spirit. “He isn't here with you?”

“What?” Rana asks and looks at the Blue Spirit. “No, I...” She stares at him and cocks her head. Something about this person. She narrows her eyes a little before she shakes her head. “No” She looks back at Aang.

“What were you doing here then?” Aang asks but seems to realise when he hears Zhao's voice from down the hallway. Rana reaches up and pulls on her sword. She turns to head along the hall. “Rah” Aang warns.

“Princess” The Blue Spirit adds. They both reach for her but find themselves pulled back to the wall by vines. Both of them struggle against it.

“He has something that belongs to me. And I am not leaving until I get it” She warns Aang. “And you are not going to get into my way”

“What does he have?” Aang asks her.

“This” Zhao. They all around to find him at the end of the corridor. He holds out a pokemon egg towards her. “I heard you'd were looking for them...And I knew it was only a matter of time, especially as I had the Avatar” He hands it to the soldier next to him. Rana's eyes follow it. “How many do you need now?”

“Just two” She answers. “But I'll have fun tearing through your camps and outposts until I get them” She adds and spins her sword, taking a ready stance.

“Yes, I heard” Zhao offers with a clench of his jaw. “Nasty injury you received from the last place, though....are you sure you're ready for this?” Rana growls and moves to take a step forward to attack only to be stopped when one of his own soldiers hurries towards Zhao in a panic.

“Admiral” A soldier runs to him. “The courtyard...it's under attack” He draws off a little seeing Rana.

“Admiral?” She asks mockingly, a hand held behind her back as she releases the Blue Spirit and Aang from their vine bindings. They are both instantly at her side falling into attack positions. Noivern turns and flies out of the window. Aang stares after him before looking at Rana for an explanation but gets none, her focus is on Zhao. “Promoted for what exactly?” She asks, leaning on her sword as she thinks. “The Avatar's escaping!” Zhao fumes a little and she fights the very big smirk working its way through her. “Hold this” She shoves her sword at Aang who grabs it before it falls. She manifests a fireball between her hand and then throws it out, twisting her arms to wrap it in a column of air which increases its power. It hits the floor in front of them though and erupts into smoke. Rana's suddenly at the soldier's side and taking the egg from him. She smiles overly sweetly at him before she pushes him out the window. She then ducks a fire attack from Zhao who moves towards her. The Blue Spirit grabs the back of her dress and pulls her away from Zhao's second fire attack. The three of them turning and then running away, heading towards the window.

Chapter 62: Chapter Fifty-Eight

Rana jumps straight out the window with the egg and lands on the roof below, sliding down the tiles. Aang and the Blue Spirit are right behind her. Both can make out the rest of her pokemon taking out Fire Nation soldiers in the courtyard, keeping them busy and away from. Aang clutches to the sword of protection as he screams loudly, sliding down the tiles behind the Blue Spirit and Rana. Rana whistles sharply and Ninetails turns and runs towards them pulling the wagon with her. Rana pushes off of the lip of the roof and forward flips to the ground. Landing in a crouch she is quick to straighten up. The Blue Spirit is just as nimble on his feet but Aang falls from the roof ungracefully clutching to the sword. He lands in the wagon as Ninetails reaches him before taking off across the courtyard.

“Get in!” Rana yells at the Blue Spirit, his marked face staring at her. She gives him a look to hurry up and he lets out a breath and races towards Ninetails and the wagon, sliding into the front of the wagon taking the steering over. Ninetails looks back over her shoulder to look at him before turning forward, seemingly accepting him. Rana jumps into the back and whistles, all of the other pokemon turn and race towards them whilst avoiding attacks. Lycanroc grabs Eevee by the scruff and races up onto the back of the wagon. Rana grabs Wartortle by his shell as they pass him, lifting him up and setting him next to Aang. Chikortia jumps in and straight onto Aang's chest, Aang lets out a surprised breath. Pichu is the only one left and hurries along as fast as its tiny feet can take it.

“Pichu!” The ball around her neck lights up at the same time Pichu does, pushing himself to run faster has caused it to evolve. The tiny little yellow mouse disappears and in its place, a larger, brighter yellow, mouse-type appears running on all fours towards the wagon. “Pika...Pika” It runs towards the wagon at some speed, gathering lightning as it goes.

“Urm, Rah” Aang states worriedly. “If that blows...”

“Don't worry” Rana counters. “You get used to it” She smiles broadly at Aang who smiles back at her, but there is something wilder in her eyes. Ninetails howls from the front as the gate is blocked by many soldiers. Rana places her hand on the Blue Spirit's shoulder and leans closer to him. “Keep going...Zu” She whispers with a smirk and a chuckle, he stiffens slightly but has no time to deal with it when Rana jumps up out of the wagon and lands in the middle of the soldiers

“Pichu!” She yells and the now Pikachu races for her. “Hit me with it!”

“Pika...Chu!!!” It lets loose an amazing lightning attack that races towards Rana. She changes her stances and bends the lighting around her and hits as many soldiers as she can around her. Clearing the way for Ninetails and the wagon to get out. Pikachu throws itself at Rana who then whistles. Noivern flying down from the sky and towards her, she turns and starts running away from him, Pikachu on her shoulders. Noivern dives in close to her and she jumps onto his back, racing after the wagon as it flees the fortress. Zhao now looks on from the top of the main gate. Next to him, a soldier readies an arrow.

“Do you have a clear shot?” Zhao asks. The Yu Yan archer at his side doesn't respond, but lowers his head in preparation for his shot. “Knock out the girl..” The archer releases his arrow, which the camera follows across the field to its target, the arrow pierces through Rana's shoulder. She cries out, almost dropping the egg in her arms, she struggles to hold onto the reins, Noivern making panicked noises alerts Aang and the Blue Spirit who pulls the wagon to a stop just in time to watch Rana fall from Noivern and towards the dirt.

“Rana!” Aang yells. Noivern lands and covers Rana with his wings and hisses and growls towards the fortress. The Blue Spirit and Aang both race forward, away from the safety of the wagon and to where Rana landed.

“Quick! Recover the girl and grab the Avatar!” Zhao orders and a crowd of Fire Nation soldiers emerge from the fortress and race forward towards them. The Blue Spirit pushes Aang towards where the egg is laying, cracked. Aang grabs the egg as the Blue Spirit picks up Rana when Noivern allows him access to her. She groans in pain. Aang turns around and air-bends up a huge cloud of dust around them to cover their escape as they race back to the wagon.

….......

Aang is sitting in front of a fire, his eyes on Zuko who sits across from him turning the Blue Spirit mask around in his hand. They're both waiting for Rana to wake up. Both worried about her. Aang's worried about Katara and Sokka too. Knowing that they are waiting on him. Aang looks back at Zuko who stares into the fire. Aang doesn't understand why Zuko saved him. It doesn't make sense when he has spent so long trying to catch him instead. Though Aang does know it is something to do with Rana.

“You know what the worst part about being born over a hundred years ago is?” Aang asks, Zuko's eyes flicker to him and then back to the fire. “I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I used to always have my friend Taru. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had – and he was a vastaya like Rana” He looks at Rana. “And he was from the Fire Nation, just like you” Aang looks back at Zuko. “If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends too?” Zuko gets up and moves away from him without giving him an answer. It's hard enough thinking about being friends with Rana let alone considering the Avatar himself. That really would be a complete back turn on the Fire Nation and his father.

“Eevee” Zuko stops, surprised a moment before he turns and looks down to find Eevee staring up at him. But this is not his Eevee. Rana has her own it seems. He crouches in front of it. They are different too. This one doesn't have a fur fringe and his does. Rana shifts as she begins to wake, groaning, and both Zuko and Aang move towards her. Rana wakes on her stomach, because of the arrow in her back. Neither of them wanted to take it out whilst she was out of it.

“Don't roll over” Aang stops her. “Do you remember what happened?” She turns her head to look at him, and is surprised to find Zuko still here. She thought she would have taken off. Aang is still clutching to the cracked egg.

“One of you just pull the thing out” She complains.

“Are you okay?!” Aang asks her, she turns her head to look at him. “Right, you have an arrow stuck in you, so no...” She manages to sit up, cradling her arm, shifting on her backside. Her eyes finding Zuko's face, the worried lines, the fear. That's not confusing at all. Why is he so worried about her?

“Zu, just take it out” He nods, moves behind her and presses a hand between her shoulder blades, wrapping his fingers around the shaft of the arrow.

“Wait, wait, wait...!” Aang scolds. “Just like that?” Rana looks at Aang and then shoves a stick between her teeth and nods. Zuko leans closer to her.

“Take a deep breath” He whispers, she nods and does just that and he yanks the arrow out of her shoulder. She groans and chomps down on the stick, tears gathering in her eyes as she curls around herself. She spits out the stick and closes her eyes.

“Spirits” She complains and then holds out her hand, a purple glow emanates from it and she moves to hover it over her arrow wound on her back, stitching herself back together. “How long was I out?”

“Not long” Zuko answers and crouches at her side, giving her a scolding look now. “You've been going after the Fire Nation?” He asks, she looks at him.

“I've been looking for my eggs....they just so happen to be hidden around the Fire Nation...so...” She shrugs and pulls her hand back, rolling her shoulder to test it. But it's fine. Aang holds out the egg to her and she stares at the huge crack in it as she takes it, she lets out a sad sigh. She doesn't know what this means. She doesn't know if it makes it unviable.

“Is it okay?” Aang asks her, she hums and shrugs.

“I don't know” She answers and draws her thumb over the egg with a sigh. “Where are Sokka and Katara?”

“With Appa and Momo....they're sick” Aang offers. “I left to get medicine...I have to get back” He stands and looks around.

“I'll take you” Rana offers, Aang looks at her. “Just give me a little while to pack up camp” Aang nods and gives her a thankful smile.

Chapter 63: Chapter Fifty-Nine

Zuko leans against a tree staring out through them, his back to the camp. He should be leaving. He should be going back before Iroh starts to worry. Rana is then standing at his side. The two of them sharing a look before she looks away.

“What are you doing here?” She asks, he gives her a look. “I thought you would have taken off...or tried to kidnap the Avatar or something”

“You were shot with an arrow, I wanted to make sure you were okay” He admits, she raises an eyebrow at him.

“Well, I'm fine” She moves away from him. “You can go back to your ship now” He frowns a little as she moves about packing up her camp. He follows her.

“Princess” He starts and she leans up, swallowing slightly.

“Look, we both know you shouldn't be here” She stops him. “We both know you don't want to be here” He knows only one of those statements is true, and it is not the latter. It's got nothing to do with what he wants. None of this is what he wants. She moves away again, his feet carrying him after her.

“We had a bonding moment” He offers as he stops behind her. “I cradled you in my arms” She pauses, fingers curling and uncurling into her palm. He touches her arm, fingers warm and soft. She pulls herself away from him because she can't. He's Zuko. Fire Nation prince. Wants to kidnap Aang. They're not on the same side and she has to keep reminding herself that or she's going to fall for the dream version, and that's not him. They are not the same people.

“Nope. Don't remember. Didn't happen” She rushes out, he grabs her arm and pulls her closer to him. His eyes searching hers. Trying to read her. He can see it. She made the same choice he did. They both drew lines. But it means that she feels the same way he does. They are both going through the head and heart debate. Trying to work out where they stand. How much of this can work given their stances and their loyalty. It's tearing the both of them up. Being pushed and pulled between head and heart. He touches her face and curls his hand around her cheek. She closes her eyes as tears gather. And then it is like he can hear her in his head. Images and feelings and....thoughts. He frowns at her. It's not new. He has heard her a few times. Usually, first thing when he wakes, he can hear her whispering in his ear. But this is different. This is stronger. It is hard. Fighting the way they feel for the sake of their loyalty to other things.

“You know that he's the only way I will go home” Zuko reminds her. “But I saved him to get to you...” He adds. “To make sure you were okay....” She touches his chest before she steps closer and curls into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. He is surprised but allows in, actually, he joins in too. Wrapping his arms around her, pressing his head to hers, closing his eyes tightly.

“Wait a minute, are we hugging?” She asks, a teasing tone to her voice. Zuko smirks and hides his face in her hair. “Have we ever done this before?”

“No, and if you tell anyone, I'll slit your throat” He whispers but they both know he's not serious. He also knows it's a lie. When they were children, they hugged all the time, and in dream, there are moments that he has embraced her. He has held her and found comfort in it there. But there is something else in it doing it in the real world. A real warmth and depth. She curls tighter into him, letting out a soft breath. His finger traces her shoulder where the arrow was, worry filling him. She keeps putting herself in harm's way. How is he supposed to not worry about her when she doesn't seem to care about her own safety? Aang is crouched at the edge of the camp, watching them together. He feels bad. That they are both on different sides, but it's very clear that they care about one another. This is all his fault. He's the Avatar. He pulled her from her country. Put this rift between them.

….....

Noivern stands in the centre of the camp, Rana at his side attaching her supplies to his saddle. Getting ready to leave.

“Okay,” Rana whispers and straps the last of her camp to the side of Noivern's saddle. Pikachu sitting on his head. He had refused to get back in the ball with the others. Likely wanting to explore his new evolved form. “Aang,” She tells him and nods for Noivern, Aang climbs up into the saddle as Rana turns to Zuko. He touches her hand at her side before he pulls back and away. The two of them share a look before he turns and disappears into the trees. Rana lets out a sad breath and looks down. It's probably for the best anyway. Nothing good can come from them falling into those feelings. They'll both lose something.

…..

Zuko, sullen, walking past his Uncle on the main deck, he has been practising with the tsungi horn he bought, he looks up at his nephew as Eevee lifts her head from his side.

“Where have you been, Prince Zuko?” Iroh asks. “You missed music night! Lieutenant Jee sang a stirring love song”

“I'm going to bed. No disturbances” Zuko orders, Eevee getting up and following after him. Iroh raises an eyebrow at his nephew's mood, he then rubs his head and begins to blow his horn again, echoing a mournful dirge.

........

Rana holds her hands over Sokka who groans and shifts as purple light moves from her hands and to him, spreading through him as she heals him. Katara sits wrapped in a blanket behind them, having already been healed. Aang crouches at her side watching Rana work. There is a cracking sound and he frowns, turning to look behind him. He sees nothing. He shakes his head and turns back to Rana when he hears it again. He stands and moves to where Rana's supplies are, the egg from the Zhao in its little sling. Only it's not there anymore.

“Egg” Aang whispers, staring down at the completely shattered egg, its pieces scattered. He turns, looking around for the contents, he assumes this means it's hatched and is around. From behind the wall a horse, a black ghost horse with purple hair, appears. Aang's eyes widen as he leans up. “Rah” Aang calls out and she lifts her head from Sokka and instantly sees it. “Your egg hatched” Aang adds as she stands, moving towards them. Rana touches its face, laying her hand flat against it with a smile. She loves all of them and finds that they are all beautiful but there is something about this one. Maybe it is the vastaya connection to the spirit realm anyway, their link to the spirit trees and their ancestors.

“Pretty pony” Sokka comments behind them, Katara sighs and hangs her head.

….....

Zuko lays awake in his quarters, lost in thought. He looks at the Fire Nation symbol hanging on his wall, stares at it before he then rolls over, his back to the symbol. He's more conflicted than ever. Eevee nudges his arm and he lifts it, allowing it to snuggle into his chest. There is a heavier weight and he turns his head to find that Houndour has climbed onto his bed. That's a first. He and Houndour stare at one another before it curls up on his feet. Progress at least. He supposes that says something. That pokemon are like this with him. The book says that they won't bond with humans that they exclusively choose vastaya, yet, here they are. He would call this bonding. He thinks that means something. About him. It has to. They have to see something in him.

Chapter 64: Chapter Sixty

Spectrier is grazing from a pile of carrots on the banks of a lake in which Wartortle is floating on his shell with Eevee sat on his stomach. Rana is sat on the bank close to Spectrier, her feet in the water. Pikachu sat at her side, wiggling his feet. The others are all milling around the bank. Some are with Katara as she sets up their tent. Sokka crouches at the bank, staring into the water. Aang drops down from some trees and moves to join Rana.

“You shouldn't,” Aang tells her, she looks at him and frowns, not sure what he's talking about here. “I was wrong to say that you should fight your feelings for Zuko...You shouldn't” Rana shakes her head.

“Aang” She goes to stop him. “It's okay”

“No” He argues. “No, it's not...” He looks at her sadly. “I shouldn't have said that....maybe it would be different if I hadn't....maybe you two...”

“Aang” She does stop him this time. “There is no we two” She points out.

“I can see it,” Aang tells her. “The way you are with him, and he is with you.......”

“Aang” She argues, firmer this time, and turns a little to him. “It doesn't matter” Aang frowns at her. “It doesn't matter” She repeats softer. “Zuko is loyal to his father and his country.....” Aang shakes his head.

“He's loyal to you, he just hasn't figured it out yet” Aang argues.

“Head and heart” Rana whispers. Because she feels it too. Everything they are taught growing up. The things hammered into them. The Fire Nation is the one thing that matters. The one thing they would sell their family out for. They were raised to believe in the Fire Nation above everything. She knows that pull. Zuko's complex. He'll be finding it harder. He was always so desperate for Ozai's approval, especially because of Azula. “Zuko isn't a heart guy” She offers. “He thinks and runs with his head, it's just the way he is....his head is telling him to remain with the Fire Nation. To do everything in his power to restore his honour and return home.....”

“And you are heart” Aang finishes.

“I touched a magical book and suddenly betrayed everything I have ever known, turned my back on my father, my beliefs, my country.....” She reminds him, he smiles and looks down. “I would say I did not think that through with my head” She teases and looks out at the water.

“Would you have stayed?” Aang asks her. “With Zhao...if you thought about it?” She looks at him, resting her head in her chin.

“Yeah” She whispers. “I probably would have” She answers sadly. “Which is why I understand why Zuko is the way he is...” And she knows it'll be harder on him. With his father being the Fire Lord. The level of pressure it must put on those shoulders. “And why I understand that whatever it is that's between us...it's never going to come to anything” Aang nods a little and lets out a breath. “I know that now” Rana whispers. She knows she'll never go back to the Fire Nation, not even for Zuko. And she knows that he'll never leave it, not even for her.

…......

Sokka, Aang, Katara and Momo are still sat at the camp, surrounded by Rana's pokemon except for Lycanroc and Spectrier, Rana is absent too.

“Look!” Katara yells pointing at the water as a large green fish jumps up and then dives back into the water. Sokka gets up and assumes a gunslinger stance.

“He is taunting us,” Sokka tells them. “You are so gonna be dinner!” Sokka runs back to the tent and grabs his fishing pole which is standing up outside of it, runs back to the lake edge and casts the pole a few times without effect. “Hey! Where's the fishing line?” He turns around to find Wartortle as he walks past them, a necklace around his neck made from the fishing line.

“Oh, I didn't think you would need it, Sokka” Aang offers following his eyes. “Wartortle was looking at Katara's necklace, so I made him his own one”

“It's all tangled!” Sokka complains.

“Not tangled....woven” Aang argues. “I think he looks great” He shrugs a little. Sokka lets out an annoyed breath.

“I think he looks great too” Katara assures Wartortle who glares at Sokka who is quick to turn just as the fish leaps up again from the lake. He throws his pole like a spear and it disappears into the water.

“Stop taunting me!” Sokka draws his knife from behind his back and enters the water. He lunges into the water with the knife trying to catch the fish. Rana raises an eyebrow watching him as she moves towards them, riding on the back of Spectrier who looks down its nose at Sokka.

“Hey” Katara greets. “You're back, how was it?”

“It was riding through dense woods on the back of a horse that I think might hate me” Rana comments and Spectrier makes an annoyed sound. “See”

“I'm sure it doesn't hate you” Aang offers as Rana hops down from Spectrier's back, it then wanders off to join the other pokemon.

“You figured out which one it is yet?” Sokka asks.

“Spirit” Rana answers. “But I don't know the specific...pokemon. It doesn't talk like the others do and I can't communicate with it” She looks over at Spectrier. Sokka approaches them, sopping wet, empty-handed and with a dark look on his face. An ominous noise off-screen prompts Momo to fly toward it. Aang turns and follows after him worried, Katara, Rana, and Sokka stare after him as he lifts off using air-bending before they hurry after him on foot.

…......

Momo is sitting on a large rock, watching something along the river bank. He is joined a moment later by Aang who air-bends himself onto the rock beside Momo. He points towards the source of the noise.

“Someone's being attacked by a platypus bear!” Down the bank, where Aang pointed, is a huge bear-like creature with red eyes and the bill of a platypus. It bears its teeth and rears itself up on its hind legs. Right behind the bear is a man in blue who smiles calmly at the advancing monster. Aang suddenly jumps up onto a rock behind the bear.

“Well, hello there” The man greets Aang. Bear swings at him but he dodges it. “Nice day, isn't it?”

“Make noise, it'll run off!” Aang offers suggestions. Rana, Sokka, and Katara run up behind Aang.
“No, play dead, he'll lose interest!” Sokka argues. The bear swings and misses again.

“Whoa! Close one. Haha!”

“Run downhill, then climb a tree!” Katara shouts.

“No, punch him in the bill!” Rana counters.

“And then run in zigzags!” Aang adds motioning with his hand.

“No need. It's going to be fine” The man tells them. Confusing them further. The bear swings again, swiping a large chunk of wood out of a nearby tree as the calm man ducks just in time. Aang shoots into the air from off his nearby rock up over the head of the bear. He lands, putting himself between the calm man and the bear, and air-bends up a wall of air that momentarily pushes the beast backwards.

“Whoa there!” The bear rears up and roars at Aang who stares at it, suddenly, Rana is stood in front of him. She rears up to her full height, her tails erupting behind her, she roars back, rumbling the earth around them. The bear drops an egg out of his behind and runs into the river and swims away. Rana's tails fan back into one and she stumbles a little, almost falling into Aang but manages to keep herself upright. A long way from the way she would collapse into complete unconsciousness. She lets out a breath before taking a deeper one. Steadying herself. Sokka picks up the large egg with a smile.

“ Mmm! Lunch!” Sokka sniffs the egg, then looks at the calm man who still seems unbothered by everything that happened. “Lucky for you we came along" 

“Thanks, but everything was already under control. Not to worry, Aunt Wu predicted I'd have a safe journey” The calm man puts his hands in a position of prayer and bows slightly at this.

“Aunt who?” Aang asks.

“No, Aunt Wu. She's the fortuneteller from my village. Awful nice knowing your future”

“Wow, it must be. That explains why you were so calm” Katara comments. Rana snorts and rolls her eyes. She's not a big believer in fortunetelling. Maybe it's because Shakra used to believe she was one. Maybe she just saw enough of the false readings as a kid she just doesn't see anything in it now.

“But the fortuneteller was wrong!” Sokka argues. “You didn't have a safe journey, you were almost killed!”

“But I wasn't. All right, have a good one!” The calm man gestures in farewell and begins to walk away, but turns back again. “Oh, and Aunt Wu said if I met any travellers to give them this” He hands Aang a long, thin wrapped object and walks away.

“Maybe we should go see Aunt Wu and learn our fortunes” Katara offers. “It could be fun”

“I'd rather hand myself over to Zhao” Rana comments, Sokka snorts in amusement. “Fortunetelling is nonsense” While Rana is speaking, Aang shreds the objects wrapping to reveal an umbrella. When Rana finishes speaking, the umbrella opens in Aang's hand.

“What do ya know, an umbrella!” Aang points out. The sky darkens instantly and thunder is heard as it begins to pour rain. Katara smiles and water-bends the rain in a sparkling arc away from her head.

“That proves it” She runs under the umbrella with Aang. Sokka holds the egg over his head to try and shield himself from the rain.

“No it doesn't....you can't really tell the future” He argues.

“I guess you two are not really getting wet then” Katara teases looking at Rana and Sokka, both getting wet.

Chapter 65: Chapter Sixty-One

The rain doesn't let up as Rana follows Katara and Aang along a road. The mud now sticking to their boots as it becomes waterlogged. She should have brought her horse out for this walk. She glares down at her boots and then turns to look at Sokka, sulking behind them, walking along alone, soaking wet.

“Of course she predicted it was gonna rain. The sky's been grey all day” Sokka mumbles to himself, kicking at the mud with a squelch.

“Just admit you might be wrong and you can come under the umbrella” Katara offers. Sokka grumbles to himself.

“Look, I'm going to predict the future now” Sokka counters. “It's going to keep drizzling.” He makes exaggerated facial expressions then folds his arms across his chest and assumes an expression of defiance. “See!” The rain instantly stops and the sun comes out. Sokka glares up at the sky in annoyance.

“Not everyone has the gift, Sokka” Aang teases a little. As Appa passes Sokka from behind, he shakes off his wet fur, drenching Sokka once again. He stops and glares at the sky bison.

…..

Inside the village, in front of the circular door of one of the buildings, some sort of herald dressed in black greets the group as they walk closer to them.

“Aunt Wu is expecting you,” The Herald tells them.

“Really?” Katara asks with a smile. The four of them walk forward as Sokka makes a sound of disgust, turning to share a look with Rana who pulls a face back at him. The two of them then sharing a chuckle. They both know exactly how this is going to go. There has never been much truth to fortune-telling. No proof. There is no way anything good can come out of this.

…........

Sokka and Rana pull two cushions closer together to sit side by side. Slightly away from Aang and Katara. Separating themselves from the believers. Mostly so they can gossip and mock this as it happens. A young girl in a pink kimono and huge hair braids that stick straight out from the sides of her head enters from the opening on the left.

“My name is Meng and I'm Aunt Wu's assistant” Meng's eyes then go wide as she looks at Aang. Interest clear in her young eyes. “Well, hello there” Aang rubs at his nose.

“Hello”

“Can I get you some tea, or some of Aunt Wu's special bean curd puffs?” Meng asks Aang

“I'll try a curd puff” Sokka answers, Meng holds out a hand to silence him instead.

“Just a second” Meng is dismissive of him before she bends down to address Aang. “So what's your name?”

“Aang”

“That rhymes with Meng! And you've got some pretty big ears, don't you?” Meng tells Aang who looks confused and a little hurt.

“I... guess...” Aang agrees weakly.

“Oh, don't be modest. They're huge!” Sokka spreads his arms wide to demonstrate just how huge they are, as Aang looks angrily at Sokka. He puts his hands over his ears as if to smash them down to an acceptable size. Rana smirks and chuckles at Sokka's side.

“Well, Aang, it is very nice to meet you. Very nice.” Meng offers, clearly attempting to flirt.

“Likewise” Aang comments, trying to be polite. Meng exits, looking back slyly out of the corner of her eye, presumably at Aang.

“I can't believe we're here in the house of nonsense” Sokka complains.

“Try to keep an open mind, Sokka,” Katara argues. “There are things in this world that just can't be explained. Wouldn't it be nice to have some insight into your future?”

“It would be nice to have some bean curd puffs,” Sokka tells her. Katara looks annoyed at this. “Even Rana doesn't want to be here” He adds. Katara looks at Rana who does look rather displeased with being here.

“You don't think there might be something in it?” Katara asks. Rana shrugs and shakes her head.

“I did when I was younger” She admits. Katara looks at her. “My nanny was a fortune teller” She offers, they look at her. “Shakra...she used to read my aura and go on about how great my life was going to be...I used to believe her, till I realised it was all utter rubbish...and that there was no such thing as 'great dragons' or 'spirit bonds'” She rolls her eyes and looks away.

“Spirit bonds?” Sokka asks her, Rana looks at him and frowns.

“You know...” She pushes. “Two people who are meant to be together....true love and all that stuff, their spirits twist together, linked”

“That doesn't sound like a thing,” Aang tells her.

“It's not?” Rana asks. They all shake their heads. “See” She offers. “Utter rubbish” She did believe in those things as a child, she really did, but then life gets in the way, she grew up and realised that things like that were stupid. That all the dragons were gone. That love was for children. She knows that it's not that simple now, but she doesn't believe in true love. She knows she can feel a great love for someone. 

…........

Sometime later, Meng reappears with a tray of refreshments, passing by a door and heading back to where Rana, Aang, Sokka, and Katara are sat, now starting to get bored. A moment later the inner door opens to reveal a young woman in a green kimono. She rushes over to Meng.

“Oh, Meng!” She cheers happily. “Aunt Wu says I'm going to meet my true love! He's going to give me a rare panda lily”

“That's so romantic” Meng looks dreamily over at Aang. “I wonder if my true love will give me a rare flower.” She comments louder, so Aang can hear her.

“Good luck with that!” Aang offers earnestly.

“Is that the big-eared guy who Aunt Wu predicted you'd marry?” The young woman asks Meng who turns and shoves the young woman away from them before she brings the tray over to the quartet, but her eyes are fixed on Aang. She trips and almost dumps the food on Aang, but he helps steady her grip on the tray. His hands now hold hers as they together hold the tray. They share a moment looking into each other's eyes.

“Enjoy your snack,” Meng tells him, embarrassed before she hurries away. Aunt Wu walks past Meng as she leaves, walking into the room to meet with her next clients. Or victims might be a better term here.

“Welcome young travellers” Aunt Wu greets them. “Now, who's next? Don't be shy.” Aang, Sokka, and Rana look uninterested., compared to Katara anyway.

“I guess that's me” Katara stands.

“I'll go first” Rana stops her as she stands. “Just in case” She looks at Katara who nods and then sits back down.

Chapter 66: Chapter Sixty-Two

Rana's eyes follow Aunt Wu around the back room as she lights incense around the room. She's taking it slow. Drawing it out. Upping the tension. Rana does not appreciate it. she just wants this to be done, so she can prove the woman wrong and go about her day.

“You aren't a believer” Aunt Wu points out as she moves back towards Rana.

“I have no reason to be” Rana defends. “I have yet to find a fortune-teller whose been right”

“There is truth in everything, even the lies” Aunt Wu argues as she sits across from her. Rana holds out her hand to the woman who takes it, turning it up to read her palm. “Hmm, you are a fighter”

“The calluses from my sword give it away?” Rana asks dryly.

“Yes, but I am not talking about physical fighting” Aunt Wu argues. “You suffer from a great internal struggle” Rana lets out a breath and shakes her head. She is sure she wears that on her face. She knows what it is. She knows. “Fighting between what you think is right and what you truly want...Between....head and heart” She adds, Rana lifts her eyes. “The body cannot function without both” Aunt Wu offers. “You cannot live without either” The two of them stare at one another. Rana can see what she is talking about. Zuko. Rana stands, she doesn't want to hear this. She doesn't want to listen to this woman tell her that what she's feeling is wrong. Aunt Wu seems to sense this. “What is wrong and what is right?” She asks Rana. “Always a worry for young people, always worrying about everyone else....who cares?” Rana lifts an eyebrow at her. "Why do other people sway your choices when they are yours and yours alone...." Aunt Wu adds. "Your inner spirit is stronger than you think....more powerful, more reliable, more connective.....but patience is key. A wait, short or long, will have its rewards....” Rana moves to leave the room. “Hear me” Aunt Wu stops her. “You are not alone” Rana glances at her before she turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

…....

Sokka looks up hearing Rana's footsteps, she's got her head down and her hands are fisted at her side. He can see that whatever was said, has clearly upset her. She doesn't even stop to check on them.

“Rana?” Sokka asks as she walks past them and leaves the building. Sokka looks at Katara who nods for him to go after her. Sokka pushes himself to his feet and hurries after his friend.

…......

Sokka catches up with Rana as she moves towards the village gates. She's wanting to escape. To get out Noivern or Spectrier and go for a ride or a fly to escape.

“What did she say?” Sokka grabs her arm to stop her. “What did she say?” He asks her softer. If Rana seems this upset about something then Aunt Wu must have said something.

“Nothing I didn't already know” She argues. “Just weird hearing it from someone else....more so from a stranger” She folds her arms over her chest. “I'm fine”

“Let me guess” He teases. “Zu!” He offers, faux dreamily, clutching his hands to his cheek. She looks at him and fights a smirk. He then softens.

“I know you're struggling with being away from him”

“That's not what this is about” She defends. “It bothers me that he's with the Fire Nation....it bothers me that we're stuck on opposite sides and that....” She sighs. “I just think he's better than them” She admits. “You know, the boy I knew....he was better than them and I've seen him, hiding in that angry boy” Sokka snorts.

“Angry boy” He teases. The two of them share a look and she shrugs.

“Just wish it was a little easier, you know?” She asks. “I go off, betray the bad guys and protect the Avatar and then..this is my reward? The boy I like is standing against me?”

“He might surprise you” Sokka comments and pulls her into a hug. She scoffs and curls into his chest. She knows where she stands and she knows where Zuko stands. She's not sure anything can change that. She knows there is a connection between them. But worth turning their backs on what they believe. She's not sure.

…..

Later, a large crowd has gathered in the centre of the village where a covered stage now resides. Aang, Rana, Katara, and Sokka, along with Pikachu perched on Rana's shoulders approach the crowd. Most of the people standing around are looking up in silence. The Calm Man from before is one of these onlookers.

“What's with the sky?” Katara asks as she looks up with him and the rest of the crowd.

“We are waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds to predict the fate of the whole village” The Calm Man answers.

“That cloud looks like a fluffy bunny” Aang points out as he points up to the sky.

“You better hope that's not a bunny – the fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction” The Calm Man answers.

“Do you even hear yourself?” Sokka asks him seriously with an annoyed look. Rana lets out a sigh as Pikachu leans forward.

“Pika pika” He states in confusion, Rana hums in agreement.

“What's it saying?” Aang asks.

“That this is stupid” Rana answers flatly. Sokka snorts in agreement. The Calm Man looks annoyed at Rana who smirks dryly at him.

“The cloud reading will tell us if Mount Makapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt” A woman nearby offers.

“We used to have a tradition once a year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves, but ever since Aunt Wu moved to the village twenty years ago we have a tradition of not doing that” The Calm man adds.

“I can't believe you would trust your lives to that crazy old woman's superstition” Sokka complains folding his arms over his chest. Katara puts a hand on his shoulder to shut him up.

“Shhhh!! She's coming!” They all turn to watch as Aunt Wu ascends the staircase to the stage. The crowd begins to clap and cheer. Meng shows up suddenly next to Aang and points up at the sky.

“Hey, Aang, doesn't that cloud look like a flower?”

“Sure, I guess” He agrees and then moves closer to Katara. “Hey, Katara, don't you think that cloud looks like a flower?”

“Shh!!” Katara hisses at him. Aang sinks back. Aunt Wu, now on the stage, bows, draws breath and holds up her hands to the sky.

“Bending arrow cloud... good crops this year, nice big harvest!” Aunt Wu informs them. “Wavy moon shape cloud... let's see... gonna be a great year for twins” Two twins in green give each other a high five. “And a cumulus cloud with a twisted nob coming off the end of it... the village will not be destroyed by the volcano this year!”

“Since I got you here, uh, there's something I want to tell you. I like you, but more than normal.” Aang tells Katara but she's not paying attention to him. She is watching Aunt Wu on the stage, she then turns and rushes the stage, running towards Aunt Wu. Aang looks crushed. Momo, perched on Aang's head, also drops his ears in sadness. “Never mind” Rana watches him sadly from where she stands with Sokka, her ears twitching on her head.

Chapter 67: Chapter Sixty-Three

Rana sits on a rooftop with Pikachu, the two of them watching the villagers below as they go about their day. From up here, nothing seems out of place. They don't look like they're following some weird old woman's readings. It just looks like a normal village. She lays back against the tiles, her arms tucked behind her head as she stares up at the sky, watching the clouds as they shift and move. Aang is then suddenly leaning over her, she raises an eyebrow at him.

“Can I borrow Noi?” Aang asks her, she sits up and leans on her knees.

“What for?” She counters.

“I want to get a panda lily” Aang answers. “For this girl that I like” He adds, whispering to Rana who smirks a little, looking down from the roof to spot Katara.

“Katara?” She asks, Aang appears surprised but she smiles softly at him but he can see the sadness in her eyes.

“Do you think she'd like it?”

“I think she'd like anything you'd give her,” Rana tells him as she pulls the crystal ball from her necklace. “Because it will be from you” Aang blushes and looks down.

“I'd still like to get her that flower” He adds, she hums and holds out the ball. Noivern erupts from it and flaps his wings to hover over them.

“Bring him back in one piece” She warns Aang and he nods, scurrying up to climb onto Noivern's back. Rana smiles as she watches them fly down to grab Sokka before heading up towards the mountain. Rana leans forward and sets her chin on her knees.

“Pika...Pi-ka?” She looks at Pikachu.

“I don't think boys like flowers” Rana offers.

“Pika?” It asks again, Rana smirks.

“Yes, maybe a sword” She agrees warmly and strokes its chin. “Or...” She struggles to come up with anything. She's never had to give anyone anything before. Never giving a gift. Shakra had given her a few. A shawl. A lute. A carved fox. A music box. She never thought anything of those gifts before. They were just things that were given to her. She didn't know what it meant back then. Now she knows it was Shakra shoving her care and love. Shakra and Zuko were the only people she ever remembers showing her that sort of affection, she assumes Ursa and Iroh did as well, Zuko's mother in her mind was the one that carved his compassionate side, that she was a kind and loving woman, her memories of her are still sketchy. She knows she was around. And Iroh clearly remembers her from when she was a child, and seems to have enjoyed her personality. “Something” She whispers. She doesn't know.

…..

Iroh lets himself into Zuko's quarters to find his nephew at his desk, a pile of reports and sightings of the Avatar untouched at his side as he reads from Rana's tome. Iroh wrinkles his nose, he really should try and get that back to the girl. Iroh clears his throat and Zuko looks up from the book and at his uncle whose arms are filled with various items, from books to trinkets to fabrics.

“What are these for?” Zuko asks as he stands from his desk.

“A courting gift” Iroh answers watching Zuko as he raises an eyebrow at some of the things his uncle is showing him.

“Courting?” Zuko asks Iroh who looks at him with a sly smile. “Uncle”

“At least consider giving her something to show you are interested” Iroh argues, thrusting out the objects towards Zuko but he avoids them.

“You are far too invested in a non-existent relationship...” Zuko scolds and moves away. He knows his uncle means well. But he and Rana are...well, he doesn't know what they are. He knows it's his fault. He's too complicated to figure this out. She made a choice with the snap of her fingers. Seemed to know exactly what she wanted to do and went off and did it. He wishes he was that brave. To just know what to do. To just make a choice and go and do it.

“A young woman as beautiful and compassionate and strong and spirited as Rana, is sure to be matched up soon” Iroh tries. “What about that young man from the water-tribe she travels with?” Zuko's eyes twitch and he curls his fingers into his palm. “Such bonding experiences...fighting together, eating together, patching up injuries....close sleeping arrangements” Zuko turns on Iroh, flames flickering at his fingers. Iroh smirks. Got him.

“That was uncalled for” Zuko complains, calming himself down seeing Iroh's smirk.

“One day soon you are going to have to decide what you are going to do with those pent up feelings inside of you” Iroh comments, setting the items in his arms down on Zuko's desk. He then turns to Zuko and gives him a look. “Figure out which choice is going to make you happy” He offers before he leaves Zuko to his thoughts and emotions. And a table filled with useless items. Zuko sighs and moves to the desk to move them. He picks up a few things and shakes his head. The little music box, the jewellery, the books on everything from plant life to musical instruments. Iroh really went out of his way to get something and everything.

“Eevee” She coos, Zuko raises an eyebrow and looks down at her. She nudges his leg and nods to the pile of things.

“I wish it was that easy” He admits quietly. “To turn my back on everything....” Houndour brushes up against his side and Zuko looks at him surprised. It's not very often that Houndour shows any kind of affection towards him. But lately, things have been changing. Little things. Zuko's been thinking about the two of them a lot too. He wonders how they got out there. On their own. Considering all the pokemon except for Rana's were supposed to be gone. Yet here are two with no vastaya and not attached to Rana. He's thought about that a fair bit. Maybe they turned their back on their own kind, which in turn, saved them from the slaughter at Vasta. It would explain why Houndour is so protective of Eevee. If they left together. Which would mean that they share more in common with Rana than he thought. That even they were capable of doing it. He crouches with them and looks at the two of them. What does that say about him if two animals are more determined than he is? Braver than he is? He lets out a breath and closes his eyes. He still can't do it though. Make a choice like that just like that. He stands and looks over Iroh's items. When they were kids, he overthought everything, and that should have been the first sign that that was the person he'd become, but Rana, she'd do whatever she pleased when it pleased her. She wanted to paint, they'd be standing on each other's shoulders and painting over portraits. She wanted to eat, they'd be stealing from the kitchens. She'd want to play, and they'd be sliding around on ice slides. With her, he did it, because, with her, he wasn't all head. With her, he had some heart. 

Chapter 68: Chapter Sixty-Four

Aang lands Noivern on the side of the mountain, as close to the top as he can get him without risking falling into the volcano. Sokka slides from Noivern's back first and then pats his neck as Aang joins him, looking rather excited about this, Sokka looks so much less excited about it.

“I can't believe you're dragging me all the way up here for a stupid flower,” Sokka tells Aang as they climb the distance towards the peak.

“Not just any flower – a panda lily. I've seen it in action and boy, does it work”

“Flowers are fine once you're married, but at this early stage, it's critical that you maintain maximum aloofness” Sokka argues.

“But my heart is telling me to get this flower, and Aunt Wu said if I trusted my heart I would be with the one I love”

“What? Don't tell me you believe in that stuff too” Sokka complains.

“Well, Aunt Wu hasn't been wrong yet” Aang points out. “Why should she be wrong about love?” He then points up, spotting the flower sticking out over the rim. “There, on the rim!” Aang hurries up the last few feet to pick up the flower, giving it a deep sniff. His eyes pop open though when he looks down into the volcano. The caldera is full of lava. “Oh no! Aunt Wu was wrong” He drops the flower into the lava. It burns instantly.

“Those people all think they're safe. We've got to warn'em” Sokka points out as they both hurry back towards Noivern who makes a panicked noise, flapping his wings and getting ready for take-off.

….....

Rana holds out a piece of fruit to Pikachu on her shoulder as they move through the market square and towards where Katara is standing outside of Aunt Wu's door. She's been so desperate for predictions. For everything. Pikachu takes the fruit and happily nibbles on it. Noivern lands hastily close by and Sokka and Aang climb off to join them just as Rana reaches Katara.

“Hi, Katara” Aang greets and then looks at Rana who waves her fingers a little, but notes he doesn't have the flower he went off for.

“Can you believe she won't let me in?” Katara asks. Complaining. “And after all the business I've given her?” Aang frowns.

“But, she doesn't even charge,” He tells her.

“I know, but still”

“Well, we have other things to worry about. Aunt Wu was wrong about the volcano” Sokka informs them as Noivern nudges Rana's back.

“Sokka, you tried to convince me she was wrong before” Katara argues. “It's going to take an awful lot to change my min.....” She is cut off by the sound of the mountain erupting to life. Rana looks up at the mountain, which suddenly has a full plume of ash and smoke stretching to the heavens. Pikachu drops its fruit as its eyes widen.

“Oh, no!” Rana voices.

“Pika pika”

…........

Sokka races into the crowd of people, closely followed by Rana, Katara, Aang, and Pikachu. Each of them seeking to warn the village of their impending doom.

“Everyone! That volcano is gonna blow any second. Aunt Wu was wrong!” Sokka shouts, trying to get through to them, but his previous anti-Wu comments are making it difficult. They don't believe him. At all.

“Yeah, yeah, we know you don't believe in Aunt Wu, 'Mr. Science and Reason Lover'” A girl in the crowd tells him.

“If you won't listen to him, maybe you'll listen to me” Katara counters. “I want to believe Aunt Wu and her predictions as much as you do, but my brother and Aang saw the lava with their own eyes”

“Well, I heard Aunt Wu's prediction with my own ears.” The Calm Man argues. Aang air-bends himself up onto the roof of Aunt Wu's house.

“Please, listen to us! You are all in danger! And we have to get out of here. You can't rely on Aunt Wu's prediction. You have to take fate into your own hands” Behind them, another explosion occurs from the volcano.

“Look!” Sokka points up at the mountain. “Can your fortune-telling explain that?” Sokka asks them.

“Can your science explain why it rains?” A man in the crowd asks.

“Yes! Yes, it can!” Sokka argues and Rana looks around, watching as the crowd starts to walk back towards their homes.

“They won't listen to reason” She points out as Aang flies back down to them. “But they will listen to Aunt Wu” She muses.

“I know, that's the problem” Sokka complains, Rana shakes her head and turns to them.

“Well, it's about to become the solution” The three of them frown at her. Rana smirks at them. “We're taking fate in our own hands”

“Pika pika!!!” Pikachu adds excitedly.

“What did you have in mind?” Sokka asks Rana who nods.

“First, we're going to borrow Aunt Wu's cloud reading book” She answers. The four of them share a look before Sokka nods.

…......

Rana is perched on a rooftop that faces Aunt Wu's house where Katara and Sokka stand guard with guilty expressions on their faces. Rana sighs a little and looks around. They're not very good at being sneaky. She lifts her eyes to where Aang and Pikachu are entering the house via a balcony.

…......

Aang is now searching one of the back rooms, Pikachu moves around behind him, looking through things, though more to be nosy than to help look.

“Pika”

“Shh... we don't want anyone to hear us” Aang whispers at it. The polished metal gong in front of Aang now shows Meng's reflection, an expression of surprise on her face. Aang sees the reflection and jumps, startled. He turns and faces her. “Oh! I didn't see you there.”

“You don't like me. Do you?” Meng whispers sadly.

“Of course I like you” Aang reassures her, but it's not really what she wants to hear.

“But not the way I like you”

“Oh,” Aang realises. “I guess not”

“It's okay,” Meng tells him. “It's just really hard when you like someone, but they don't think of you that way”

“I know what you mean”

“She's beautiful, by the way,” Meng offers and Aang blushes.

“Huh?”

“That water tribe girl” Meng answers. “I can see why you like her so much. She's sweet, she's a bender, and her hair seems so manageable” She tries to mash her braids down and fails at this last reason. She looks crushed.

“Don't worry. You're gonna meet a great guy who's gonna completely fall for you. I know it” Aang tells her warmly as he puts his hands on her shoulders.

“Thanks” He then turns to leave, Pikachu jumping up onto his shoulder. “Wait! Don't you want this?” She hands Aang the cloud reading book which Meng had in her robe.

“How did you know?”

“I've kind of been stalking you... heh!” Meng admits, Aang stares at her as Pikachu pulls a face.

“Pika”

“Oh, thanks. I guess” Aang tells Meng before he leaves the way he came in.

Chapter 69: Chapter Sixty-Five

Noivern cuts through the clouds, Rana on his back, and right behind them, Appa follows them up, Aang and Katara on his back. They need to be quick about this, but they have to get it right too. One wrong move and an entire village will perish. Rana pulls Noivern around towards Appa.

“Clouds are made of water and air so between the three of us we should be able to bend them into any shape we want” Rana offers as she drops down from Noivern's back and onto Appa. Katara reads from Aunt Wu's book, searching

“I found it. The symbol for volcanic doom” Katara turns the book towards Rana and Aang.

…........

Below, the villagers look up to see the clouds shifting. Sokka brings Aunt Wu over to her stage, Pikachu on his shoulder. Sokka points to the sky.

“Aunt Wu, look! Something is happening in the clouds.”

“That's very strange. It shouldn't... Oh my!” Aunt Wu and Sokka watch as the clouds take the shape of a skull.

….........

Aang is now addressing the gathered villagers, Rana at his side as she lets out a breath, trying to work out if this is going to work.

“We can still save the village if we act fast. Sokka has a plan” Aang tells the villagers. Sokka nods in agreement.

“Lava is gonna flow downhill to this spot. If we can dig a deep enough trench we can channel all the lava away from the village to the river” Sokka explains.

“If any of you are earth-benders come with me,” Rana tells them as Lycanroc barks at her side.

“I'm an earth-bender!” One of the twins from earlier raises their hand.

“I'm not!” Their twin argues.

“Everybody else grab a shovel” Sokka adds followed by an explosion from the volcano. “Come on, we've gotta hurry!”

…......

Appa and the townspeople labour to dig the trench, using both earth-bending and manual means. Another explosion comes from the volcano, this time, spewing lava. Sokka's eyes widen.

“Dig faster! Dig faster!” He orders and hastily starts digging. Rana concentrates on earth-bending. She's not really had all that much practice with this one, but with Lycanroc helping she is doing it. Just not very well. Not like the earth-bending twin who is proving to be really effective. Between the two of them though, they manage to connect the trench to the river. Aang nods. That's enough. They need to clear out.

“Everyone needs to evacuate!” Aang tells the villagers. “We'll come for you when it's safe!” The villagers all flee, running away from the oncoming volcano threat.

…....

Rana holds out her hand as it begins to precipitate ash. She, Katara, Sokka, and Aang are now standing on the safe side of the trench. Watching as the lava flows down the side of the mountain and towards them. Katara takes a step back when it reaches the trench, filling it rapidly.

“It's too much! It's gonna overflow!” Katara warns just as another explosion rocks the village. Burning ejecta begins to rain down in addition to the ash.

“Let's go” Rana offers. Sokka and Katara nod in agreement and follow Rana and Lycanroc as they make their way away, but turn to see Aang hasn't moved. A huge boulder falls out of the sky and lands in the trench, exploding. Aang rushes forward with a furious war cry and launches himself into the air to air-ben. As the lava begins to overflow, Aang blows the lava straight up, rather than allowing it to advance on the village. Finally, he draws in a mighty intake of breath and expels it, air-bending it as it exits, cooling all the lava to stone. Aang relaxes and assumes a meditation pose, calming himself after the massive exertion. Rana smiles proudly as she watches him. Katara and Sokka at her sides, stood in awe. The mountain still visibly erupting beyond, but no longer threatening the village.

“Man, sometimes I forget what a powerful bender” Sokka starts and Katara's expression instantly changes at this, remembering Aunt Wu's words. “That kid is”

“Wait, what did you just say?” Katara asks.

“Nothing, just that Aang is one powerful bender” Sokka repeats. Katara stares at Aang, his figure is wreathed in red glow of the lava still seething behind the stone shield Aang has created.

“I suppose he is...” Katara agrees softly, a fond smile working onto her lips.

….......

The villagers and Aunt Wu have returned to the village now the threat has been dealt with. Now that they are safe. Rana touches Noivern's neck as he watches her softly. Aang stands in front of Aunt Wu to address her, offering her back the cloud book he 'borrowed'.

“By the way, we kind of borrowed your book”

“So you messed with the clouds did you!” Aunt Wu grabs the book in anger and Aang cringes. In the background, Katara looks guilty, while Sokka smiles and points at her, indicating that she was in on the cloud manipulation too. Aunt Wu begins to laugh. “Very clever!”

“Ah, it was Rana's idea” Aang admits looking at Rana who stands away from them, not interested in the attention or credit.
“No offence, but I hope this taught everyone a lesson about not relying too much on fortune-telling” Sokka scolds the villagers.

“But Aunt Wu predicted the village wouldn't be destroyed, and it wasn't. She was right, after all,” The Calm Man argues, Sokka gets right up into his face.

“I hate you” He states firmly, Katara takes his arm and pulls him away.

“It's okay, Sokka. Everything's gonna be all right” Aunt Wu and Aang are watching Sokka and the Calm Man. Aang turns to Aunt Wu.

“Can I ask you something?” Aang asks her.

“Of course, honey”

“You didn't really see love in my fortune, did you? You just told me what I wanted to hear”

“I'll tell you a little secret, young Air-bender. Just as you reshaped those clouds, you have the power to reshape your own destiny” Aang smiles and then goes to join his friend. “Before you go...” Aunt Wu stops him. “Your vastaya friend” She's watching as Rana lifts Pikachu up onto the back of Appa, Lycanroc jumping up to join them.

“Rana?” Aang asks, Aunt Wu hums. “Is it about her love life because trust me, she could really use the advice....?”

“I have already voiced it to her” Aunt Wu turns to Aang. “But you should know that there is a darkness inside of her, as there is in every one of her kind.....”

“Vastaya?” Aang asks, she shakes her head.

“Elementals...She is a bottled storm just waiting to be unleashed...and should it....no one would be safe” Aang stares at her. Aunt Wu then watches Rana a moment longer. “Spirit bonded, huh?” Aunt Wu muses before she then moves away, Aang frowns at her back and then looks at Rana. That's not at all ominous or concerning. Aang lets out a breath. Just another thing to worry about. He moves to join his friends as Noivern takes to the sky with Rana on his back. Aang's eyes following them. He knows that she's powerful, no one doubts that, but he never really thought that she was dangerous, at least not to him.

“Aang?” Katara asks him, Aang plasters on a huge smile. They don't need to worry about it, it's probably nothing, they just spent the last few days proving there was nothing in Aunt Wu's predictions.

Chapter 70: Chapter Sixty-Six

Notes:

A/N - I ADJUSTED THIS EPISODE A BIT JUST BECAUSE OF RANA AND ZUKO'S BOND SO FAR, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WOULD HAVE PLAYED OUT THE SAME AT THIS POINT. 

Spectrier rides onward, Rana and Katara on its back, leading the way through some trees. Lycanroc and Ninetails walk along steadily behind them. Noivern in the sky above. Wartortle, Aang, and Sokka walk together.

“Pika, pika” Pikachu bounds along the forest floor ahead of the group. Sniffing around and exploring through the bushes, behind him, Eevee runs along excitedly.

“Eevee!!” He is followed by Chikorita. Pikachu stops and sniffs before approaching a water tribe blade that's stuck in the ground.

“Pika?” It asks and cocks its head looking down at the blade. It wraps its and around it and pulls but it's too stuck. Aang is suddenly behind Pikachu, reaching down to help. Sokka walks up behind them.

“Hey, look what Pikachu found! A sword made out of a whale's tooth” Aang tells Sokka who grabs the sword from him.

“Lemme see that” Sokka walks forward, examining the blade. “This is a water tribe weapon” To Aang and Pikachu, behind him over his left shoulder. “See if you can find anything else” Spectrier approaches them, Rana peering over from its back.

“Did someone lose something?” Rana asks.

“No, we found something,” Aang asks with his head in a bush.

“Pika...” Pikachu offers.

“A water tribe blade?” Rana repeats. Katara looks at Sokka, the two of them sharing a look before she climbs down from Spectrier to join the search. Sokka is brushing away some leaves from a broken arrow on the ground. He picks it up and inspects it.

“It's burned” He throws it away and walks over to a tree with burn marks. “There was a battle. Water tribe warriors ambushed a group of fire-benders” He looks down at the ground and begins to walk downhill as he interprets the signs left in the earth. “The fire-benders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill...” He runs down the hill, the others in tow. They soon come to the beach.

“So then what happened?” Aang asks them.

“I don't know. The trail ends here” Sokka answers sadly, staring at the blade in his hand.

“Look!” Rana points at a beached water tribe boat along the beach.

“It's one of our boats!” Sokka points out as he moves towards it. The others follow after him, Katara almost tripping a few times in her excitement.

“Is this... Dad's boat?” She asks Sokka who stops in front of the ship, rubs the prow and smiles.

“No, but it's from his fleet. Dad was here” He assures his sister who looks over the vessel.

…..

Iroh is drinking tea, sat across from Zuko in a cabin on the ship. Iroh pours Zuko some tea after he takes his sip.

“Ahh! See, Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your mental well being” As Zuko raises the cup to drink, a shock causes it to splash the tea all over his face.

“Eevee?” Eevee asks from his lap as she lifts her head. Zuko lets out a breath, trying to calm himself but Houndour's alert growl sets him on edge. Zuko wipes his face and sets Eevee onto her feet on the floor before he gets up.

….....

On the deck, a young, dark-haired woman, June, has appeared on deck riding a massive and hideous monster, a shirshu. Members of Zuko's crew scatter as the monster climbs the railing and onto the deck, June's head moving as she seeks out her target. Zuko and Iroh hurry out onto the deck, followed by Eevee and Houndour.

“Get back!” June snaps. “I'm looking for someone” Zuko moves closer to her and her mount instead.

“On who's authority?” Zuko asks her, she holds out a scroll towards him and he takes it, unrolling it to find a wanted poster for Rana. He has a feeling he knows exactly who he is behind this. There is only one person this desperate to find her.

“Admiral Zhao's” She answers, Zuko lets out a breath and hands the scroll back, not bothering to read the list of 'crimes' Zhao has accused her of.

“She's not here...so get off of my ship” The shirshu sniffs at Zuko who leans back from the creature, Houndour at his side growling in warning, fire licking at its lips. Shirshu's nose finds a specific spot on Zuko's uniform, where there is a lotus pin sitting. Rana's dress pin. June climbs from the shirshu and moves closer to Zuko. She plucks the pin from his uniform and turns it around in her hand. Zuko grabs for it. “Give it back”

“This is hers,” June tells him as she grabs his wrist, holding his hand away from her as she holds the pin towards shirshu who sniffs at it, turning its head to sniff at the air, trying to pick up Rana's trail from here. June tucks the pin into her own uniform and Zuko follows her across the deck as she moves back to shirshu.

“Hey!” Zuko snaps. “Give that back to me...” The shirshu quickly whips the back of his neck with its tongue. Zuko falls instantly onto the deck, face first, conscious but paralysed. Eevee runs towards shirshu to attack before Houndour blocks its path with a sharp look. Iroh moves to Zuko.

“He's paralyzed” Iroh points out, surprised and a little amazed.

“Only temporarily. The toxins'll wear off in about an hour.” June assures Iroh. “Make sure he knows that if he follows, I'll have shirshu simply eat him” She cracks her whip and the shirshu bolts off the ship and down the dock. Iroh crouches with Zuko as Houndour watches the shirshu disappear along the road.

Chapter 71: Chapter Sixty-Seven

Zuko finally manages to sit up just outside of the hour, just as June had told them. In that hour, he had time to ponder, to think, to really contemplate how his life led him here. Iroh is sat at his bedside, concerned. Zuko gives him a look and then catches Eevee as she jumps at him.

“I'm fine” Zuko assures her as she snuggles into his chest, Zuko's arms around her. Iroh stands and moves to Zuko's desk where the Elemental tome lays open on a page about Eevee, there is also one of the trinket boxes that Iroh picked out as a 'courting' gift, alongside a number of other things, whether Zuko took Iroh advice he doesn't know but he is at least subconsciously thinking about it, at least. Iroh eyes then fall on one of Zhao older wanted posters with both Rana and Aang's faces on.

“Zhao's determined,” Iroh tells him. “I'll give him that” Zuko moves but it sends an aching pain down his spine, he touches the back of his neck with a pained groan. That hurt a lot more than he thought it would. “What are you going to do?” Iroh asks, watching his nephew, studying him. What he does now will show Iroh just how much he has or hasn't changed. To see where Zuko's true heart and loyalty lies. Zuko stares down at Houndour sat at the side of his bed, the hound stares back at him.

“Ready the rhinos,” He asks of Iroh who lets out a proud and relieved breath before he moves closer to Zuko.

“It is okay to admit that you care for the girl...you know, I think it might even make things easier for you once you do” Iroh offers, Zuko glances at him. “Two years ago, when we left the capitol, you were a very different person, who you are now...that person can forge his own path...make his own choices....” He adds and then leaves. Zuko closes his eyes and lets out a breath. Choosing is the hard part. It was never a problem before she came back into his life. He follows his head. Logic. Orders. Conformity. But she's brought out something in him. A desire for something more than...what he has. A disregard for his honour. A disregard for his father's approval. A childhood of control and forced morals. Iroh is right. He is an adult now. He's eighteen years old. He can make his own choices. Follow his own path. But right now, all he knows is that he needs to get to Rana before that woman does. Zuko moves to the desk and closes Rana's tome, touching the cover before he looks over the other items there. Eevee jumps up onto the table and watches his face before she shifts, using her head to nudge something towards him.

….......

Sokka is the only one awake around the campfire set up in front of the water tribe boat that they had found. Rana is curled around her tail, hugging it to her chest. Sokka watches her amused as she rubs her cheek against the fur, twitching away to whatever it is that she dreams about. Ninetails curled up at her feet, doing the exact same thing with her own tail. Sokka snorts and looks down at the fire before hearing a sound and standing up.

“Who's there?” He asks and then sees a bandaged water tribe man approaching the camp.

“Sokka?”

“Bato?” Sokka asks just as surprised. Aang, Katara, and Rana wake.

“Who the what now?” Aang asks.

“Bato!” Katara cheers in greeting. She and Sokka jump up and move to Bato.

“Sokka! Katara!” Bato hugs them both. “It is so good to see you two! Oh, you've grown so much”

“Where's Dad?” Sokka asks.

“Is he here?” Katara asks, hopeful.

“No, he and the other warriors should be in the eastern Earth Kingdom by now” Bato offers just as the wind picks up and they all shiver. “Brr! This is no place for a reunion. Let's get inside” He puts his arms around Katara and Sokka's shoulder and motions Aang and Rana to follow, the two of them share a look before she shrugs and follows after them.

…...

Bato leads them towards some form of a monastery. Rana's spine tickling with recognition, but she can't remember why. Why she finds this place familiar. She frowns and looks around. This whole place has a vibe to it. She pauses and frowns, staring at the arch gate. There is really something about this place. Like she's been here before. She turns and looks back the way they came.

“After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey” Bato offers. “The sisters have cared for me ever since” He turns to one of the nearby women. “Superior, these are Hakoda's children. They've been travelling with the Avatar and the True Elemental. I found them by my boat” Aang turns to smile at Rana, but she's not behind them. The Superior bows to Aang.

“Young Avatar, it gives me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our abbey”

“Thank you” Aang turns back to her and bows back. “It's truly an honour to be here. If there's anything...”

“What smells so good, Bato?” Sokka interrupts Aang as he sniffs the air.

“The sisters' craft ointments and perfumes” Bato answers.

“Perfume? Maybe we could dump some on Appa? Because he stinks so much! Am I right?” Sokka teases but Bato and Katara aren't amused.

“You have your father's wit” Bato comments dryly.

…....

Aang approaches Rana at the gate, watching her with concern. Aunt Wu's warning is still right there in his head. She seems distracted. Her eyes glazed over as she looks up at the gate. Thinking about it. Searching her memories for it.

“Rana?” Aang asks as Ninetails brushes up against her side. “Are you okay?”

“I think I've been here before” She admits. “But I can't remember....” She frowns at the arch. “I think I was small...” She lets out a breath and shakes her head.

“You think Zhao brought you here?” Aang asks, she shakes her head.

“No, it wasn't with Zhao” She answers and looks at him. “It doesn't matter” She moves to him and then continues on into the monastery. Aang watches her go before he catches up with her. Ninetails trailing along behind them. 

Chapter 72: Chapter Sixty-Eight

Rana leaves Bato, Sokka, and Katara to catch up, along with Aang for some reason. She'd tried to persuade him to stay with her but he was more interested in going inside. Rana lets out a breath and scratches at Ninetails' head absent-mindedly. The two of them watching the monastery women go about their tasks. An older woman with a kind face approaches Rana, sat on the ground.

“Rana?” She asks, Rana looks at her confused. “Do you remember me?” The woman asks. Rana searches her face for some kind of memory but she's got nothing but feelings about this place.

“No” Rana shakes her head. “I'm sorry” She then stands. “But you know me?”

“Yes, your parents brought you here when you were little...” She answers softly. “Only a few days before the attack....” She whispers. “I was tasked with watching over you whilst you were here.....You were loud” She teases slightly. “Bold....spirited...I was so sorry to hear about what happened....” Rana nods and looks out at the gate. A few days before the attack. She then seems to realise something. Rana stands and then moves towards the gate. She was here as a child. But she was here again later too. She passed over this place. She grabs her necklace, pulling the ball from it before holding it out. Spectrier appears from the ball and Rana pulls herself up onto its back before nudging it into a gallop, taking her away from the monastery.

…...

Rana pulls Spectrier to a stop at the edge of the trees, from here she can see a village just down the hill. Familiar. Arkala. She stares at it. Of course. When she'd fled it had been by air, she'd flown over the monastery on Noivern's back. This village is her home. The place she was born. The place she was stolen from. The place that freed her of the Fire Nation. She pulls on Spectrier's reins. She doesn't want to be back here. She swallows and turns her head, pulling Spectrier around with her.

…....

Sokka raises an eyebrow at Rana when she returns, asking if she's okay. She nods and touches Spectrier's face before it turns and walks away, disappearing into the trees again. Rana crosses to join Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Bato waiting at the edge of the beach close by.

“You look like you've seen a spirit” Sokka points out. “Wait. Have you?”

“No” She argues and shakes her head. “No, just..” She motions behind her, implying Spectrier. “You know we don't really get along” She shrugs a little. “What are we doing here?” She then asks. Sokka smirks and wraps his arm around her shoulder to pull her closer. His eyes landing on the water tribe boat across the beach.

“Is this the boat he took you ice-dodging in?”

“Yeah” Bato agrees. “It's got the scar to prove it. Huh. How about you, Sokka? You must have some good stories from your first time ice-dodging?”

“He never got to go” Katara answers. “Dad left before he was old enough”

“Oh, I forgot, you were too young”

“What's ice-dodging?” Rana asks.

“It's a rite of passage for young water tribe members. When you turn sixteen your Dad takes you... you know what” Bato puts a hand on Sokka's shoulder, who looks downcast. “You're about to find out” Sokka smiles, touched.

…........

The mighty lava flows, hardened to stone by Aang's air-bending, surround Aunt Wu's village, they are ominous, but harmless. Zuko looks over the boundary and raises an eyebrow as his rhino follows after Houndour who follows June's scent.

…......

In the centre of the village, Houndour has stopped, is sniffing around, nose to the ground, going around in a circle. Zuko's rhino comes to a stop behind him, Eevee shifting behind him to get a good look.

“Why are we stopping?” Zuko asks the hound who growls and then barks at him. Zuko lets out a breath and climbs down from his rhino and looks around. The villagers look scared. “They're scared, whatever that beast is...it definitely came through here” Iroh climbs from his own rhino and moves to Zuko's side.

“Which means Rana herself was here” Iroh adds. Zuko nods.

“Care to hear your fortune, handsome?” Aunt Wu asks Iroh who turns to face her as she moves towards them.

“At my age, there is really only one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery” Iroh answers and then moves back towards the rhino. “Zuko, we have to move if we want to catch up” Zuko nods in agreement and turns to leave, Aunt Wu grabs Zuko's wrist to stop him.

“You...spirit-bound” Zuko looks at her and frowns.

“What did you call me?” Zuko asks her.

“There is no time” Aunt Wu warns and steps closer. She hums a little, studying him. “Your destiny is so tightly wrapped up with hers...” She offers and then softens. “Good,” She tells him. “She needs you...” Zuko stares at her. “And I see you've made your choice” She realises, staring at him. Zuko pulls his hand away and looks down before he turns and moves to climb back onto his rhino. Aunt Wu watches them leave, looking conflicted.

….......

Bato's boat is cutting through the waves near the shore, Rana, Katara, Sokka, and Aang are all gathered on the deck. Sokka leans on the edge, smiling as he watches the waves pass them by.

“Ice-dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, observation, bravery and trust” Bato explains. “In our village, it was done by weaving a boat through a field of icebergs”

“How are we supposed to ice-dodge without ice?” Sokka complains.

“You will be dodging...those” Bato points ahead to a veritable thicket of stalagmite like rocks. Rana raises an eyebrow. “Sokka, you steer and call the shots. Lead wisely. Katara, you secure the mainsail. The winds can be brutal, so be brave. Aang, you control the jib, without your steady hand, we all go down. Your position is about trust” Aang suddenly looks nervous and guilty.
“I know that! Why wouldn't I know that? I'm the Avatar! I know about trust” Aang pouts and folds his hands across his chest. Rana gives Aang a weird look. Bato then turns to Rana.

“Rana” She turns to him. “Upfront, eyes on the rocks and the water, shorter but sharper ones can be missed and can lead to the doom of the ship and its crew” She nods and Bato walks over to the bow and sits down. “For this to be done right I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own”

Chapter 73: Chapter Sixty-Nine

Sokka is at the tiller of the boat, Aang and Katara holding on to their respective sails, Rana up the front, hanging on to peer into the waters ahead. They all kind of look frightened as the ship speeds towards the rocks.

"Aang, ease up on the jib. Katara, steady! Aang, less sail!" Sokka orders. Rana leans up and looks over her shoulder.

"Rocks on the left" She shouts. Sokka, sweating, pulls the tiller to his right.

"Katara, give him room!" Sokka adds. Aang is hauling rope and the ship weaving in and out of the rocks.

"On the right!" Rana adds as she spies rocks ahead.

"Aang! Helm to lee! Helm to lee!"

"What does that even mean!?" Aang shouts back, confused. The ship narrowly missing a huge pile of rock.

"Great job!" Sokka praises. The ship is now entering a cul de sac, ringed by jagged rocks, at high speed. Bato is getting up.

"There's no way through!" Rana points out.

"We can make it!" Sokka argues.

"Sokka, you've already proven yourself, maybe we should..." Bato tries.

"Aang, I'm gonna need air in that sail!" Aang nods. "Katara, Rana..." They both look at Sokka. "I want you to bend as much water as you can between us and those rocks! Now!" Rana, Aang and Katara jump to it. Aang starts pushing wave after wave of air into the sail, while Katara and Rana raise the ship up on an accelerating wave of water, working together. The wave carries the speeding ship safely over the ring of jagged rocks. Sokka falls back on the tiller with a sigh of relief. Rana cheers and they look at her, she blushes and looks down. Katara chuckles and pulls her friend in for a hug.

..........

The quartet are kneeling on the beach in front of Bato who has mixed some black face paint in a bowl.

"The spirits of water bear witness to these marks."Bato starts. "For Sokka, the mark of the wise, the same mark your father earned" He marks Sokka's head with a dot and a half-circle mark above it. "For Katara, the mark of the brave. Your courage inspires us" He marks her head with a crescent-shaped mark. "For Rana, the mark of the observant" He marks her head with an eye-shaped mark. "And for Aang, the mark of the trusted. You are now an honorary member of the water tribe" He marks Aang's forehead with a half-circle mark.

"I can't" Aang whispers.

"Of course you can!" Katara argues. Aang rubs the mark from his head.

"No, you can't trust me" He backs away, his head hung low.

"Aang" Rana starts. "You have something you want to tell them?" He looks at her and she gives him a soft encouraging look. He nods and holds out a crumpled scroll.

"A messenger gave this to me for Bato" Katara looks at the scroll and draws in a breath of surprise. "You have to understand, I was afraid you'd..." Sokka looks at the map, and then at Aang in hurt and surprise.

"This is the map to our father! You had it the whole time!? How could you?" Sokka scolds him, Aang shrivels up. "Well, you can go to the North Pole on your own! I'm going to find Dad" Sokka stalks away angrily.

"Sokka" Rana starts. "I think you should..."

"Katara, are you with me?" Sokka stops Rana with a look. Katara looks at Aang and then lowers her eyes.

"I'm with you, Sokka" She assures her brother and then walks away with Sokka and Bato. Aang closes his eyes and keeps his head down when he hears Rana moving towards him. She crouches next to him and he sniffles.

"How did you know?" Aang asks her as he lifts his head to look at her.

"I'm observant" She comments and gives him a look. "And you're not very good at being deceitful" He looks down again. "What do you want to do?"

"I have to go north" He points out and then looks at her sadly. "You shouldn't come with me," He tells her, she looks confused. "I can't be trusted..."

"Aang" She argues. "I'm supposed to look out for you, remember?" She nudges him. "I'm going with you"

.............

Rana leans against a wall watching Sokka and Katara as they get ready to leave with Bato. They need to stick together. They should stick together. Yes, Aang made a mistake, but he came through and admitted it in the end. That should be all that matters. She looks across the courtyard at where Aang sitting on Appa, looking dejected. Katara walks sadly over to Aang.

"Good luck" She offers.

"Okay. You too" Aang counters sadly. Katara looks away and crosses the courtyard to Rana who leans up from the wall, the two of them sharing sad smiles.

"I'll look after him" Rana assures Katara. "Just...try and forgive him?" Katara nods and then follows after Sokka who leaves without looking back with Bato. The Superior approaches Aang, who still sits on Appa.

"Guess we should be moving on" Aang offers.

"That would be best" She agrees as Rana moves to join him, jumping up the height of Appa to sit with Aang who shakes Appa's reigns, Appa then walks them out of the gate with Momo hanging from one of Appa's horns and Pikachu perched on the other.

"Pika" Pikachu offers sadly as it watches the retreating backs of their friends.

.............

In the courtyard of the monastery, there is a group of sisters making perfume. They can hear the approach of the shirshu coming up the road before the gate bursts open. June leans closer to her beast and smirks.

"We're getting close" She comments and then whips the shirshu, it bounds out of the gate and up the road the Katara, Sokka and Bato used.

............

Katara hugs Rana's blanket around her shoulders to stave off the cold nip in the wind, that and finding comfort in it. In the distance, a wolf can be heard and they stop to listen to it howling.

"That wolf sounds so sad" Katara offers.

"It's probably wounded" Sokka points out, wanting to move on.

"No, it's been separated from the pack" Bato informs them. "I understand that pain. It's how I felt when the water tribe warriors had to leave me behind. They were my family and being apart from them was more painful than my wounds" Sokka turns sad as he listens, he hands his head, staring at the ground.

"Sokka?" Katara asks.

"We need to go back. I want to see Dad, but helping Aang is where we're needed the most" He answers, Katara smiles and nods.

"You're right" Bato places a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Your father will understand. And I know he's proud of you."

"Thanks, Bato," Sokka tells him.

"I know where to go from here" Bato gives Sokka the map. "Take this in case you want to find us. I'll leave a message at the rendezvous point"

Chapter 74: Chapter Seventy

Appa sits on the sand of the beach, waiting on direction from Aang, perched on his head, looking out at the sea. Rana waits for him to be ready. She knows he's upset about Sokka and Katara leaving, she's upset about it too. The Superior rushes up to them.

“You must leave!” She shouts at them, Rana frowns and looks at her.

“Okay, I get it. Everybody wants me gone” Aang grumbles.

“No, someone came to the abbey looking for you” The Superior looks at Rana who looks at Aang, he frowns.

“Who?” He asks.

“A fierce-looking woman with a horrible monster” Aang and Rana share a confused look. That doesn't sound like anyone they know. “The beast was using the scent of a dress pin to follow you” Rana touches her dress.

“My lotus” She looks at Aang, her eyes seemingly realising something. “Katara has my blanket” She points out. “It'll follow my scent to her” She turns and goes to follow after their friends but Aang stops her.

“We have to go back to the monastery,” Aang tells her. “We can draw it back there...” Rana lets out a breath and thinks about that.

“How?”

“Your pokemon” He answers. “They'll be swimming in your scent. All of them together in one place will be enough....”

“Okay,” She agrees and nods before turning to the Superior. “How fast can you evacuate the monastery? Go to the town down the road?”

“Fast enough” The Superior assures them.

….......

Sokka and Katara are heading back towards the monastery to find Rana and Aang, hoping they haven't gone too far. Suddenly, Sokka motions for his sister to stop as he hears a galloping sound, at first, he relaxes, thinking it could be Rana and Spectrier. But it's not. The shirshu jumps from the tree and they stare at it a moment before Sokka takes off with Katara in a run. The beast and its rider are right behind them. The shirshu is quick to paralyze them both with its tongue before they get very far. June knows neither of these are her target, but they have been in very close contact with them recently. The shirshu leans closer to Katara and sniffs at the blanket around her shoulders before it snaps its head up, turning to sniff at something in the distance.

….........

Houndour barks at the hastily repaired monastery gates, bouncing up and down trying to get his point across. Zuko slides from the back of his rhino and moves closer to the gates. It's too quiet for June and her beast to be here right now. But quiet enough that it has been through here. There is a whistle nearby and Zuko looks around before he looks up to find Rana crouches on the top of the gate, leaning on her sword, watching him, she raises an eyebrow at him.

“Hi” He greets and then cringes.

“She with you?” She asks him, a bite to her tone. Because of course, she would jump to that conclusion, considering. He doesn't blame her for thinking that.

“What?” He counters, waiting for her to fully explain.

“The girl with the monster sniffer” She elaborates.

“No” He is quick to point out. “She's here on Zhao's orders” She scoffs and stands, folding her arms over her chest.

“Would have been my second guess” She points out and sighs. “So why are you here?”

“Urm...came to warn you, I guess” He answers with a shrug. Her eyes look down seeing Eevee reach Zuko's side, the little pokemon looks up at her. Her breath catches a little. He has pokemon. He has pokemon that seem to be here willingly. By choice.

“Why do you have pokemon?” She counters as Eevee rubs up against his leg.

“Open the gates and I'll tell you” Zuko offers. The two of them share a look. She hums and then disappears over the other side. Zuko lets out a breath and looks back at Iroh who smiles encouragingly at him. Zuko rolls his eyes and turns forward as the gates open. Rana stood on the other side. Pikachu now sat on her shoulder. Rana motions with her hand for them to follow her inside. Her ears twitch on the top of her head, alert, listening. Zuko leads his rhino inside, followed by Iroh and his own, Evee and Houndour last. Zuko's rhino gives Rana a sniff and she smirks, raising her hand to its face and it makes a content noise when she scratches at its cheek before moving to close the gate behind them. Just as she is about to barricade the gates again, it's blown open, throwing her back across the courtyard, hitting the dirt hard. Zuko and Iroh move into cover behind the gate posts, Houndour dragging Eevee out of the way too, as the shirshu and its rider and 'cargo', Katara and Sokka, bursting into the monastery. The rhino's scatter with fear. Rana groans and turns onto her knees to push herself up. She looks for her sword but it's landed away from her. She looks over her shoulder at the shirshu who stares right back at her. She makes her move, pushing herself up and bolting towards her sword. The shirshu takes a step to follow but Zuko stomps on its tail, distracting it enough for Rana to grab her sword. Unfortunately, the shirshu turns to Zuko, he shifts his stance, dropping into a fire-bending pose, ready to fight. Suddenly Aang flies down into the courtyard on his glider. He flies up to the monster, which jumps up to snap at him. He misses but does manage to dump his rider onto the floor of the courtyard. The shirshu also falls flat on his back.

“Aang!” Katara yells as she hits the ground, Sokka landing next to her.

“Zuko?!” Sokka asks, confused as to why he's suddenly here. June gets up and whips the ground. The shirshu gets up and roars, June jumping onto its back. They charge after Rana. Rana swings her sword and rainbow energy fires from it and hits the shirshu, pushing him and his rider away from Rana and into the wall of the building, knocking a hole through it. Rana smirks a little and races forward towards them as Aang hurries to Sokka and Katara to check on them. June is quick to rise to her feet, she cracks her whips and says something unintelligible. Then shirshu rises to its feet, she jumps in the saddle and they head back into battle. They charge Rana who is racing towards them. The shirshu lashes Rana's cheek with his tongue. Rana lands on the other side of the courtyard but lands on her feet. She's unease, struggling to fight off the toxin, fails. She collapses in a cloud of dust. Zuko looks over alarmed when she doesn't move. Aang waits too.

“Get up” Aang begs under his breath. Rana's eyes open, filled with determination. A wave of purple energy covers her before disappearing. She pushes herself up to her feet. The monster charges after June whips the shirshu again. Rana lets out a breath and looks around, trying to find something to use as leverage. She doesn't have time to use a bending move. Zuko climbs up onto his rhino and turns it, aiming right for the shirshu, he then charges it. Throwing it away from Rana. She is a little surprised when she looks at Zuko. The two of them sharing a look before he climbs off the rhino and moves to her. His hand touches her back and then her cheek where the shirshu whipped her but she's healed. June pushes herself to her feet as Zuko and Rana then hurry over to intercept her. Zuko throws a blast of fire at June who only just manages to dodge it, Rana shifts her stance and then slams her foot into the ground, earth erupting around June's leg, trapping her in it. Zuko looks at Rana who then changes her stance, throwing out her hands and twisting before pulling. The earth starts to crawl up her leg. June reaches down and claws at it. Behind them, Aang leans Katara and Sokka against a wall of the monastery. Sokka is wiggling his arm a bit.

“I'm starting to get some feeling back!” He states and then looks across at Iroh who is testing out perfumes nearby. He finds one he likes, looks from side to side to make sure no one is looking and then tucks the bottle into his robe, a mischievous smile on his face then notices Sokka who raises an eyebrow at him, Iroh shrugs back at him. The shirshu rises to its feet and charges at Rana. Zuko sees this and pushes her out of the way and takes the hit himself, he's sent sailing across the courtyard and hits a wall. Hard. He slides down it and slumps to the ground. Unconscious. Rana stands and looks over, worry in her eyes. She takes a step back when the shirshu turns on her. June still trying to get out of the earth trap. Eevee has run over to Zuko and is nudging his leg with her head. Trying to wake him up. Houndour charges across the courtyard to get to her. Iroh puts some kind of perfume under Katara and Sokka's noses and they are then able to move better.

“That thing sees with its nose. Let's give him something to look at” Sokka offers.

“The perfume?” Katara asks, Sokka nods. Rana leaps up onto a building roof and the shirshu starts to follow her as she runs along the top of the roof. Sokka and Katara run to some huge white pots of perfume which they pull out into the courtyard with the help of Iroh and Aang. Rana dodges the shirshu and its tongue as it lashes for her. Katara, Aang, and Sokka dump the perfume onto the ground and Aang uses air-bending to what the fumes from the perfume towards and over the shirshu. The monster shakes off the liquid, but it s now terribly confused. June gets lashed with her own monster's tongue and she falls, paralysed. The rampaging shirshu breaks open a few more jars, paws the tiles of the roof of one of the buildings, then jumps over the wall and disappears.

Chapter 75: Chapter Seventy-One

Sokka and Aang manage to find an empty horse cart which they'll use for the still unconscious Zuko. Just till he wakes up. And explain what just happened. Everyone is still kind of confused. First, the scary lady on the monster mount is hunting them and then two Fire Nation guys show up and help them. That's a lot for one day. Aang clears out the cart. Sokka blinks and looks down at Pikachu using its tail to sweep up some of the mess. It's not making much of a dent, but it's the thought that counts.

“Pika pika”

“Keep up the good work, Pikachu,” Sokka tells it and then looks over at Rana and where she still is sat at Zuko's side, her knees brought up to her chest. She did what she could. She used her spirit-bending. To heal anything and everything she could feel. But he's still out of it. She has an idea why he's here. Like she can feel it from him. But she would very much prefer for him to tell her himself. Iroh moves to stand behind her, reaches down and touches her shoulder, she turns her head slightly, acknowledging him. She knows he's there. She sniffles a little. Upset. He got hurt because of her. Because he pushed her out of the way. Because Zhao had June hunting for her. She lets out a breath and hangs her head, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“He should have woken up” Rana comments brushing the tear away with her sleeve. “I healed what I could....he should be awake” She whispers more to herself than Iroh who looks at her sadly. It's a kick in the teeth. Zuko finally following his heart instead of his head, and this happens.

“Is he....?” Iroh asks, she hums and nods softly.

“I can still feel him” She offers as she holds her hand out over Zuko, a purple energy flowing between them. She then lowers her hand and lets out a breath. Iroh notes that the last threads of energy connect Zuko and Rana differently, a spark from heart to heart. He knows what that means. He should have pushed Zuko harder to admit to himself that he loved this girl. Though he wonders if that connection might be why Zhao and Ozai put a stop to their friendship. They should have been encouraging it instead. Starving the two kids of any true affection and friendship hurt them.

“Rana” Sokka calls and she turns to look over her shoulder at him. “What do you want to do?” What does she want to do? There is only one thing that they can do. Get him help somewhere else. That somewhere else is going to be Arkala. She's going to have to go home.

“There's a town down the road” She offers. “It's where the sisters went, it'll be somewhere that we can find someone to help...maybe” She scrubs her hands over her face and stands.

….....

Eevee curls into Zuko's side in the back of the cart that's been hooked up to Spectrier. Houndour is standing vigil next to his feet. Rana touches the side of the cart and turns to the others.

“If you want to keep heading north” She starts. She knows that Aang needs to get to the water-benders, and she needs to stay with Zuko. She'll be no good to them if she's worried about him.

“We're in this together” Sokka assures her, stopping her from finishing that thought. They are all in this together. And if that now means Zuko too, then they can live with that. “We'll make sure he's okay first” She smiles gratefully at them. Katara nods in agreement.

“Aang?” Rana asks. He is the one that Zuko has hunted and tried to kidnap and give over to the Fire Lord. Aang shrugs, leaning on his staff.

“Ah, well, I'm a sucker for love” Aang teases, Rana smirks and gives him a look back. “You're my friend, Rah, we stay” He then looks around and lets out a nervous laugh. “Maybe we can also find someone to repair what we broke” Aang adds looking at the damaged buildings.

…...

Rana climbs up onto the back of Spectrier and glances around at the others as they climb up onto their mounts. Pikachu jumping up to settle on Rana's shoulder. She knows what going down into the valley means. It means taking these people to her birthplace. Her home. It means returning. She lets out a breath and grabs Spectrier's reins in her hand then nods to herself. To save Zuko. To find someone to help him. She can do this. He raced all the way here to save her. She can't give anything less. Rana then touches the crystal ball around her neck. Around her, those pokemon that aren't already with her, appear around them. Eevee joins Eevee in the cart with Houndour and Chikorita. Ninetails and Lycanroc take the lead of the group, ready to defend if need be. Katara pulls Wartortle into a hug with a chuckle and Noivern takes to the sky with a diving swoop before rising to the clouds. Iroh watches amazed and then looks at Zuko. Worry creeping into his chest. Both Eevees move to curl up with Zuko to keep him warm. Houndour softening a little before laying against Zuko's leg to do the same thing.

“I know the cart is asking a lot,” Rana tells Spectier. “But please...just this once...” Her voice breaks and Spectrier looks at her before inclining its head. “Thank you” Rana touches its neck and closes her eyes. “Okay,” She leans back and nods. “Let's go” She nudges Spectrier into a walk and the horse leads them onward. Ninetails and Lycanroc at its side.

Chapter 76: Chapter Seventy-Two

Rana climbs down from Spectrier at the gates of Arkala, her hands shaking. She thought she could do this, but she doesn't know now that she is here. Staring at these gates. She takes a deep breath and then pushes them open, Spectrier nudges her shoulder softly and she lets out a surprised breath. This is a big step for the horse. Rana holds up her hand and it presses its nose into her palm. It's trying to comfort her. She lets out another breath and pulls her hand back. Rana then walks onward. Lycanroc and Ninetails on her right, Spectrier flanking her with the cart on her right. This is the first time she's felt utterly connected to the pokemon that she has.

"Where are we?" Katara asks she looks around, hugging Pikachu to her chest. The people that live here have stopped to watch them. Staring at them. Staring at Rana who keeps her head down, leading Spectrier onward towards the centre of the town.

"I think I have an idea," Sokka tells Katara as he stares up at a statue of vastaya children as they pass it. Katara looks at it too, her eyes widening when she realises what it is and what it means.

"Rana" She turns to her friend. "What is this place?"

"Arkala" Rana answers. "My home" She touches Spectrier's neck as she looks around. She never thought she'd come back here. Not after what happened. The way she abandoned them to the Fire Nation. She'll be surprised if they help them. Iroh leads the rhinos on with him behind the others. It's been a long time since he was here too. An older woman is waiting for them. Sat on the side of a fountain dressed in a long dark brown and purple gown that is remarkably similar to the vastaya design. Rana cocks her head, watching her. She's older, definitely, but Rana knows her. Her hand slides from Spectrier's neck and falls to her side. "Shakra?" She asks. The older woman smiles at Rana and then inclines her head before Rana is moving, running at her. Her old nanny. The woman that practically raised her. Rana hugs her tightly when Shakra raises to meet her, Rana curls into the woman as tears gather in her eyes. She really thought something bad had happened to her. That Zhao had hurt her or worse. "Nana" She whispers sadly and Shakra closes her eyes, hugging Rana back just as tightly.

"Sokka, are you crying?" Aang asks.

"What?! No!" Sokka argues. "It's my allergies! I'm clearly allergic to the Fire Nation" Katara looks at him amused as he hastily rubs away his tears.

"So it's true" Shakra whispers looking at Rana. "You're...here" Shakra holds Rana's face in her hands to look at her. "Look at you...." Shakra smiles sadly at her before she then looks over Rana, lifting the girl's arm to hum and study her form. She pulls a face and mutters about Rana being too skinny before she softens and looks at the girl's face. "When we heard the rumours that you were seen here....we came to check but...you'd long left but we stayed....just in case" Rana frowns at her.

"Wait...we?" She asks. Shakra nods and steps back, motioning behind her. Cloaked figures are gathered behind her, whispering together, watching the two of them together. One of them crouches to a smaller figure, a child. Words are exchanged between them before the child hurries forward and stands in front of Rana. The child then pulls its hood down to reveal a young girl. But more than that. She's a vastaya. With russet ears on the top of her head. Her black tail coming up to escape the cloak.

"She's..." Sokka starts but doesn't finish the sentence, it doesn't need to be said. It's clear what this means.

"Princess Rana" The girl greets with a huge smile before bowing her hand, holding out her hand, from her palm, a bright red flower blooms. Rana crouches with her and smiles.

"It's beautiful," She tells her warmly, the girl holds it up and then motions to her own ears. Rana lowers her head and the girl places it behind her ear before Rana pulls back and stands, looking at the other cloaked figures. One by one, they all lower their hoods. Ears. More fox-like ears. Rana lets out a breath as she looks around them. There are more of her. More than just one child, who reaches up and takes Rana's hand. She thought she was alone her whole life. The last of her kind.

"Rana" Katara starts softly. "You're not the last one" Tears gather in Rana's eyes as she looks around at each of them. Sokka touches Rana's shoulder and squeezes softly. They all know how much this means to her. Aang smiles and waves at the vastaya, a few of them wave back.

"Why did you return here?" Shakra asks, touching Rana's arm.

"Now or...before?" Rana asks, Shakra pokes her nose and smirks.

"Now, Mima" Rana looks down at the old nickname.

"For shelter, to rest..." Rana answers. "And help...My friend" She offers, motioning to the cart behind Spectrier, where Zuko is still unconscious. "He was hurt...." Shakra moves towards the cart as Rana follows her, Shakra's eyes falling upon Zuko before softening with a chuckle.

"Ah, the young exiled Fire Prince" Shakra comments and then looks up, sensing something. "Hello, General" Iroh pokes his head out from behind Appa.

"Shakra" He greets and then clears his throat. "And it's retired general now..." She hums and gives him a look. "It's been a while"

"Hmmm, tea at the ruins of Vasta, if I'm not mistaken" Shakra offers, Iroh nods and the two of them share a look before she turns, walking back to Rana. "When the vastaya returned here, they opened up the palace for us to use...it's yours by right...." Sokka frowns a little. They know she's vastaya royalty, but this is a human town. Shakra seems to sense Sokka's confusion. "Rana is a double royal princess"

"Meaning?" Katara asks.

"Her birth parents and her adopted parents were both royalty....making Rana a dual royal herself" Sokka whistle impressed. Rana keeps her head down though. She doesn't think she deserves that title, not for here. Not for these people.

..........

Soft. Something is soft beneath Zuko's fingers. And he's lying on something comfortable and warm. He lets out a breath as he wakes, eyes opening and closing a few times, to an unfamiliar ceiling. He frowns and brings his hand up to rub at his eyes. The last thing he remembers is the shirshu was going for Rana and he'd pushed her out of the way. Then nothing. He doesn't know what happened. He doesn't even know if the threat is gone. He turns his head to look around the room. Eyes instantly relaxing when they land on Rana who is sleeping at his bedside, curled up in a chair, wrapped in a blanket. He leans up and then groans, touching his side before he relaxes his body to ease the tension. He still hurts in places from where he was thrown. He lets out a breath and then reaches out for Rana, his fingers grazing over her cheek. Her eyes snap open and immediately lands on him.

"Zu! Are you okay?!" She asks, standing and almost knocking the chair over with her tail as it moves with her. He hums and then groans, leaning up onto his elbows. She moves closer to the bed, her tail taking out the chair this time. "Zu" She whispers, her voice breaking with relief.

"Where are we?" He counters as he tries to sit up, she pushes him back flat on the bed.

"Arkala" She answers and fumbles with her hands a little. He frowns and glances around the room, takes note of the elegant decorations, the tapestries, the books. But there are children's toys scattered around too. "It's the old palace" She adds as she follows his eyes.

"What happened?" He asks, more alarmed now. "The bounty hunter...."

"Dealt with" She assures him. "Don't worry" She adds softer. He frowns a little and then closes his eyes.

"What...?" He touches his chest and then his side. There are bandages around him. He's injured.

"I used spirit-bending to heal you but you wouldn't wake up so I brought you to the town" She admits, playing with the tassels on her blanket. "Why did you do it?" She asks, he hums and looks at her. "Why did you push me out the way? Why did you even come to find me?" She rambles a little. "Why did you do any of it?" He closes his eyes, resting his head back against the pillow. He thought about this a lot on the way to her. Despite the urgency, he wanted to be ready. But right now, he can't remember any of it. He opens his eyes and looks at her.

"I....care about you" He admits quietly, his fingers reaching for her hand resting on the bed. "A lot" His fingers brush against hers. "I know I've been difficult" She smirks and then bites her lip.

"You don't have to explain why you are who you are" She stops him, he looks at her. "Surprisingly...I kind of like who you are now" He smirks and looks down, a small blush working onto his cheeks.

"Just a little bit?" He asks, she gives him a look and then smiles warmly.

"Maybe a little more than a little bit" She answers. He shifts a little, moving to the side and then pats the bed. She pulls off her boots before she joins him, settling against his side. Zuko manages to pull her blanket from around her and settles it over both of them. Rana sets her head onto his chest and closes her eyes, listening to his heartbeat under her ear, his arm around her as she curls into his side tightly, his fingers drawing up and down her back before he holds to her arm. "Sleep a little more," She tells him as she hovers her hand over his bandages, purple energy seeping into him from her hand. "I'll heal you some more" He grabs her hand to stop her.

"Just....lay with me" He whispers softly and she hums, pulling back on her abilities.

Chapter 77: Chapter Seventy-Three

Fingers brush up and down Rana's arm as she wakes, having fallen asleep against Zuko's chest. She sits up and looks around, rubbing at her eyes, before she turns to look down at him. Zuko is awake, watching her, eyes soft on her face. She blushes and looks down, her eyes looking at his bandages.

“I should check your bandages” She offers, moving to slide from the bed, Zuko stops her with a hand on her arm.

“They're fine” He assures her, pulling her back to him. “Just come here” She sighs and lets him lead her back to his side, her head on his shoulder. There is a noise from the room and Rana sits up again, her ears twitching on her head. But she softens, relaxing. They're not alone. Ninetails is sleeping on the floor, right next to the bed with Lycanroc. Wartortle is playing with bubbles in the corner along with Chikorita much to the annoyance of Houndour. There are two Eevees sat on the end of the bed. Rana smiles softly.

“Where did you find them?” She asks softly as Houndour looks at her. “They're beautiful” Zuko touches the small of her back.

“Eevee found me” He admits looking at his Eevee. “She practically dragged me off, complete annoyance really” He teases, Eevee gives him a playful glare. “The Houndour was trapped” Rana looks back at him. “I...I didn't want to let you down” Zuko admits quietly. He knows why he saved Houndour, and it wasn't entirely altruistic. He did it for himself. He did it because he didn't want Rana to hate him. But he is attached to them now. To both of them. They are his pokemon. Eevee jumps from the bed and moves to Houndour who pushes something towards her, Eevee picks it up, jumps back up onto the bed with them, moving closer, carrying that something in her mouth. Zuko touches her head and then takes the item, turning it around in his hand before he holds it out to Rana. “Here” He whispers. “I urm...I have this” He inwardly cringes by how ridiculous and awkward he sounds. “For you” That just makes it worse. Rana chuckles and looks at his hand. He uncurls his fingers to reveal a little gold cuff bracelet in his palm. She takes it, leaning away from him to look over it. There are symbols and images but she doesn't know what they are. He doesn't either. But Eevee did pick it out for him to give to her. “Urm I just...” He cringes and looks away. He should have practiced more. “To...show you how I felt” He settles on. “To show you that...” She touches the rainbow coloured stone in the centre of the cuff, it reminds her of the one in her sword actually, listening to him struggle with the voicing of his feelings. “That I choose you” He admits, she looks at him. “No more Fire Nation....no more...”

“Zu” She starts. “Think about this...” She stops him. “I know how much your family and your honor mean to you....to turn your back on everything you've known”

“Believe me” He stops her. “All I've done is think about it...and think about it and think about it” He looks at her. “This is the right thing to do for me” He holds out his hand and she takes it. “For the first time, this is me doing something that I want to do” Her eyes tear up, he toys with the silk hem on her sleeve, she stares at the cuff with a soft smile. “I want to chose my own path, I want something....for myself....”

“And that's something is me?”

“No” He whispers. “It's....more than just you....” He brushes his thumb over the back of her hand. “It's a future of my own choosing....with you” She softens. “It's me...following my heart...instead of my head” She touches his face, curling her palm around his cheek. He closes his eyes and leans into her hand with a soft smile.

“Took you long enough” She teases, he smirks and looks at her.

“You've always had a way of bringing it out in me” He reminds her. He touches her arm, fingers soft against her skin before he moves on to touch her cheek. Curling his hand around her cheek this time, using it to draw her closer to him. He nudges her nose and closes his eyes before he finally gets to kiss her. Lips pressing softly to one another. And it's like a dam explodes. All those dreams. All those feelings. All of them coming out at once. Behind them, Sokka leans in through the door. Sees them. Smiles and then backs out, closing the door behind him and leaving them alone to their moment. Sokka walks away, heading back to the main hall where he can hear the vastaya are still celebrating. Aang appears at the top of the stairs and heads towards the door to the room where Rana and Zuko are. Sokka holds out his hand to stop him.

“Rah in there?” Aang asks, Sokka nods and hums. “It's her party and she's missing it” Sokka knows this, but she is where she wants to be.

“I wouldn't” Sokka warns, Aang snorts and waves him off. Sokka shrugs and waits, listening as Aang walks into the room. It's shortly followed by a scream and Aang fleeing. The backside of his trousers on fire. Sokka smirks and hums away to himself as he walks away. “Told you so"

Chapter 78: Chapter Seventy-Four

The next time Zuko wakes, it's dark outside the window, a soft breeze moving through the window, over his skin. It's kind of nice waking up and not feeling the weight of the Fire Nation on his shoulders. He feels in no hurry to get out there and hunt the Avatar. He feels no need to do anything. Except maybe find Rana. He touches the side of her bed she'd been on when he'd fallen asleep, but it's empty, warm but empty. He turns his head and finds that she's across the room, stood with an older woman. The two of them talking quietly, trying not to disturb him. Zuko frowns as he stares at the second woman. Something so familiar about her face. He suddenly remembers. Shakra. Rana's nanny. He had no idea she was still alive. Zuko looks between them, suddenly very nervous. Shakra was as close to a mother that Rana got with Zhao and she's alive and she's now staring at him. She hums a little and turns to Rana who brushes her hair around her shoulder to toy with it nervously.

“Have you eaten yet?” Shakra asks her, Rana shakes her head.

“I was waiting...” Rana admits. Shakra touches her cheek and nods at the door.

“Why don't you go and eat now?” She asks of her. “I'll keep an eye on the young Fire Prince” Rana looks at Zuko and then back at Shakra who gives her a small nod. Rana nods back and motions with her fingers, her pokemon moving from their places around the room to follow her out. Zuko's panicking eyes follow her. Zuko's Eevee watching Rana's go sadly before turning to Zuko who holds out his hand for her. She moves to get comfort from him. Shakra watching them together before she moves closer. Zuko's eyes shifting to her. “Relax,” Shakra tells him as she sets the chair upright and sits in it. “I have no issue with you” She assures him. He frowns at her, not really understanding why she doesn't blame him. The Fire Nation destroyed these people. Their homes. Their families. “Blaming you for the things your grandfather did would be counterproductive” Shakra comments, seemingly reading his mind. She smirks a little. “I can actually” She admits, Zuko stares at her. “Read your mind” Shakra sighs and pulls the headscarf away from her head. There are two scarred stumps where her ears used to be on the top of her head. Zuko's eyes sadden when he realises. Zhao said he cut off the tails and ears of the vastaya. Only he didn't kill all of them after that, obviously, he kept Shakra, had her working for him.

“You're a vastaya” He points out, she nods. “Does she know?”

“No, I never had the heart to tell her” She admits. “I'm a spirit-bender” She adds. “Part of that is healing and....mind reading”

“Oh,” Zuko looks down and away from her. Now suddenly alarmed that she can read his mind. “Can...Can she do that too?”

“I don't know, we haven't had a chance to talk about it” Shakra admits putting her headscarf back on. “She's been occupied” She gives him a warm smile. “How are you feeling?” Zuko touches his bandages and nods.

“I'm fine” He answers.

“Spirit-Healing is meant to be done over several sessions and not all at once. It's why Rana struggled.....and why you are still injured”

“No one taught her how to do any of this” He scolds a little and then shrinks back at the look in her eyes.

“I tried” She argues. “Those early years, every chance I got I tried to impart culture, history, teachings of her people on her...but Zhao was...”

“Determined” Zuko offers, Shakra nods in agreement. “So we've noticed” He adds, the two of them share a look.

“He won't give her up” Shakra comments holding out her hand for Eevee who gives it a testing sniff before allowing contact. “As Rana got older, as her powers starting showing themselves....he became...obsessed with the True Elemental legend”

“I thought he already knew she was one, that's why he came for her as a child”

“No, Zhao knew that the bloodline carried the potential for them. But without a new Avatar, it just passes on...no one had seen an Avatar in 100 years, he didn't think Rana was the Elemental. He just knew that her blood carried it....” She leans back and crosses one leg over another. “There were plans” She starts and looks away from him. “Your father and Zhao came up with a way for her bloodline to join with the royal line...to ensure that the next Elemental would be born under complete Fire Nation control....” Zuko closes his eyes when he figures it out.

“Me” Zuko comments. “That's why Zhao brought her to the palace, to bond with me....” Shakra nods. “Then what changed? If the plan was for Rana and I to end up together, why did it stop?”

“I don't know” Shakra answers. “No one but Zhao and Ozai knows that” She looks at him. “Perhaps they considered her a bad influence on you...”

“She was” Zuko agrees with a smile. “She was a terrible influence....” Shakra smiles and nods in agreement before she changes her mind and shrugs.

“I don't know....do you think you would be here if you hadn't been friends?” Zuko looks at Eevee and then snorts.

“No” He answers. He would never have listened to his heart if he didn't have that early friendship with Rana, with the girl that did everything with her heart. He would never have known what it felt like to follow it.

“Zhao realised that Rana was spirited because of me...because I filled her head with stories and legends and kindness and compassion....he had me locked away....” She looks at the door as it opens and then smiles at the pokemon there. 

“Marowak”

“Rana's grandfather sent Marowak to find me” Shakra holds out her hand and Marokwak moves towards her. “He freed me and I've been stuck with him ever since” Marowak presses his head into Shakra's hand and closes his eyes.

“Did you not have a pokemon before?” Zuko asks softly. Shakra nods and looks at him. “Oh,” Zuko whispers. “Zhao...”

“That day wasn't just a slaughter of vastaya or arkalan people, but pokemon too. This whole town stood to protect that child...and we failed” She cocks her head. “Now it's your turn...” She points out. “How far are you will to go to protect her?"

Chapter 79: Chapter Seventy-Five

Something bothers Zuko the next time that he wakes. Something cold drags over his skin. A pit in his stomach. Though he can feel Eevee, warm at his side, there is just something that sits wrong with him. He sits up and touches his side to find that he's back on his ship. Back in his quarters. Back on his bed. He frowns. Because this isn't right. He was in Arkala. With Rana. His heart pounds in his chest, trying to figure out what is going on. The door opens and Iroh walks in, carrying a tea tray. His eyes land on Zuko and a sense of great relief washes over him.

“You're finally awake” Iroh offers as he sets the tray of tea down on the dresser. “I was worried”

“What?” Zuko asks, fingers pressing into his side, but there is nothing. No injury. No bandages. No pain. There should be pain. He knows he was hurting there. He was hurt.

“You've been unconscious for days” Iroh informs him as he pours them both out a drink. “That girl and her shirshu, after it caught your neck....you took a funny turn....” Zuko frowns and reaches up to touch the back of his neck where the shirshu had struck him. It's sore and swollen. A funny turn. He must have had a bad reaction to it. So the last few days, him searching for Rana, him telling her how he feels about her, none of it actually happened. But he can't get his head around it. Everything about it felt so real.

“What about the bounty hunter?” Zuko asks as he pushes himself to his feet. "Where is she now? What about...?" 

“I had a bird from a contact in a village, the Avatar and his group passed through, they're fine....she's fine” Zuko lets out a breath and then looks at his uncle.

“Shakra?” He asks, Iroh looks at him surprised. “Is that your contact?”

“She is” Iroh answers. “How did you know that?”

“I don't know” Zuko admits. “I just knew” Some of that dream is real. Shakra is alive. Iroh just confirmed that. Which means that the vastaya are alive too. He didn't make that up. He doesn't know how he knows that. So how can he know that if none of the last few days happened? He moves to the desk, where the tome is still sitting open. He touches it and lets his eyes scan over the rest of the desk, over everything that is sat there. The bracelet cuff that he gave Rana. It's sitting right there on his desk. He closes his eyes and lets out a breath.

“Prince Zuko?” Iroh asks, Zuko closes his eyes and curls his fingers into the cuff as he picks it up.

“I had a dream....it felt so real” He whispers in admittance. It sinks it. He never ran off to save Rana. He was stuck in his bed, suffering an allergic reaction to the paralytic. It was all in his head. A dream. But real at the same time. He can feel that some of those things happened. He can't explain it. He just knows things. “The vastaya are alive, aren't they?” He asks. Iroh sighs a little. “She's not the last one”

“No, she's not” Iroh answers, watching Zuko. “How...?” He then realises. “Your dream?”

“So it would seem” Zuko offers and lets out a breath, looking down at the tome as he flicks through it. Stopping on a page titles 'Spirit-Bond'. He remembers passing it before but thought little of it. But that woman. She called him spirit-bound. “What do you know about the True Elementals?”

“I've read that book cover to cover, as I assumed you had” Iroh answers, Zuko shakes his head.

“No, just...a few pages here and there” He admits and touches the page. “What about the spirit-bond?” He turns and looks at Iroh, who is looking at him with a mix of sadness, understanding, and joy. Zuko's not sure what to make of that.

“So that's how you know” Iroh comments and lifts his tea to his lips. Zuko gives him a look, imploring him to explain just what it means. “A spirit-bond is a connection, a linking of two spirits....you and Rana are connected, linked together, spirit to spirit....” Zuko hums and looks down at the book. That would explain the dreams. They are connected. That's why he's been dreaming of her. Feeling her. Hearing her. Whispers in his ears as he wakes. It's all because of this spirit-bond. This thing that links them together. And he doesn't hate how it felt. To say those things to her. To choose her. Iroh is right. He and Rana are bound now. That dream just proves it. But he doesn't hate that either. There has always been something about her. Even when they were children. He smiles and nods. He knows what it means. No cryptic clues. No hidden messages. That dream was pretty damn clear to him. Showing him exactly where he is meant to be. With her. It's his subconscious kicking his ass into gear. He sets the cuff against his chest and closes his eyes. “Heading?” Iroh asks. Zuko lets out a breath, he can remember them talking about the North Pole, he assumes that's something to do with the water tribe up there. He looks at Iroh.

“North,” Zuko tells him. “We go North” Iroh nods and then leaves the room. Zuko takes a deep breath and nods. This is the right thing to do. The best place for him to go. He wants to be that person that he saw in that dream. He wants to be able to look at her like that. To talk to her like that. To see her looking back at him the way she was.

Chapter 80: Chapter Seventy-Six

Rana watches Momo as he flies above them before landing on Aang's shoulder, he reaches up to scratches at his head before looking at Rana as she walks at the back of the group. She's been quiet since they left Arkala and Shakra. Which isn't hard to understand. She just got her nanny back and then they had to leave again. Reunited with someone she long thought was dead only to walk away again. Even the knowledge of her people being out there and that she's not the last one isn't enough to make her feel better. She knows her duty is to Aang, but she thought she was alone for so long and they have answers to every question about herself that she's ever had. Her culture. Her history. Her family. Anything she's ever wanted to know. But Aang and her duty as the True Elemental comes first. Pikachu pounces from Sokka's shoulder and up onto a circular notice board set up next to the road they are walking along, then peers down at it.

“Pika pika” Katara moves closer to see what Pikachu is looking at. Behind them, Sokka is emptying a food bag right into his mouth to get any crumbs that may be left in the bottom. They are all hungry. And they are all out of food.

“This should give us a good idea of what's around here” Katara offers looking over the board.

“See if you can find a menu, I'm starving,” Sokka tells her, she hums and waves him off. Aang points at a colourful flyer on the board.

“I bet we'll find something to eat here!” He tells them. “The Fire Days Festival”

“Oh,” Rana whispers moving closer.

“Fire Nation cultural exhibits...jugglers, benders, magicians. This'd be a great place for me to study some real fire-benders!”

“You might wanna rethink that. Look at this” Sokka points out from the other side of the board. The others move around to look at what he's looking at and find it covered in wanted posters. At the top is a poster of Aang, right next to one for Rana. On the lower right is a wanted poster for the Blue Spirit. On the right is a wanted poster for a white-haired man.

“Hey, a poster of me and Rana” Aang points out.

“A wanted poster. This is bad” Sokka argues. Aang takes the poster off the board as Rana rips her one from it before taking the Blue Spirit one with a smirk. She has a feeling Zuko might actually get a kick out of this. Pretty much shows how annoyed Zhao is at him for what happened. She and Aang share a look when she rolls it up and slides it into her bag. Aang smirks and nods. Katara moves around the board to have a look at what has their attention.

“I think we better keep moving” Katara points out.

“I have to learn fire-bending at some point, and this could be my only chance to watch a master up close” Aang argues.

“What about Rana?” Katara asks, Rana peers at her. “Can't she teach you?”

“She's a vastaya, it's different for them, they draw their powers from elemental realms, I don't have access to them” Aang argues, Rana raises an eyebrow at him. “Don't you think I would have already asked her if it was possible?”

“Well...yeah, I guess” Katara admits. “I guess we could check it out”

“What!?” Sokka argues. “You want to walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired up with all their, you know, fire?”

“We'll wear disguises, and Rana can put away the pokemon”

“Pika pika??” Pikachu asks.

“And if it looks like trouble, we'll leave” Katara continues. Sokka looks at Rana for help here. She sighs and shrugs.

“I'm tired, I'm hungry and I used to like The Fire Days Festivals” She admits as Katara and Aang walk over to Appa. Sokka sighs a little but then shrugs with a nod. Rana removes her necklace and turns to Pikachu. “I know” She offers. “I know you hate it...but you don't want us to get into trouble do you?”

“Pika” Pikachu shakes its head and then presses its head to the ball, disappearing. She attaches the ball to her necklace and lets out a breath. It feels weird already. She always has at least one with her.

“We're also going to have to do something with this” Sokka adds as he lifts up Rana's tail. “And these” He flickers her ear and she slaps at his hand with a small glare.

“We'll manage” Katara assures them. Sokka turns and walks toward the others as Rana looks along the road. Heading back into Fire Nation territory is going to be trouble, she already knows it. She lets out a breath and turns, heading towards her friends.

…........

Appa and Momo move to follow the group as they leave the forest and head towards the walled Fire Nation town in the distance. Aang turns to stop them. Just like the pokemon, they need to stay out of sight.

“You guys stay out of sight here while we go to the festival.” He tells them. Momo then flies up and then drops down into a small bush nearby. Appa follows and tries to hide behind the bush, which is about a foot tall and doesn't hide him at all. Aang turns to his friends. “Ready disguises!” Aang states. Rana pulls a hood over her head to cover her ears followed by tucking her tail up under the cloak. Sokka pulls down the hood of a black cloak over his head, Katara then does the same thing. Aang has simply pulled his red hood up over the top of his head in a completely ineffective attempt to change his appearance. He sees his friends and grins in some embarrassment. Rana smiles at him softly and shakes her head.
“It's like you're a whole different person” Sokka offers sarcastically but Aang doesn't seem to notice.

“Let's go” Aang moves off first as Katara chuckles. Sokka and Rana share a look before following.

Chapter 81: Chapter Seventy-Seven

Rana watches fireworks scatter through the sky, the group now in the centre of the Fire Nation village. Around them children frolic, revellers run by in ornate costumes, including several people almost completely concealed in a Chinese dragon outfit, and all participants are wearing colourful masks. Rana actually feels at home. She knows that she left the Fire Nation for a reason, but she misses this. The community spirit. And the parties. The fun that people seem to forget about.

“I think we need some new disguises” Katara points out.

“Where are we gonna get masks like that?” Sokka asks sceptically. A crowd parts on their right to reveal a mask stand.

“Get your genu-ine Fire Festival masks here!” Aang and Katara rush over to the stall as Sokka pulls a confused face.

“That was surprisingly easy” He comments and then touches Rana's arm before following after his sister. Katara buys four masks using coins from the coin pouch on her side, she and Rana decided to split the money, just in case they get separated again. They each pull on a mask. At first, Sokka is wearing a happy mask and Aang a sad one. Katara switches them, revealing Sokka's sour puss face and Aang's wide smile. The masks now match the temperament of the owner. Katara looks down at the fourth mask in her hand and then around.

“Where'd Rana go?” She asks. Sokka throws his head back and groans. He can't do this himself. Keeping track of everyone. He thought Rana was one he didn't have to worry about just wandering off. But here she is. Rana moves back towards them, a smile on her fast and a steaming bag in her hand. She looks excited and happy here. Despite everything.

“Flaming Fire Flakes” She offers and holds out the bag. Sokka grabs them.

“I'll take'em!” He stuffs all of them in his mouth at once. Rana's eyes widen.

“No, don't” Rana warns but it's too late. She gives Sokka a look when he suddenly starts screaming and blowing steam from his mouth. He partially removes his mask to cool his tongue.

“Aaahhh! Hot! Hot!”

“'Flaming fire flakes' hot? What do you know” Katara teases, Rana chuckles and takes the mask from her, and pulls it on over her face. This mask turns out to be a fox-like mask.

“Hey, look at this,” Aang calls of them and then walks towards a Punch & Judy show that is about to begin. Rana, Sokka, and Katara follow after him to join him. The audience is full of children. The curtain of the puppet stage draws open and a puppet of the Fire Lord appears. The audience cheers.

“Don't worry loyal citizens! No one can surprise the Fire Lord!” Behind the puppet, an earth-bender puppet has risen up, with a rock at the ready to strike the Fire Lord Puppet. The children in the audience start to cry out warnings. Rana smiles warmly watching them. The Fire Lord puppet turns suddenly and torches the earth-bender puppet with a huge gout of flame. The audience cheers. Rana chuckles and turns to Sokka who is giving her a look.

“What?” She asks him, defensive before they turn away from the puppet show and head back towards another stage with a large crowd. 

“Aang, hold on! Where are we going?” Katara asks.

“I don't know, but there's a big crowd so it must be good”

“Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution” Sokka comments, Rana elbows him and shakes her head. The four of them then head closer to the stage where there is a performer, a fire-bender who is manipulating fire for the crowd's delight. He concludes by extinguishing his fire and producing a small flock of white birds who fly off the stage. Aang partially removes his mask to follow the flight of the birds. He looks ahead, a big smile on his face.

“I gotta learn that trick!”

“Thank you! For my next trick, I need a volunteer from the audience” The Performer tells the gathered crowd. Aang instantly raises his hand, waving it about.

“Oh! Oh! Me! Me!”

“What do you think you're doing?” Sokka scolds him, pulling down Aang's hand.

“I want to get a closer look” Aang answers.

“It's better that we don't attract any attention to ourselves” Katara agrees with Sokka. The Perform however points at Katara.

“How about you, little lady?” He asks. Katara shakes her head and starts backing away from him. Not wanting to be a part of any of this.

“Uh...”

“Awww, she's shy. Leeet's give her some encouragement, folks!” Someone from the audience pushes Katara over to the edge of the stage where the Performer grabs her and hauls her up.

“Awww! That could'a been me.” Aang complains. The performer, carrying a chair, ushers Katara to the centre of the stage. Once there he seats her on the chair.

“This next trick is called 'Taming the Dragon.'” The performer tells the crowd and turns to Katara. “You will be my captured princess!” He ties her up with a maroon ribbon and begins to fire-bend a huge fire comet from the fires at the top of each pillar. He loops it close to Katara and back out. He seems to control it by a flame rope that connects its head to the Performer's hand. “Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!” He plays with the fire comet for a bit more, then continues. “It's too strong, I can't hold it!”

“We gotta help her!” Aang points out and moves to help Katara.

“No” Rana stops him, grabbing his arm. “It's part of the trick” She warns him.

“The rope, it's breaking!” The rope breaks and the comet charges right for Katara, who cringes and cries out. Aang air-bends himself up and out of the frame, Rana, Sokka and a masked man just failing to restrain him. Aang drops in from the sky, turns and creates a whirlwind that dissipates the comet in with a shower of confetti. “Hey, you tryin' to upstage me, kid?” Aang watches the confetti rain down on him. The crowd begins to boo and Rana lets out an annoyed breath.

“I told him” She scolds under her breath. Aang then tries to amuse them with a lame dance while Sokka unties Katara in the background. Suddenly, someone speaks up.

“Hey! That kid's the Avatar!” Aang freezes, a look of horror on this face. Three Fire Nation guards turn to face the stage at the mention of his name. They begin muscling through the crowd to the stage. Rana and Sokka share a look, she nods and then moves towards the guards as Sokka races towards his sister and Aang.

“I think it's time to go,” He tells them as Rana attacks the guards, taking them out and knocking them down, but it just draws more attention from more guards.

“Follow me! I can get ya outta here!” A masked man shouts at them, waves them through the crowd.

“Rana” Sokka yells and she backs away from the approaching guards and then weaves through the crowd to join her friends as they race away from the stage.

“There they are!” The guards yell as Rana and the others break through the crowd. They run through the broken wall just as the guards burst onstage. The masked man throws a smoke bomb at the guards' feet.

Chapter 82: Chapter Seventy-Eight

Following after the Masked Man, Rana, Aang, Sokka, and Katara race through streets, squares and alleys of the village trying to outrun the Fire Nation soldiers that chase after them. They cross an alley where there are a group of guards who turn to watch them.

“Over there!”

“I'm calling Appa!” Aang points out as groups and groups of pursing guards link up behind them. Aang produces his bison whistle and blows.

“I hope he can really hear that bison whistle!” Sokka points out. Rana pulls the crystal ball from her necklace and holds it out behind her. Wartortle appears and instantly lets out a stream of water at the ground and Rana slams her foot down, thrusting her hands forward. The water turns to ice, solidifying. The soldiers slip and skid and begin to fall over one another. Rana then grabs the back of Wartortle's shell and hauls him along with her as she runs after her friends. Wartortle lets out streams and blasts of water at any soldiers that still manage to chase them. The masked figure turns into an alley.

“This way!” He tells the others but they soon find that it is a dead-end. “Okay! Not this way!” They turn, but the exit is blocked by guards. The masked man throws another exploding smoke bomb and then run past them into another alley. This one is a dead-end too. It ends in a high wall. On the other side is a huge supply dump of fireworks. But it's fine. Appa arrives just in time.

“Appa! Down here!” Appa lands between the kids and the guards, with his tail facing the guards. Appa flaps his beaver-like tail on the ground and the gale that results blows the guards out of the alley to land in a confused heap some distance away. As the guards run back into the alley, Appa is already airborne. The masked man on Appa's back, bites the top off of some kind of bomb-like object, whose fuse is now lit. He throws it at the fireworks supply and it blows up in an awesome display of colours and sounds. The masked man then removes his hood.

“Nice touch setting off the fireworks” Aang comments.

“You seem to really know your explosives” Sokka adds. The masked man turns to them.

“I'm familiar”

“You're a Fire Nation soldier!” Rana points out noting the faded uniform he's wearing.

“Was. My name's Chey.” He corrects her.

….....

Rana uses fire-bending to stoke the fading campfire in the centre of them. Appa and Wartortle doze together close by. Sokka pokes at the ground. Not happy about this at all. Chey leans forward, staring into the fire before he looks around the group.

“I serve a man” Chey informs them. “More than a man really, he's a myth, but he's real, a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general, or wait, was he an admiral?”

“Wait, Jeong Jeong?” Rana asks.

“You know him?” Sokka asks.

“Hmm,” She nods. Sort of. She knows of him. She's never met him. She'd hear Zhao complaining about him.

“But he couldn't take the madness anymore” Chey continues. “He's the first person ever to leave the army - and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a fire-bending genius. Some say he's mad - but he's not! He's enlightened”

“You mean there's a fire-bender out here who's not with the Fire Lord?” Aang asks, standing up. “We've gotta go see him! He can train me!”

“We're not gonna go find some crazy fire-bender!” Sokka scolds. Chey stands in indignation.

“He's not crazy! He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar! That's why I followed you into the festival” Sokka stands up to join Chey.

“Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the north pole in the morning” Sokka scolds, Aang turns to him.

“Sokka, this could be my only chance to meet a fire-bending master who would actually be willing to teach me”

“It can't hurt just to talk to him” Rana offers.

“That's what you said about going to the festival! Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me!?” Sokka complains and then turns to stalk away from the group, he almost runs right into a spear. In a flash, they are surrounded by men wearing straw hats and armour and wielding spears.

“Don't move!”

….

Rana, Sokka, Katara, Aang, Wartortle, and Appa are now being led through the forest at night by the rebels. Rana lets out a breath as she looks around at the rebels. Most of them look like they are former Fire Nation. Their gaits and stances.

“Jeong Jeong told you not to look for Avatar!”

“Hold on, you know these guys!?” Sokka asks Chey who walks with them.

“Oh yeah! Lin Yi's an old buddy! Right, Lin Yi?” Lin Yi lowers his spear at Chey.

“Shut up! Keep moving.”

….....

Sometime later, though it is still nighttime, the group is being led down a hill and towards a little shack at the bottom. Jeong Jeong's shack.

“Go on. He sees you only.” Lin Yi tells Chey.

“Oh that's okay, we can chat later” Chey argues.

“Is that where Jeong Jeong is?” Aang asks. “I need to talk to him right away” Aang begins to move forward, but is stopped by a spear shaft across his path.

“No! You wait there” Lin Yi argues and then pushes Chey forward roughly. “Go now”

“Don't worry! Everything'll be fine. He's a great man, great man!” Chey walks toward Jeong Jeong's shack. Rana narrows her eyes slightly.

…......

The town in which the group had fled is now deserted except for some local guards who are being interrogated by Zhao who is flanked by a few soldiers.

“So, the Avatar and the Elemental were here and you let them slip away?” Zhao asks the officer.

“Yes, sir, but other than that the festival went off without a hitch!” A huge piece of burning walls falls in the background with a massive crash. “No fights. Theft was way down.”

“I don't care about your local crime rates! Which way did they go?” Zhao scolds. The officer points.

“They headed into the forest, up the river I suspect.” Zhao turns to his men gathered behind him.

“Ready the riverboats. We're going after the Avatar” But he doesn't care about the Avatar. This is about Rana. He clenches his fist at this side.

Chapter 83: Chapter Seventy-Nine

Come morning, Rana and Katara stand together, both of them practising water-bending at the river's edge. Just a little further down from them, Sokka is sat on a rock fishing with Wartortle and Pikachu. Aang and Jeong Jeong are in the other direction, close to Jeong Jeong's hut. Thanks to some interference from Roku, he finally agreed to teach Aang. Aang stands, bandy-legged, on a flat stone in the river. Jeong Jeong stands a foot or two away on the bank in front of his hut.

“Widen your stance” Aang complies. “Wider! Bend your knees. Now, concentrate” Aang takes on an expression of concentration. “Good, good!” Jeong Jeong then begins to walk away.

“Wait! What do I do now?” Aang asks. Jeong Jeong whips around to face him.

“Silence! Talking is not concentrating! Look at your friends” Jeong Jeong points at Rana and Katara, both silent as they practice. “Are they talking?” He then points at Sokka. “Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!”

“Hey!” Sokka yells from down the river.

“But what am I concentrating on?” Aang asks.

“Feel the heat of the sun” Jeong Jeong instructs. “It is the greatest source of fire. Yet, it is in complete balance with nature!” Aang looks up at the sun and then turns back to his instructor with a huge smile on his face.

“So when do I get to make some fire?”

“Concentrate!” Aang breathes deeply, and then flushes in embarrassment as he hears his friends laughing at him from behind. He turns to look at them, but they stop instantly, trying in vain to look innocent. Rana knows how hard this is though. She went through the training too. She knows how hard it is.

…....

Later, Rana sits with Pikachu who plays with a ball made of vines and plant material that Rana made for it to play with. Wartortle has been put back in the ball to rest for the rest of the day. She'll get them all out tomorrow and let them have a good run around. She knows it's hard on them.

…......

At the river, Aang and Jeong Jeong have returned to the banks to train, Jeong Jeong catches a falling leaf in his hand, holds it between his thumb and forefinger. He begins to burn a tiny hole in it at the point of contact.

“Concentrate on the fire. I want you to keep this flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as you can” The hole is spreading with the flame even as Aang assumes his stance and begins to concentrate. Suddenly a rebel guard approaches the pair.

“Master! There is trouble.”

“What's going on?” Aang asks. Jeong Jeong begins to leave with the guard.

“Concentrate on your leaf” He orders and then hurries away. Behind Aang, Katara watches from the rive's edge. Aang becomes petulant, almost as soon as Jeong Jeong has disappeared from sight.

“This is the worst fire-bending instruction ever. All he does is leave me alone for hours to concentrate or breathe”

“I'm sure there's a good reason” Katara offers.

“But I'm ready to do so much more” Suddenly Aang's face lights up with an idea. He widens his stance, begins to breathe. He still holds the leaf, which begins to smoke. Suddenly, the leaf bursts into flame and disintegrates. Aang is now holding a fireball in his hand. “I did it! I made fire!”

“Aang, that's great, but you should take it slow” Aang's expression gets annoyed at this comment, and the flame instantly gets bigger. He and Katara are surprised. “Careful!” Aang retains control and reduces the flame to its former size, but not before almost falling into the river.

“Now that's fire-bending!” Aang then shoots a whip of flame, and then begins to juggle his ball of flame happily.

“Aang, you'll hurt yourself!” Katara scolds.

“Wonder how that juggler did it?” Aang loops the ball around him. It begins a complete circle around him and he pushes it outward. The shockwave of flame engulfs Katara and burns her hands which she has raised to protect her face. She cries out in pain and crumples to her knees, hands wrapped around her. “Katara!” Aang hops over to her as she cries pitifully. “I'm so sorry!” Sokka rushes towards them.

“Katara, what's wrong!?” He asks and then turns on Aang, angrily. “What did you do?”

“Iiiit was an accident! I was... Katara, I'm so...” Sokka cuts him off as he grabs Aang and tackles him to the ground just as Aang tried to put a hand on Katara's shoulder.

“I told you we shouldn't mess around with this! Look what you did! You burned my sister!” Katara gets up and runs away. Aang looks scared and lost. Sokka is standing over him, still very angry. “You burned my sister!” Sokka scolds him just as Jeong Jeong returns. Sokka turns on the ageing fire-bender. “This is all your fault!”

“I know. Now pack your things. You must leave immediately”

“I'm sorry, I didn't...” Aang tries but Sokka walks away. “I'm sorry!” Aang looks up at Jeong Jeong who has walked over to him. He looks implacable. He turns and walks away leaving Aang alone.

…....

Katara is crying by the river bank. She looks at her hands, to where they are burned before she puts them in the water. The pain intensifies, then she feels some relief. Her eyes open in surprise as she looks down. Her hands glow white underneath the water. She raises them out and they stop glowing to find that the burns are now gone. She looks at her hands in amazement.

“You have healing abilities” She turns to see Jeong Jeong approaching from behind. “The great benders of the water tribe sometimes have this ability” He sits next to her. “I've always wished I were blessed like you.....free from this burning curse”

“But you're a great master. You have powers I'll never know.”

“Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart” Suddenly the water in front of them is blasted with gouts of flame. Jeong Jeong rises quickly to a defensive bending stance and breaks the flames that wash over him and Katara. Zhao's riverboats are bearing down on them. “Go, get your friends and flee! Do not come back here or you will all be destroyed. Hurry!” Katara hurries away. Jeong Jeong turns back to face the boats which are shooting fireballs at him. They land harmlessly all around him.

….

Sokka is preparing Appa to leave. Aang sits nearby, looking forlorn. Sokka turns to his sister as she runs towards them.

“Katara! Are you all right?”

“I'm fine, we've got to get out of here. Where's Rana?” Sokka thumbs in the direction of the trees.

….....

Rana is heading through the trees, back towards the hut to join the others. Pikachu sits on her shoulder with its little ball when Katara runs through them to reach her.

“We have to get out here,” Katara tells her. “Zhao and his soldiers are attacking!”

“Where?” Rana asks her as Pikachu moves to Katara to show off its new ball.

“By the river. They captured Jeong Jeong.” Rana turns to leave, to go after Zhao, Katara stops her with a hand on her arm.

“I have to help him!” Rana argues and shakes off Katara's arm. “Get Aang out of here....”

“Rana!” Katara yells after her but Rana just keeps going. She can't let Zhao hurt these people. She can't let him get away with this.

Chapter 84: Chapter Eighty

On the beach, Zhao and his men stand against the lone Jeong Jeong. The ships all lined up looking like monsters before the tiny fire-bender. Zhao's eyes scan the trees behind him, as if he can sense or see Rana through them. She's here though. He can feel it. He's so close. He lowers his eyes to Jeong Jeong.

“Look at you. You were once so great. I can't believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage”

“It is you who have embraced savagery, Zhao”

“It's Admiral Zhao, now” Zhao corrects his former mentor.

“That title will not help you against the Elemental. Do not try to fight her! You are no match!” Zhao laughs, not taking him seriously. He underestimates Rana's true power. He always has.

“I think I can handle a child”

“I have never seen such raw power”

“Jeong Jeong!” Rana shouts as she rushes towards him.

“We'll see. Men! Take the deserter!” Zhao orders and Jeong Jeong is suddenly surrounded by five of Zhaos's spearmen. Rana stops short in horror as they close in. Jeong Jeong smiles and wraps himself in a massive ball of flame. When it dissipates, he is gone. “It's a trick! He's run off into the woods. Find him!” Zhao orders and then turns towards Rana. “Let's find out just how far you've come, girl” Rana adjusts her stance and glares at him. Zhao launches a fireball at Rana, who dodges that and another. “I did not raise a coward. Stand and fight!” Zhao scolds her. He launches another fireball at Rana. It flies over Rana's head as she uses a slab of earth to disrupt its path. Zhao somehow manages to turn ever angrier. He then fires several more volleys which Rana either dodges or breaks with bending of many different forms. Showing her true diversity. Zhao's blasts have torched much of the surrounding forest and the sky fills with smoke. Rana bends water from the river to douse the flames, whilst she thinks of a way to out manoeuvrer Zhao.

“No self-control...” She realises and looks over at the boats then back at Zhao.

“Stand and fight, Child!” Zhao scolds her. She lets out a breath and turns, changing her stance.

“Oh, were we fighting?” She asks him. “I thought you were just getting warmed up” She pushes, she knows exactly how to get to him. To push his buttons. To wind him up into attacking.

“I was!” Zhao agrees and then fires many more volleys, all of which miss Rana as she dodges them.

“Is that all you got?” She teases and then scoffs. “They really will make anyone an admiral these days!” Zhao launches another errant fire blast with a dreadful noise of frustration. Rana jumps, launching herself up onto one of the ships. Zhao looks livid and then makes another noise of frustration. He jumps up onto the main deck and launches a blast of fire. It sets the bridge on fire, but Rana jumps off unharmed to the aft section. She jumps the aft section of the next ship.“I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko” She looks disappointed when she says this and hangs her arms by her sides, letting them dangle. Her eyes go wide and she falls flat on the deck fast, though, as a wall of fire passes over her. Zhao is on the deck of the first ship and has just blasted a hole through the guard rail of both ships with the wall of fire Rana just avoided. “Sloppy. Very sloppy” Crying in frustration, Zhao follows Rana around the boats, spreading fire to each of them in his vain effort to get to her. Momentarily out of Zhao's sight, Rana hides behind one of the deck cabins. Zhao lands behind her, however, having jumped down from the top of the deck cabin. Rana turns to face him.

“Nowhere to run now, little girl” He launches a firebolt, which Rana dodges by flipping over Zhao's head to land behind him. The bridge of the third and last ship is now on fire.

“You've lost this battle” She points out and then dodges another blast as Zhao sets fire to the third ship.

“Are you crazy? You haven't thrown a single blow!” Zhao scolds, Rana holds out her hand to the left, motioning.

“No, but you have” She points out. Zhao looks to his left and grimaces. All three ships are now on fire. The first is sinking fast into the river. “You have no restraint” She points out as she takes a few steps back, she smirks and shrugs before diving off the side of the boat and into the water. Rana breaks the surface of the water and, cupping her hand to her mouth. “Have a nice walk home...Dad!” She comments, Zhao glares down at her as she smirks victoriously.

“Rah, come on!” Aang yells for her as he hurries towards the riverbank, his eyes widening as he stares at the flaming ships. “Whoa” Zhao snatches the bow from the weapons rack on the burning deck, grabbing an arrow from one of the quivers, looking rather manic. This arrow is different. The arrowhead is drenched in a dark purple, almost black liquid. Zhao lines it up, set into the bow and turns, aiming straight at Aang who joins Rana, looking out over the ships a little impressed. Zhao turns the bow, changes his aim for Rana.

“You've gotten in the way long enough” He comments and then releases the arrow. It whistles through the air and finds its target. Tearing through Rana's side, she cries out and almost falls to her knees, and would have, if not for Aang quickly grabbing her arm.

“Why do people keep shooting me with arrows?” Rana asks. “Let me go,” She tells Aang. “Let me fall...” She complains, he releases her and as she falls to her knees, curling around herself, the arrow sticking out of her side, she lets out a long groan of pain but it does take some of the pressure off. Aang hops on his feet, eyes flickering between her and Zhao who smirks.

“Sokka!” Aang then shouts over his shoulder as he moves to help Rana up to her feet again. Sokka slides down from Appa and races towards his friend. He skids to a stop at her side when Aang moves out of the way, hurrying to Appa as Sokka lifts up Rana, bridal style, her arm around his neck as he races back towards Appa.

Chapter 85: Chapter Eighty-One

Rana lays unconscious in Appa's saddle. Aang, Katara, Pikachu, and Sokka surround her. Sokka holds the arrow in his hand, just pulled from Rana. The four of them stare down at Rana's wound. It's not pretty. At all. But more than that. It's not normal. Something is off about this.

“What is that?” Aang asks as the wound oozes dark purple goo.

“Nothing good” Sokka comments staring at it. The goo starts to bubble and spit slightly. “What...? What do we do?” He looks at the others. Hoping one of them will know what to do. He can't think. He can't plan. Seeing his friend in this much pain. Katara opens her water bottle and wraps some water around her hand. It glows white again. Rana groans as she wakes, her side is burning, it's on fire, and agony. It seems to spread through her too. Starting at the wound and just flooding her with every beat of her heart. Sokka touches her shoulder and holds her still. Aang has her head in his lap, his hand stroking at her hair to comfort her.

“Just lay still a little longer,” He tells her as Katara touches the wound and Rana cries out. Tears gather in Katara's eyes as she concentrates, trying to ignore that she's hurting her friend. She pulls the water back and leans forward as Sokka does.

“What did it do?” Sokka asks.

“Not as much as I thought it would” Katara complains as she looks over the wound. Something happened with the water, there are patches of skin that aren't as damaged but it still looks angry and painful. Rana is now unconscious against Aang. Sokka takes the crystal ball from her necklace.

“We can send word to Shakra, she'll know what to do” He offers and holds out the ball. “Noi” He begs.

“We can't use it” Aang points out when nothing happens. “It only listens to its master...that's Rah” Sokka closes his eyes and hangs his head, dropping the ball to the saddle. Pikachu picks it up and looks between them all.

“Pika?” It asks. They look at Pikachu whose eyes fill with tears.

“What do we do?” Sokka asks it but it just stares at them.

“I still did something, even if it was just a tiny thing” Katara reminds them. “I just have to keep trying” Her eyes plead with them to believe in her. To believe that she can do this. “I can fix this...” Sokka lets out a breath and then nods.

“I'll wrap the wound for now” He offers. “We should find someone to start a fire, so I can make a compress” He turns and starts going through their bags to make sure they have everything that they need. “Maybe I can draw that stuff out” Aang keeps his eyes on Rana's ears, the way they're pinned back against her head with her pain.

…....

Zuko frowns as he looks around the usual meadow he finds himself in when he dreams. But there is something off about it. Everything is tinged dark purple and there is a thick heat that even he, as a fire-bender, finds uncomfortable. He looks down and finds that Rana is lying in the grass. He frowns down at her, cocking his head. She just lays there. Unmoving. But she's not dead, he's not sure she'd turn up here if she was dead, but more than that, she's still breathing.

“What's wrong with you?” He asks, she lets out a breath and shrugs before cringes. Her image flickering in and out of existence. He doesn't know what that means but this whole thing feels wrong. All of it feels....poisoned. He kneels at her side, grabs her face in his hands and frowns. She's burning up. On fire almost. “Are you sick?” He asks as her eyes flutter and close. “Hey!” He snaps a little and she opens her eyes to look at him.

“Zu” She whispers. He leans closer to her. “I'm sorry” He frowns at her.

“What for?” He asks her, brushing tears from her cheeks. It's clear that she's really not very well. Her skin is pale against his, her ears folded back on her head, her eyes all red and tearful.

“I forgot you” She answers, he nods.

“I forgot you too, it's okay” He assures her as her jaw trembles against his hands. He leans closer to her, letting her wrap her arms around him. Touches his back, clutching at his clothes. He closes his eyes and presses his forehead to hers. When he leans back, she's gone. He touches the ground and then looks around. But he's alone now.

…....

Sokka wrings out a cloth where he's knelt next to Rana. Appa behind them sleeps, resting. They've landed and set up camp for the night. To do this better. He's wrapped Rana's wound, as best as he can. But they are running low on everything. It was a really bad time for her to get injured. She shifts a little as she wakes.

“Zu?” She asks, Sokka looks at her sadly and touches her shoulder.

“No, it's Sokka” Sokka corrects her as he sets a cold cloth to her head. “Zu's not here” She groans and turns her head away from him. His fingers brush her hair back from her neck only for him to drop it and stare at her flesh. “It's spreading” He points out, Aang and Katara leaning over his shoulder to look at the purple veins in her neck. “We have to find a healer”

“I can do it” Katara argues. “I just need more water...” She looks at the river just down the bank.

“We could do with some more supplies” Sokka mumbles to himself as he rubs the back of his hand against his forehead before he stands.

“There's a village down the hill” Katara points out. Sokka nods. “We flew over it”

“I'll get more bandage” Sokka adds taking the coin purse from Rana's bag. “And they'll have herbs...”

“And get stuff for soup” Katara adds, Sokka already walking away, he waves over his shoulder in acknowledgement. Aang looks between them before deciding that he doesn't want to see Rana in pain, so he follows Sokka.

“Pika?” Pikachu asks following after Sokka who then holds out his arm and Pikachu jumps up, climbing up him to get to his shoulder. Katara closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before nodding to herself. She can do this. She has to. Anyone else would see what Rana is and contact the Fire Nation. Going for help puts her at risk. They need to fix this themselves. Katara moves closer to Rana, sets her water skin at her side as she kneels next to her. Rana's fallen back to sleep, but it's not surprising. Katara thinks it would be better to do this with Rana out of it. She undoes the bandaging that Sokka had done. Undoing the cap on the waterskin, she pulls out a string of water and wraps it around her hands, they begin to glow and she holds them over Rana's wound.

Chapter 86: Chapter Eighty-Two

Katara doesn't put the bandage back on, if Sokka has gone for more it will be best to put fresh ones on instead of replacing the ruined ones. She picks up the crystal ball from the ground where Pikachu left it and moves back to Rana. She presses the ball into Rana's hand and leans closer to her ear.

“Think of Noi” She whispers, hoping that this is going to work. “We could use his help” She looks at the ball which glows a little but nothing happens. “It's okay, Rana” Katara assures her as she takes the ball back. “It's okay” Her voice breaks as she sits next to Rana. Letting out a long breath as she sniffles. Rana's been hurt before, but she just does that purple light thing and everything is okay. This is different.

…......

Zuko leans on the railing of his ship. Staring out across the dark night ocean. He'd woken not long after Rana disappeared from their dream. His worry eating away at him. He can feel it, inside of him, that there is something very wrong with her. Behind him, Iroh walks onto the deck and towards Zuko.

“Can you not sleep?” Iroh asks him, watching his nephew. He looks exhausted. Pale. Troubled, more so than usual. He knows Zuko's been struggling with the concept of the spirit-bond, of what it means for him, but he thought Zuko was okay with it.

“Something's wrong” Zuko admits. “Everything feels wrong” He looks at his Uncle. “I think she's in trouble....and I don't know what to do...” He rubs at his head and then heads back inside, Eevee following behind him. Houndour looks at Iroh before following them. Iroh reaches into his pocket and sighs before pulling out a crystal ball similar to Rana's. He rubs his thumb over it.

…..

Sokka carries a bag of supplies through the village, Aang following behind him, scuffing his feet on the ground as he goes. They have what they need, but neither wants to go back to see Rana in the state she is in. They are dragging their feet as much as they can.

“So travellers, the next time you think you hear a strange large bird talking, take a closer look, it might not be a giant parrot, but a flying man!” A voice states close by. A man sat at a fire, surrounded by children listening with interest. “A member of a secret group of air walkers who laugh at gravity and laugh at those bound to the earth by it!” Aang moves closer to listen.

“It means a lot to hear air-bender stories being told,” Aang tells the storyteller. “Where did you hear that story?”

“My Great grand-pappy”

“It must have been hundred years ago your great-grandpa met them”

“What are you prattling about, child? Great grand-pappy saw the air walkers last week!” Close by, a very old man who waves at Aang.

“Heya!”

…........

Rana is awake now but she still doesn't look great. Katara's been healing as much as she can but even that seems to have stopped working. Either it has stopped because of whatever this is, or Katara is just so tired she can't do it anymore. When Aang had heard about the possibility that there might be more air-benders they left, immediately. She lets out a sigh as she peers over the edge of Appa. She's been sort of propped up, taking pressure off of her side. Noivern makes a noise above them and then drops something from his mouth. Sokka stands to catch it, dropping back into a seated position again after.

“It's a reply from Shakra” He offers as he scans through the letter, Katara moving to his side to read it too. “Rest?” Sokka reads. “That's it?”

“It also says that without a spirit-bender that it's the best we can do” Katara scolds him. “It'll take longer but she'll be fine...She says it's something the Fire Nation used when it attacked Vasta” She reads. “It was meant to slow the vastaya down, not to kill them. It also...” Katara then gasps.

“What?” Sokka and Aang both asks her.

“It cuts off their bending” She answers.

“For how long?” Rana asks, shifting a little.

“It doesn't say” Katara offers. “Because...” She stops and looks down. Sokka tilts his head slightly. 

“The Fire Nation used the lack of bending to go in and kill them” Sokka realises and rubs at his eyebrow. “Whilst they were defenceless...” He turns to Rana. “So, good news, you'll be fine, bad news...no bending for a while” Rana pulls a face and looks away. That's not a great thing considering she's supposed to protect Aang.

…....

Iroh slides Rana's tome into a satchel as he approaches a Talonflame perched on the railing of the ship. The bird pokemon watching him approach, but not wary or cautious, with affection and warmth.

“Lu” Iroh whispers and holds out the satchel to the Talonflame. “I need you to find the True Elemental...” Talonflame takes the bag into his claw. “Give this to her...” Talonflame flaps his wings and then takes to the sky at speed. Iroh watching him disappear into the clouds. He lets out a breath and turns heading back into the interior of the ship.

.............

Zuko touches the top of Eevee's head absent-mindedly as he tries to meditate. Though it is difficult when he's so worried. Houndour brushes up against his side and Zuko lifts his hand to touch his head too. They are clearly attempting to comfort him, but it's not going to work unless he knows that Rana is okay.

…........

Rana goes over the letter from Shakra, but like Sokka and Katara told her. There is nothing more they can do. All she can do is rest. Which is great, because her life is so peaceful and calm. The Fire Nation could find them at any moment. If she can't fight. Then she is useless. She offers nothing to them without her abilities. If she can't put herself in front of Aang....then she fails. Sokka sits at her side. Can see the cogs turning in her head. Can see just what she's thinking about. He knows she worries about being the True Elemental. He knows she worries about being a failure. She's in pain. Rundown. Tired. It's all just swirling around inside of her. He touches the back of her hand before lacing his fingers with hers. Rana looks at him before she leans against his side.

Chapter 87: Chapter Eighty-Three

Appa flies through the sky. Pikachu sat on his head with Momo and Aang. Rana is sleeping behind them, Sokka and Katara sat close to her, keeping an eye on her. Aang starts to smile as he takes something in, seeing something in the distance.

“Hey, we're almost at the Northern Air Temple!” Aang shouts, Rana jerks awake and then instantly regrets it. Her hand shoots to her side and she cries out in pain. Aang cringes a little and offers an apologetic smile. “This is where they had the championships for sky bison polo” Katara sits next to Rana and touches her arm in question, to make sure she is okay.

“Do you think we'll really find air-benders?” She asks.

“You want me to be like you, or totally honest?” Sokka counters, Rana and Katara look at him. Katara folds her arms over her chest.

“Are you saying I'm a liar?” She asks him.

“I'm saying you're an optimist” Sokka defends. “Same thing basically” Aang looks ahead, smiling brighter.

“Hey, guys, look at this!” He points out. Appa flies them towards the Northern Air Temple. It sits atop a sheer peak similar to its sister temple down south. Unlike that temple, however, there are people or things flying around this one. Cut to a closer shot of the temple. Smoke rises in lazy pillars from a couple of places among the spires. Around the temple fly many gliders. Aang's smile turns to a slight frown.

“Huh! They really are air-benders!” Katara points out. Aang leans back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest unhappily.

“No, they're not”

“What do you mean they're not?” Sokka asks. “Those guys are flying!”

“Gliding maybe, but not flying. You can tell by the way they move. They're not air-bending. Those people have no spirit” As he finishes, Katara and Sokka almost get their heads taken off by a glider as it passes over their heads. The glider pilot laughs. Rana groans and drops her head back. Katara points at the glider.

“I don't know, Aang. That kid seems pretty spirited!” The wheelchair glider makes another pass. Aang looks at him and gets a competitive look on his face. He jumps into the air, unfolds his glider and takes off. The other gliders now fly in formation around Appa. Katara falls backwards, crashing into Sokka.

“We better find some solid ground before it finds us!” Sokka points out as Rana slides across the saddle when Appa tries to avoid the gliders. Rana curls around her side and cringes.

…......

Appa lands gracefully on one of the temple's outer terraces. Pikachu bouncing along his back to get to Rana as Sokka helps her down from the back of the sky bison. Unsteady on her feet, Rana keeps an arm around herself, Sokka holding her up as they watch Aang in the sky. Katara picks up Pikachu and slides from Appa's back to join them. Aang soars upwards through the sky behind the glider boy that he's challenging.

“Go, Teo! Show that bald kid how it's done!” Sokka snorts and looks at the boy that shouted up at the sky. Aang continues his pursuit. Teo hits his brakes, loops backwards and ends us behind Aang. They twirl around each other in a controlled dive. Aang breaks his descent, turns and shoots straight upward. He comes back to one of the temple's towers, lets go of his glider, and starts running along the side of the tower. Then he produces an air scooter, jumps on it and rides it along the outside wall of the tower, his glider still running alongside him. He lets the air scooter die and then jumps back on his glider and soars back into the sky. Something then glistens against the sun, almost unnoticeable except for Aang who turns his head to seek out whatever it is. It's red and grey and it's darting through the sky in the distance, moving in closer to the temple. Aang's eyes narrow at it before he moves to intercept it. But it's fast and agile and determined. Managing to out manoeuvrer Aang.

“What is that?” Sokka asks as they watch from the temple. Rana's eyes widen.

“Wait!” Rana yells as she watches. “It's a pokemon!” She shouts at Aang who looks surprised before he stops chasing the Talonflame, allowing it to fly towards Rana and the temple. He lands in front of Rana, staring at her before he pushes the satchel towards her.

“Is that for me?” Rana asks.

“Talon” He answers and inclines his head before pushing the bag again. Sokka moves and picks up the bag before returning to Rana, holding it up to dig around, knowing that she probably won't have the energy to do so all by herself. Sokka hands over a letter before he goes back to the bag.

“Your book” Sokka comments as he pulls the tome from the bag. Rana looks down at the letter and smiles slightly. “What?” Sokka asks her.

“Nothing” She whispers. She's actually touched that Iroh sent Talonflame to check on her, for Zuko, but still. To give her book back too. She moves closer to the Talonflame, struggling slightly. She falls to her knees and cringes, clenching her jaw tight to stop the cry of pain. Talonflame nudges her and helps her upright. She touches his neck feathers and gives him a thankful smile. “Will you stick around?” She asks him. “So I can write back?”

“Talon” He answers softly and nods.

“You're really beautiful” She whispers. She says it rather a lot about pokemon, but they really are all beautiful and amazing and she's in awe with every single one she comes across. Aang lands next to Katara and Sokka, folding his glider. Teo lands his glider right behind, skidding only a bit before he applies his hand brake and comes to a stop. A bunch of kids come up and detach the glider from his wheelchair. He then wheels over to Aang and his friends. Sokka then moves to Rana and touches her shoulder. She lets out a shaky breath and then allows him to help her up to her feet. Talonflame leaps up, and lands on Sokka's head, leaving him unamused. Teo moves closer to the group.

“Our friend” Katara starts. “She's injured, is there anywhere...”

“I just need a quiet corner...” Rana stops Katara. “I'm fine....” She adds when she notes Katara's concerned gaze. “Look, I'll stay out here with Appa” Appa makes an agreeing noise. “Go, find out what you need to...” She and Aang share a look. “I'll be here” He gives her a soft smile and nods.

Chapter 88: Chapter Eighty-Four

Rana slides down the side of Appa and lets out a breath. Talonflame sitting next to her, waiting patiently as she pulls out some writing supplies from her bag. Iroh's letter is in her other hand as she sets everything up before she finishes reading what Iroh sent. Really reading it. Iroh talks about the spirit-bond and Zuko's recent illness because of June and her shirshu. She feels terrible about it. She was looking for her. June only tracked her scent back to Zuko because she was looking for her. And he got hurt. Really badly hurt by the sounds of it. But it's because of that bond that Zuko feels that she's hurt, which she is. Next to her, she opens up the book and flips to the page Iroh mentioned. The one that talks about the spirit-bond. She touches the pages as she reads through the information. It does explain some of the stranger things she's experienced. The whispers. The phantom touches. How sometimes she feels like she can hear him or see him, but him not actually being there. It's all explained, and frankly, she's relieved that it's not a sign of her descending into pure madness. She leans her head back against Appa. There is something about Iroh having a pokemon that touches her. They only connect to people they choose and they see something in. Pokemon are spiritual creatures, see more than everyone else. Talonflame must have seen something in Iroh. She turns a little and picks up a piece of paper, managing to pull a knee up to rest it on, though it hurts to do so. Iroh thought enough about her to check up on her, she can at least assure him that she's fine, in pain but alive. She adds a little note for Zuko before she sets her quill down. She's not sure what else to write. She wants to write more so it doesn't seem so...empty. She taps the quill to the paper and then moves down the page, adding a little side note for Zuko. Hoping and believing that Iroh will show him. As she finishes her letter, Rana rolls it up and slides the letter back into the satchel before she turns to Talonflame, waiting patiently at her side. She lets out a breath and then holds it out.

“You can return to your master now” She assures him. “Thank you” Talonflame inclines his head before he takes the satchel and then off, disappearing through the clouds. Rana sighs and scratches at Appa's fur.

..........

Iroh holds out the letter to Zuko who frowns as he takes it before unrolling it to take in the writing on it. He softens as he realises who it's from, but there is still worry in his eyes.

“She was shot with a spirit-arrow” Iroh explains as Zuko reads the note at the bottom for him. Just a little reassurance that she's okay and he shouldn't be worrying about her. That doesn't mean he's going to stop worrying. What he felt from her in that dream was...horrible, and she was likely feeling 100 x worse than that. “You were right, she is hurt, and sick...”

“Spirit-arrow” Zuko whispers reading the rest of the note.

“They are used to poison the vastaya, to cut them off from their elemental realms...meaning that they can't bend....” Zuko clenches his jaw.

“Meaning they can't fight back” Zuko adds. “Or defend themselves” Zuko clutches the letter in his hand, crumpling it. “Zhao” He growls. He's the only one deranged enough to use that arrow on his own daughter. He is really determined to hurt Rana. Not even just straight up killing her. But hurting her. Poisoning her. Hunting her. It's a lot more twisted.

“Eevee” Zuko looks down at Eevee who is watching him, seemingly reading his upset. Zuko relaxes his hand, the crumpled papers smoothing slightly. He crouches in front of her and ruffles the fur on her head to reassure her that he's okay.

…......

Rana holds her arm around herself as she wanders around the air temple with Pikachu perched on her shoulder. She got bored. It's that simple. She's walking down a long corridor of the Temple. Huge Air Nomad swirls are built into mosaics on the floor, Rana smiles a little as she looks over them. She hopes Aang saw this corridor, he'd like this. To see something of his people. She looks up when she comes to some huge doors. Dominated in the centre by a woodcut comprised of three wooden air symbols protruding from its surface and which are arranged in a triangular pattern. The symbols are attached to tubes that end in two horns near the bottom of the woodcut.

“Just like the other temple,” She tells Pikachu who looks at her and then at the door.

“Pika” Pikachu agrees.

“Hmm, you're right” She voices staring up at the door. “Only an air-bender can open it” She then smirks. “Or me” She and Pikachu share a look.

“Pika pika” Pikachu argues, looking at her bandaged side. Rana hangs her head, remembering that she's not got any bending abilities right now. Pikachu jumps down from her shoulder and moves to the door, knocking on it before looking back at Rana, she takes a deep breath and then nods, more to herself than anything. She then holds out her hands and concentrates, trying to reconnect with her abilities. For a flicker, just enough to pump some air through the old mechanisms. It hurts, but she is definitely something there, flickering at her fingertips. Rana then air-bends two jets of air, one from each arm, into the horns at the bottom of the woodcut. The air runs through the tubes and one by one flips the air symbols from the blue sides which had been showing, to the maroon sides which had been facing the interior of the temple. As each turns, it flips another mechanism on the outside of a door, clearly, all three of the symbols had to trigger each of their mechanisms in order to unlock the Temple door.

“Pika” Pikachu whispers clutching Rana's leg. The doors open and her eyes widen to find that it's filled with evil-looking war machines and torture devices as well as Fire Nation flags. She clenches her fingers into her palms.

“You don't understand” Teo's father, the Mechanist, is stood behind her. She lets out a breath, moving a hand to her side.

“Rana?” Sokka's voice sounds from behind the Mechanist. “What's going on?” He turns defensive a little seeing the lines in Rana's shoulders that show she's upset. He moves towards her and looks between the Mechanist and his friend. She lets out a breath and turns around.

“They're making weapons for the Fire Nation” She answers, staring at the Mechanist.

“You make weapons for the Fire Nation!?” Sokka asks angrily.

“What?” Katara, Aang, and Teo are stood behind his father. It's clear they've just heard everything.

“Explain all this! Now!” Teo demands his dad.

“It was about a year after we moved here. Fire Nation soldiers found our settlement. You were too young to remember this tale. They were going to destroy everything, burn it to the ground. I pleaded with them, I begged them to spare us. They asked what I had to offer. I offered... my services. You must understand, I did this for you!” Teo turns his head and his wheelchair away. The Mechanist hangs his head and then walks away from his son. Rana cringes and pulls her hand from her side to find it covered in blood. She wasn't ready to move or to bend anything.

“Don't leave it like this” Rana tells Aang and Teo. “Go and talk to him” She curls her arm around her middle.

“Yeah, and I'll change her bandage” Sokka gives Rana a scolding look. She just rolls her eyes a little.

Chapter 89: Chapter Eighty-Five

Aang stands in front of his friends as Sokka finishes sealing Rana's bandage against her side. They all listen to Aang as he tells them about the Fire Nation and the threat now facing the temple because he got a little heated and stood up for the civilians here. He might have doomed them all. These people aren't really built for a fight with the Fire Nation.

"This is bad!" Sokka tells Aang. "Very bad!"

"What are we gonna do?" Katara asks as she sits next to Rana. "How can we possibly keep them all away?" Aang worries his lip and glances at Rana. She gives him a look back. He can do this. He can make a plan here. But he looks so scared of getting it wrong. Rana sits up, careful of her side.

"We have something they don't" She offers, Sokka and Katara look at her, she points up at the sky to where a few gliders are moving. "Right now...We control the sky. That's something the Fire Nation can't do"

"I want to help" The Mechanist states behind Aang.

"Good, we'll need it" She offers and then moves to stand, only to cringe and drop back. "Urm. You guys go on ahead....." She touches her side and then falls back against Appa's side.

"Can you fight at all?" Aang asks. "I don't think we can do this without you" Rana shrugs.

"I can't bend right now....air-bending the door open took it out of me....but maybe I can offer some assistance from the sky" She pulls the crystal ball from her neck and holds it out. Noivern erupts from it and lets out a sort of roar of agreement.

"Rana, I think you underestimate how much you twist and move on Noi's back" Sokka offers. "I don't think you'll even manage that without ripping your side" He then gives her a scolding look. "Yet again" She turns to look at him.

"Well, I can't just sit here" She complains. She really would hate it if she had to sit out a fight. Not against the Fire Nation. What would be the point in her being an Elemental if she can't do her job? What if she is really bad at this? What if she's the worst Elemental that ever existed? "I can't do nothing" She adds and looks at Sokka who understands. She's a warrior with a warrior's heart. Sitting out the fight isn't part of her nature.

........

The Mechanist's office is full of people including his son and Katara, Rana, Pikachu, Sokka and Aang as they listen to the Mechanist go through what he has to offer them against the Fire Nation.

"We finally got the war balloon working, thanks to Sokka. This boy's a genius!"

"Thank you. You're a genius!" Sokka counters with a smile.

"Thank you!"

"See, the problem with the old war balloon was you could get it airborne, but once you did, it just kept going" Sokka demonstrates with a model that goes up and hits the ceiling. "You could put a hole in the top, but then all the hot air would escape. So the question became, how do you keep a lid on hot air?"

"Ugh, if only we knew." Katara comments dryly, Rana smirks a little. Aang, Teo and Katara laugh. Sokka now has another model, but this balloon has a mechanism to open and close a lid on its top.

"A lid is actually the answer. If you control the hot air, you control the war balloon" Sokka demonstrates by pulling a string connected to the lid that opens and closes it.

"Hmm. That's actually pretty smart" Rana points out.

"Okay, we've got four kinds of bombs. Smoke, slime, fire and..."

"...stink" The Mechanist adds. "Never underestimate the power of stink!" Rana lets out a breath and nods. They can do this.

..........

Rana stands with Noivern and Pikachu, the rest of her pokemon scattered behind her, herding the children of the residents together to keep them safe. They know their job is to keep the Fire Nation from the children.

"They're coming!" A little girl shouts and then hugs Lycanroc, crying into her fur.

"Are we ready?" Teo asks.

"Yes, but where's Sokka with the war balloon?" Katara asks, she looks at Rana who lets out a breath, turning she climbs onto Noivern's back, settling into his saddle.

"We'll have to start without him" Rana answers adjusting the reins. Aang jumps down from Appa and readies his glider. Momo lands on the top of Aang's glider. Teo smiles as he pulls on his goggles. Behind them, two rows of gliders stand ready to launch. Rana, Aang and Teo near the head. Teo gives a thumbs up, then Rana begins the launch sequence. Noivern flaps his wings as he runs towards the edge of the terrace, picking up speed as he goes before he launches himself off the edge, taking flight. Aang flies off next, followed by Teo and then the rest. The deck crews cheer as the gliders launch.

....

The path up to the Air Temple is choked with Fire Nation soldiers climbing up it. Up above, Rana, Aang and Teo dive, the other gliders in tow. They break through the cloud deck and start dropping various bombs on the surprised soldiers. Noivern lets out a sonic boom. Many fall off the path into the crevices below.

"Take them out of the sky, now!" A Fire Nation commander orders of his men when they are suddenly bombed by gliders. Aang jumps off his glider onto the ground just above the most advanced part of the Fire Nation infantry column. As he jumps he creates an air scooter. He rides along the length of the small cliff face, dumping huge amounts of snow and ice on the soldiers below. When he reaches the end, he kills the air scooter and jumps back onto his glider which is gliding by. The avalanche he created continues to drop downward, engulfing row after row of soldiers. Those left begin to run back down the path.

"We've got'em on the run! We need more slime!" Aang cheers. In the sky, Appa floats motionless above the cloud deck, Katara hands bombs to gliders who pop up over Appa and then disappear back into the combat zone. Suddenly, several huge spikes shoot up through the clouds, narrowly missing Appa. The spikes are attached to chains that disappear, taught, into the clouds. The spikes embed themselves deep into the rock near the Temple. Noivern and Rana fly hard to avoid the grappling hooks being thrown up all over the place, Pikachu clutching to Rana's head, trying to remain upright and onboard. The chain descends again. Fire Nation tundra tanks roar up the road, with two, huge spiked wheels at each end, these heavily armoured vehicles are using the grappling hooks to allow them to scale the cliff face. The gliders all drop bombs on them, but they have little effect. Suddenly, an echoing and increasing war cry comes from the clouds and with some speed, a team of flying pokemon and vastaya riders descend. Rana pulls Noivern around to a stop to watch them all as they head straight into the fight. Fire attacks. Water attacks. Ice attacks. They hit the Fire Nation with everything that they have.

"Come on" She pushes Noivern forward and he dives with them. She's not about to let them have all the fun.

Chapter 90: Chapter Eighty-Six

Rana stabs her sword into the rock face and pulls out one of the grappling hooks. The tank it was attached to begins to drop like a rock, but it fires another grappling hook straight up, narrowly missing Rana. It catches on the rock above, yanks taught, and the tank slams back into the mountain face and begins its climb once again. The tanks climb the cliff face and gain the small plateau area at the base of the Temple. Rana pushes off from the wall and is caught by Noivern who flies her away from the cliff. The fire-benders in the turrets begin to fire blasts of flame, which the vastaya, pokemon, and gliders manage to avoid. They drop more bombs, but they are ineffective against the Fire Nation armour. One fire-bender gets slimed right as Aang drops into the centre of an advancing platoon of tanks. Aang literally blows them away (and upside down) with blasts of air, but their central cabins of the tanks just flip over and they begin advancing again. They shoot more fire blasts at Aang, who avoids them. Katara on Appa is flying next to Teo, all surveying the battlefield.

“Those things are unstoppable!” Katara points out.

“I think I know how they work,” Teo tells her. “I remember my Dad tinkering with the counterbalancing system. Something to do with water. Works great, huh?”

“Water? Can you get me close to one?” Katara asks.

“No problem!” Teo assures her.

…....

Aang is facing off alone against five tanks. They shoot fireball after fireball at him, but he bats them away. They advance on him steadily. Teo swoops down and deposits Katara next to Aang. She assumes a bending stance, concentrates, and stops the forward momentum of one of the tanks with ice. Then, presumably bending the water within it, the tanks big wheels fall off. A grappling hook has grabbed Aang's staff. Katara lifts the tank up with a wall of ice and it falls over, broken. They have disposed of two tanks, but a full dozen now bear down on them. Aang jumps in front of Katara and starts batting away fire blasts. The tanks close in. Aang and Katara are suddenly blocked by the massive bulk of Appa who lands in front of them, roars, and tosses aside the two-point tanks. Aang and Katara jump on Appa and he takes off. They survey the battlefield and it is clear that the situation is not good. Broken down tanks dot the battlefield, but most are still advancing, now closely supported by infantry formations.

….......

Rana stands with Katara, Teo and Aang, the four of them in hasty council, with Momo, Noivern, and Pikachu close by. Waiting for them.

“We're out of bombs!” Teo points out.

“And where did those Vastaya come from?” Aang asks, he looks at Rana.

“No idea” Rana defends as she peers out into the sky at the flying pokemon. “But let's not knock it...” Aang nods in agreement.

“Come on, Sokka, where's that war balloon?” As Katara speaks, the war balloon rises behind her, the balloon is red and decked out with a Fire Nation symbol. Its removable top and tail fin gives it a vague blimp-like shape. The Mechanist and Sokka ride in the basket below the balloon. The basket also contains the coal-burning plant that provides the heat for the balloon's air. Attached to the basket are four huge sacks of material used for ballast. The balloon moves out over the battlefield as the enemy armour advances below.

“Hey, why aren't they shooting at us?” Sokka asks.

“The insignia! They think we're on their side!” The Mechanist offers. Sokka smirks as he cuts a rope with his knife.

“Then I guess they won't see this coming.”

“Bomb away!” One of the ballast sacks drops and blows in a huge explosion of slime on the ground. Sokka drops the other three bombs. The slime washes most of the infantry away, but the tanks continue. They reach the next cliff to scale and begin to use their grappling hooks.

“Oh no! That was the last one!”

“Wait a second” The Mechanist sniffs the air. “You smell that?” He asks.

“Rotten eggs” Sokka points out and leans over the edge of the basket just as they are passing over a crevasse. “There! That's where the gas is escaping!” Sokka suddenly gets an idea.

…..

On the cliff, Air Temple residents working furiously up top to dislodge the grappling hooks. Ninetails shoots fireballs from her mouth as Lycanrock sends down rocks from the cliff face. Wartortle is shooting out blasts of water. As vines from Chikorita entangle the tanks together.

…....

Sokka begins to ready the balloon's coal-burning plant to be thrown overboard.

“What are you doing!?” The Mechanist asks him. “That's our fuel source!”

“It's the only bomb we've got!” Sokka points out. They then throw the coal furnace overboard into the crevasse. It hits the sides on its way down. The Temple is suddenly buffeted by a series of enormous, fiery explosions at its base. The coal furnace has ignited the escaping natural gas. The Temple is covered in smoke. When it clears, the grappling hook chains dangle in the breeze with nothing attached to them. In the distance, the remaining Fire Nation troops are running back down the mountain. In the foreground, Rana, Aang and company watch the enemy leave.

“Look! They're retreating!” Aang cheers and looks up at Rana. Suddenly the war balloon enters the frame on a clear downward trajectory.

“We're going down!” Sokka yells.

“No! Sokka! Hold on!” Katara's panicked voice offers. Rana whistles and Noivern takes off, racing towards the falling balloon. Sokka swings his boomerang around attached to a rope. Sokka looks up, notices Noivern flying towards them.

“Get ready!” Sokka warns the Mechanist. As Noivern flies by, Sokka throws the boomerang. It catches on the saddle, pulling Sokka and the Mechanist clear of the falling balloon. Noivern flies them back up, while the balloon continues to fall.

Chapter 91: Chapter Eighty-Seven

Behind Aang is a circular stone bench on which Katara and some black and white hermit crabs sit. Aang stands with Teo, the Mechanist, and some of the other temple residents. Rana and Sokka are close by with her pokemon.

“You know what?” Aang asks softly. “I'm really glad you guys all live here now. It's like the hermit crab” He picks one up from the stone bench. “Maybe you weren't born here, but you found this empty shell and made it your home. And now you protect each other”

“That means a lot coming from you,” Teo tells Aang warmly. Aang nods. Sokka elbows Rana and she cringes a little.

“Rana, you were right about airpower,” Sokka tells her. “As long as we've got the skies we'll have the Fire Nation on the run!” The crowd cheers Sokka and Rana smirks amused before her eyes move to the group of vastaya stood away from them, waiting for their moment. She swallows a little and looks down. Aang touches her hand before he takes it. The two of them share a look, both knowing they're going to have to talk to them, to thank them. She nods and lets Aang lead the way over to them. The gathered pokemon and vastaya watch Rana and Aang approach them. An old, greying vastaya stands at the front of the group, a crown-like adornment on his head.

“What are you doing here?” Aang asks. Rana gives him a look. “Not that we aren't grateful” He adds. “But...Why?” The older vastaya moves closer to them.

“Shakra sent word that one of our own had been injured, we were bringing supplies when we saw the Fire Nation....” He explains and then lets out a breath, staring down at Aang. “You haven't aged a day” He comment and Aang frowns back at him. Then he seems to realise as he touches his cheek, staring at the scar on the vastaya's face.

“Taru?” Aang asks as he moves closer to the older man. “You're still alive?”

“Hello, Aang” Taru greets softly, inclining his head. “And it's King Taru now...”

“You are their king and you came all this way to give us supplies?” Rana asks, folding her arms over her chest just as Sokka and Katara move to join them. Taru lets out a small breath.

“My granddaughter was hurt, I thought I should be the one to come here...” He looks at Rana softly, but she just frowns back at him.

“My grandfather” She offers, he nods. “So...you were alive this whole time?” Rana asks.

“Rana” Taru starts.

“Why didn't you come for me?” She whispers, her voice breaking. “Why did you leave me with Zhao and the Fire Nation? If you've been out there this whole time.....” She looks at Taru.

“I had our people to think about,” He tells her. “We didn't have the numbers to get into another war with the Fire Nation...Not even for you” She looks away from him before she looks down and then walks away. “Rana” Taru tries but she sniffles and moves to Noivern waiting for her. What can he possibly say to make it better? Taru takes a deep breath and returns to a more diplomatic appearance. “I also bring gifts from the Vastaya” Taru states and pulls a bag from his belt. He opens it up as he moves closer to Sokka, Katara, and Aang. “A way to say thank you for watching over Rana...” He gives them each a tense smile. “Shakra” Taru offers and hands the three of them a crystal ball like Rana's. “She is a good reader of character....picked out one for each of you” He nods at Sokka who looks down at the ball before he holds it out, a burst of blue light erupting from it and towards the ground. pokemon bursts from it. “Cubone” Taru informs Sokka who crouches in front of the Cubone who spins his bone weapon. Katara looks at the ball and then holds it out, closing her eyes in anticipation. “A Piplup” Taru voices and Katara opens her eyes. “A fine companion for a young water-bender” Katara looks down to find a blue penguin looking pokemon. “And for the Avatar?” Aang glances at Rana and then back at the ball. It doesn't feel right. Doing this without her at their side. Taru and Aang share a look.

“You left her behind” Aang points out.

“I had no choice” Taru defends. “I was King, I had a duty to protect my people, to keep them safe....”

“She is your people too” Aang argues, motioning towards Rana. She folds her arms over her chest, refusing to look over at them. Her people were out there, being led by her own grandfather, and he left her behind. She could have been raised by her own people, and she wasn't. She feels betrayed and abandoned.

“I had to think of the many, the many Vastaya that there were left as refugees, that needed a safe home, that needed protecting....and not focus on one person...Even my own granddaughter” Aang shakes his head.

“Did you give up on me too?” He asks, Taru looks at him sadly.

“I never stopped looking for you, Aang” Taru argues. “Even after I was crowned, even after my children were born...I never stopped” Taru looks over at Rana. “My daughter and her husband, their child....they were just casualties of a war”

“Rana wasn't dead” Aang counters. “She was alone” Aang gives the ball back to Taru. “Keep your gift” He mumbles and moves to Rana.

“We don't have to give ours back, right?” Sokka asks, crouched and holding Cubone to him protectively.

…..........

Rana sits on the edge of the terrace, staring out into the sky where the vastaya leave. She didn't expect them to stay. Taru moves towards her, his pokemon waiting for him behind him. Rana sniffles a little and keeps her head down. Taru hands over the supplies and Rana takes them from him without looking.

“I have to leave,” He tells her. “Return to...” He stops and looks down at her. She shakes her head and looks away. “I understand that my choices upset you,” Taru tells her as he sits at her side. “But I had an impossible decision to make” He looks at her as her ears flatten against the top of her head with her upset. “You were safe in Arkala....so I chose to help our people find a home. Then by the time our people were settled, Zhao had attacked Arkala and you were gone...we didn't have the numbers to find you, let alone get you out...But do not think that I haven't regretted that decision every day since. That I haven't thought about you” She clenches her jaw, fighting tears. “We have an opportunity now though” She stands and turns to face him.

“We have nothing” She stops him. “I've made it this far without your help...or guidance...or whatever. I have everything I need...in my friends and my pokemon.....” She looks down and then walks away. Her tears falling now. She doesn't need him.

Chapter 92: Chapter Eighty-Eight

Sokka draws his fingers through Rana's hair as she sort of sleeps with her head against his shoulder. They're all on edge though. With two new pokemon, and two days of almost constant travelling. Taking it in shifts to sleep but none of them actually sleeping very much during those periods anyway. Cubone sits beside Sokka with Pikachu and Piplup. The other pokemon are all far too big to be travelling on Appa all at the same time. She does feel like she's picking favourites, but there is just something about Pikachu that she's bonded with. Maybe it's the lightning thing. Maybe it's because it seems a little more intelligent than the others. Maybe it just offers better commentary, Pikachu is a lot more vocal than the others. Maybe that is why. Bit of everything. She doesn't know. Sokka leans over Appa's saddle, looking backwards over his beaver-like tail in the direction they came from, his fingers scratching at Rana's ears.

“I'm not one to complain, but can't Appa fly any higher?” He asks when he notes that Appa begins to glide lower, his feet brushing across the top of the water. Aang, in Appa's driver's seat, turns around and answers Sokka angrily.

“I have an idea, why don't we all get on your back and you can fly us to the North Pole?” Aang asks Sokka dryly.

“I'd love to! Climb on everyone” Sokka leans up, disturbing Rana, he wiggles his butt at everyone. “Sokka's ready for takeoff!” Momo jumps up on Sokka in response to his invitation.

“Look, we're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight” Katara offers.

“And for what?” Sokka argues. “We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here” Suddenly a noise is heard up ahead. Ice is moving rapidly towards Appa. Aang screams and pulls Appa's reigns to starboard. Appa banks right and avoids the ice, but almost tips his passengers off the saddle, who hang on for dear life, Katara grabs Piplup and pulls him to her chest as Cubone hods out his bone, Rana grabs onto the end, Pikachu hanging onto Cubone's shoulders. Appa then banks left as another jet of ice erupts out of the waves, but this one slams into Appa's underside, which drops in an uncontrolled spin into the water. Out of the icebergs, several ornate wooden skiffs come to surround Appa. They are manned by people in water tribe garb.

“They're water-benders!” Katara points out. “We found the Water Tribe!” There is a relief in her tone, and yes, after two days of constant flying they are all feeling relieved.

…...........

Appa now swimming in a formation with the Water Tribe boats. Aang gets up and points ahead, excitement on his face.

“There it is”

“The Northern Water Tribe...” Katara whispers in wonder.

“We're finally here...” Sokka adds.

“It's so cold” Rana complains, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Pika” Pikachu agrees, climbing onto her back and nuzzling into her. Sokka pulls a blanket from his bag and shifts closer to Rana, pulling the blanket around her. She's not exactly dressed for the cold. Rana looks at Sokka who smiles and rubs her arms.

“Come on, fire-bend some warmth” He teases, she rolls her eyes fondly.

…..

Zuko's ship is parked up at a dock. Iroh and the lieutenant Jee are sat with two other soldiers around a campfire on the main deck. Jee is playing a stringed instrument, he is accompanied by a set of drums.

“Winter, spring, summer and fall” Iroh sings, slightly out of tune. “Winter and spring, summer and fall. Four seasons, four loves. Four seasons, four loves” During the song, two crewmen dance in front of the fire. Then, suddenly a group of masked Fire Nation soldiers board the ship including Zhao. The music stops as the intruders are noted. Iroh and the others turn to look at the newcomers.

.......

Rana sits between Aang and Sokka at a huge table that's been set up by the Northern Water Tribe, food is being served to those gathered. The rest of the tribe are gathered around them. Rana is still freezing. Her blanket pulled around her tightly. Chief Arnook stands addressing the gathered tribe.

“Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe, as well as the last vastaya......and they have brought with them someone very special, someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now.” Arnook indicates Aang. “The Avatar!” The crowd cheers. “We also celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday” He turns and motions to a beautiful young girl with white hair, flanked by two attendants, walking up to the table. They all bow, smiling. “Princess Yue is now of marrying age” Sokka looks at her with wide eyes.

“Thank you, father. May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times” Yue offers warmly.

“Now, Master Pakku and his students will perform!” Arnook adds and then motions towards three men who now stand on the dais in front of the fountain opposite the dignitaries' table. They begin water-bending water from three enormous jugs in front of them. The crowd begins to cheer. Aang and Katara look at each other in utter delight while they clap, Piplup on Katara's lap watching too. Sokka stuffs his face full of food. A figure walks behind him and sits down next to him. It is Princess Yue. He gulps his mouthful and tries to strike a cool pose next to her.

“Hi, there. Sokka, Southern Water Tribe” Yue smiles and bows slightly.

“Very nice to meet you”

“So... uh... you're a Princess!” She nods and smiles. “You know, back in my tribe, I'm kinda like a Prince myself!”

“Ha! Prince of what?” Katara asks.

“A lot of things! Uh, do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here!” Sokka scolds her.

“My apologies, Prince Sokka” Katara mocks, sharing an amused look with Rana.

“So it looks like I'm gonna be in town for a while. I'm thinking maybe we could...” Sokka tries, Yue, watching him, waiting for him to finish. “Do an activity together?”

“Do an “activity”?” Yue asks him. Sokka, sweating, pauses then stuffs his mouth with some stuff on the table. Katara is clearly enjoying her brother's lame attempt at courting.

“Very smooth” Rana teases Sokka who kicks her under the table. She just smirks back at him though, pulling her blanket around her. She's so cold. Pikachu pulls the corner of the blanket around its shoulders too.

Chapter 93: Chapter Eighty-Nine

Zuko sits in his dark cabin on his ship, Eevee is curled up in his lap, Houndour resting against the side of his thigh as Zuko meditates. The door at the far end of the cabin opens and Iroh leans in. Zuko does not look at him.

“For the last time, I'm not playing the tsungi horn” Zuko scolds.

“No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem” Zuko's eyes open at this, just as Zhao enters the room behind Iroh.

“I'm taking your crew” Zhao admits, Zuko rises and turns to his feet, knocking Eevee from his lap. He mentally cringes, he didn't mean to stand so abruptly but his surprise got the better of him.

“What?”

“I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole” Zhao informs him, his eyes shifting to Eevee and Houndour at Zuko's feet. The North Pole. Zuko knows why. He knows why Zhao is going North.

“Uncle, is that true?” Zuko asks Iroh.

“I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone” Iroh then puts his arm over his face in woe. “Even the cook!”

“Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture my daughter along with the Avatar” Zhao tells Zuko, but he doesn't sound remotely sorry in any way, “But I can't have you getting in my way again” Zuko charges him in anger, but Iroh prevents him from tackling Zhao, who walks over to inspect the curved broadswords on the wall used – the same used by the Blue Spirit to free the Avatar and to aid Rana in her escape with the egg. Zhao's face suddenly swells in anger as he recognizes the blades. He takes one off the wall. Zuko's face changes too, eyes widening, clearly recognizing the danger he is in. Zuko begins practising with the sword he has removed from the wall. “I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko”

“I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative” Zuko argues, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?” Zhao asks.

“Just rumours. I don't think he is real” Iroh offers, whilst looking at Zuko, trying to work out what's going on here.

“He's real all right. He's a criminal, an enemy of the Fire Nation” Zhao corrects as he hands the broad sword to Iroh. “But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with him soon” Zhao moves to exit the cabin. “General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind” Zhao closes the door behind him. Zuko looks down at Houndour who gives him a look. They both know what this means. Rana's in trouble.

…........

Zuko glances around at the dreamscape. It's cold, a layer of ice over the grass. He assumes this means that she made it to the North Pole and it is not reflecting in the dream. He doesn't see her though. That doesn't mean she's not here, she's probably just wandered off to find somewhere warm. He crosses the clearing and heads into the trees. He doesn't have to go far to find her. Rana's standing at the river's edge, staring down at the frozen water. She doesn't look happy about it. She's all bundled up. Wrapped in furs. Zuko heads towards her.

“Cold?” He teases a little, she looks over her shoulder at him, her cheeks all red with the chill. There are even little ice crystals on her ears. She hums and nods. Her eyes looking over him, he's wearing significantly fewer layers than her.

“How are you not?” She asks him.

“Because this is a dream and I am nice and warm in my bed” He answers as he reaches her. “I take it you made it to the North Pole” He touches her arms and she nods, shivering. He pulls her closer, wrapping his arms around her. It won't help but still. She lets out a breath and curls into him, clutching at the back of his clothing. “You need to leave the Northern Water Tribe,” He tells her quietly. “Zhao is on his way to you, he knows where you are”

“We have nowhere else to go to find water-benders” She argues, looking up at him. His hand pulls back from her back to her cheek. “We can't just leave”

“Need I remind you what happened the last time you faced Zhao” He argues. “You got hurt”

“Yes, and I got better” She pulls away from him a little. She can't in good faith abandon the water tribe to the Fire Nation. Not when they can help. She narrows her eyes at him, wiggling free of him. He frowns at her. “Why are you warning me?” She asks him. “Why bother?”

“You know why” He comments, she shakes her head.

“No, I don't” She argues. He touches her waist and curls his fingers into the furs there as he pulls her closer to him. Her eyes searching his before he kisses her softly. Hoping that it conveys everything that he wants it to. She has to know that he feels something for her. He is sure that she must have seen it. Just as he has seen that she feels something for him. She pulls back first, to look at him, to study his face before she touches the scarred side of his face, curling her palm around it. He leans into her hand and closes his eyes.

“This is a dream” She comments, he opens his eyes to find that she's closed hers. “It's not real” His eyes sadden. She's reminding herself that this isn't real. That him saying all of this and kissing her....is all in her head. He smiles a little and then shifts closer, pressing the side of his head to the side of hers.

“We're bound” He reminds her, whispering in her ear. “Spirit to spirit...this is a dream....and this is real”

…........

Rana lifts the blankets to get up and warn her friends about Zhao, but it is too cold and she dives back into the pile of blankets, pulling them around her.

“No” She argues and pulls them over her head to hide. She doesn't know what to do with the information given to her. In her head, she and Zuko in her dream, have just been that, dreams. But she knows what he was saying about the spirit-bond to be true too. She read the book. She absorbed the information. It's all been real. Moments she thought were safe inside her subconscious were projected to him. She's not sure how to feel about that.

Chapter 94: Chapter Ninety

Rana can't bring herself to leave the toasty little nest she's made herself. Mostly, she thinks it is to do with Pikachu and Ninetails that are keeping it warm. She's let the pokemon out for a while. Just to let them roam. Ninetails is a furnace and a fire-type and so decided to stay with Rana. She knows she should go. But the cold is so much more daunting than the Fire Nation. The hut flap opens and Aang walks in, propping his staff against the wall as he looks down at Rana.

“Really?” Aang asks her with a smile, she shrugs.

“I don't know if you know this” She starts. “Vastaya and the cold...no”

“Think that's just a you thing” He teases. “There are ice-bending Vastaya, remember” She grumbles and sits up a little. She softens and frowns, looking down.

“We have a problem, Aang” She offers, he cocks his head as he sits across from her. “I think the Fire Nation are on their way here” Aang leans forward to stare at her. “By that I mean...Zhao”

“No, no, I got that” Aang assures her and then lets out a breath. “We have to warn the chief....”

“They're not going to believe me without proof” She argues. “And my proof is..spirit dream with the Fire Lord's son” She points out. “They're not going to believe me”

“They'll believe me” Aang stands and nods for her to join him. Rana lets out a breath and pushes herself to her feet. She's changed clothing too. Wearing something more fitting for a water-bender than a fire-bending vastaya. It's warmer at least.

…...

Zuko lays in his bed, Eevee curled in his side. He doesn't have the energy to get up, he has no crew to do anything with. He can't take his ship North to help. He did his part. He warns Rana. The door opens and Iroh sticks his head in.

“The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels,” Iroh tells him.

“Good riddance to those traitors” Zuko argues.

“It's a lovely morning for a walk” Iroh starts. “Why don't you join me? It would clear your head” Iroh's smile falls away as Zuko refuses to respond. “Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark” Iroh motions for Eevee and Houndour who move to join him. “Whatever makes you happy” Iroh leaves with the pokemon, closing the door behind him. Zuko turns his back on the door and lets out a sigh.

…......

Iroh walks away from the ship, Houndour and Eevee on either side of him, above them Talonflame circles. Iroh hums away to himself, Eevee looking back at the ship with sad eyes.

….......

Zuko pulls on his robes as he dresses, at least attempting to get up and do something with his day. He has no idea yet. He can't wallow. He has to try and figure out something. Another way. He picks up Rana's dress pin and sets it against his robe, sliding it into place. A sound echoes from outside of his room. Zuko frowns, pauses, listening before he slides the dress pin the rest of the way. He heads to the door.

“Uncle?” He asks as he opens his door to look out into the corridor. “Houndour? Eevee? Uncle, is that you?” He jumps out into the hallway in a fighting stance. Warily, he advances to the bridge, ready for instant combat around every corner. Zuko walks around the bridge before he turns to look out one of the bridge windows to see the Pirate Captain's green parrot. It croaks at him and then takes off. Zuko's eyes widen as the realization of what the bird's appearance means strikes him. It is too late. The bridge deck and main deck explode, blasting Zuko out the bridge window. Another explosion rips the vessel completely open midship.

….......

Iroh walks down a dirt road, the explosion in full bloom behind him. He has turned to look, his face contorts with surprise and fear.

“Zuko!” He begins to run back to the ship.

…......

Iroh's reaches the dock, burning debris falling all around him. He is dwarfed by the massive fireball that was Zuko's ship.

“Zuko...” Iroh lowers his head in sadness.

“Eevee!!!” Eevee whispers as Houndour stares at the burning ship.

….......

Rana, Katara, Sokka and Aang kneel in front of the Chief, Princess Yue, Master Pakku, and what looks to be the tribe's council who all sit on a dais. Aang has just told them about the Fire Nation, and the warning that they are coming.

“Where did this information come from?” Pakku asks, Aang looks at Rana and she lets out a breath.

“Does it matter?” Rana asks. “They are coming....and we need to either evacuate....” None of them looks pleased about that option. “Or prepare for battle” The tribe's council all share a look, but Rana can see that they're not going to listen to them. She clenches her jaw.

“We will not run from our home” Arnook offers. “But we will prepare” Rana closes her eyes and lets out a relieved breath.

“Hmmm.....Katara also tells me you don't teach your daughters how to use their water-bending for war” Rana points out. Katara huffs in agreement. “I don't understand....”

“It is part of our history, our ways, our customs” Pakku informs her.

“Customs that might have worked more than 100 years ago but this world has been at war for the better part of a century...” Rana points out. “How can you sit by and not....” She stops and lets out a breath. Calming herself down. “The Fire Nation will not underestimate you and you shouldn't underestimate them, this is going to need as many capable benders as you can produce...all of them...regardless of gender....” Pakku scoffs a little. “And refusing to teach Aang because you're a misogynist and he is not? That's going to help bring peace?” She asks.

“What do you want me to do?” Arnook asks her. “Force Master Pakku to take Aang back as his student?”

“Yes,” She answers. “That's exactly what you should do” Rana points out.

“I suspect he might change his mind if she were to swallow her pride and apologize to him,” Arnook tells Katara. The idea is hateful to her and it shows. Her eyes move to Aang and she turns to look at him. She turns, back, clearly unhappy.

“Fine”

“I'm waiting, little girl” Pakku tells her. Rana rolls her eyes a little. Katara's hand balls up instantly to a fist at this insult.

“No! No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you!” As she speaks, cracks open in the floor beneath her as her water-bending abilities begin to get out of control. She ends by pointing directly at Master Pakku, her finger almost in his face. At the conclusion of her statement, the massive water pots at either end of the dais.

“Uh, Katara...” Aang tries.

“I'll be outside – if you're man enough to fight me!” Katara points out. Princess Yue draws breath in surprise as the men stiffen. Katara then leaves the room.

“I'm sure she didn't mean that.” Aang offers.

“Yeah, I think she did” Sokka argues.

“That was amazing” Rana praises with a huge smile. “I'm so proud of her” She stands and lets out a breath. “The Fire Nation won't care if they're up against a boy or a girl, old or young...sick or healthy” She points out. “They'll cut you down regardless....” She adds. “Failing to teach your daughters how to defend themselves will be a weakness that the Fire Nation will exploit....shame on all of you for leaving them vulnerable and defenceless...” She turns and leaves, heading after Katara.

Chapter 95: Chapter Ninety-One

Rana follows after Sokka and Aang who race after Katara as they walk down the long steps from the Citadel building they've just left. Rana is actually immeasurably proud of Katara for the way she stood up for herself. Katara is a force to be reckoned with, people seem to forget that sometimes.

“Are you crazy, Katara?” Sokka asks. “You're not gonna win this fight!” Katara takes off her coat and throws it at Sokka, hitting him in the face.

“I know! I don't care!” She argues.

“You don't have to do this for me. I can find another teacher” Aang tries to assure her.

“I'm not doing it for you! Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy!”

“Yeah, they do” Rana agrees, Katara looks at her and nods. Rana winks and nods back at her. She knows Katara has this under control. She's a better water-bender than they know. They reach the bottom of the steps as Master Pakku appears at the top. Katara turns and sees him.

“So, you decided to show up?” She asks but he walks past her. “Aren't you gonna fight?”

“Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong”

“Coward” Rana points out. Insanely angry, Katara draws a water whip out of the ground and whips Pakku on the back of the neck. He stops and then turns to face her.

“Fine. You want to learn to fight so bad, study closely!” On either side of the plaza at the bottom of the steps, there are two huge pools. Master Pakku grabs most of the water in each and bends it around himself. Katara runs at him, but she is flung backwards when she is hit by the water. She stands, now perhaps ten feet from Pakku. He bends the water in a wall around both of them. It spins faster and faster creating a whirlpool effect. “Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you!” He tells her, mockingly. The whirlpool constricts, but before Katara is knocked back down she swings her arm, almost as if she were swinging a baseball bat, deflecting the wall of water off on a different trajectory. The errant wall of water hits Sokka and blows him off of his feet. 

“OW!” Katara runs at Pakku with a water whip. He raises a ramp of ice in front of her which she slides up and then backflips off, landing neatly on the guardrail of the citadel steps behind him. Pakku liquefies the ramp and throws it at her while catching her feet in ice. The wave breaks around Katara, however, as she bends it out of the way.

“You can't knock me down!” The crowd behind her cheers.

“Yeah, get him, Katara” Rana cheers.

“Go Katara!” Aang offers too at her side. A very angry and determined Katara is bearing down on Pakku. Pakku raises a sheet of ice between him and the raging girl. Katara liquefies the ice as she reaches it and throws several blows at Pakku, one of which narrowly misses his face, before he washes her out of his way and into one of the pools with a wave of water. Pakku smiles with satisfaction. She breaks the surface of the water and the crowd cheers. Katara then raises a circular pedestal of ice out of the fountain pool and begins to shoot slivers of the top of the pedestal at Pakku. Pakku breaks them as they arrive with swift Tai Chi movements. The last one however narrowly passes to the left side of his face. When it is gone, he turns back to Katara with a bewildered and, perhaps, somewhat impressed look on his face. Katara is now bending a stream of water around her which she throws at Pakku, who catches it and begins to twirl it around him. Katara runs at him again, but he washes her backwards and onto her behind when he releases the stream of water. Katara jumps back up in a bending stance. She makes a motion and the segmented pillars of ice behind Pakku collapse, narrowly missing him.

“Well, I'm impressed. You are an excellent water-bender” Pakku points out.

“But you still won't teach me, will you?”

“No” He answers Katara. With a cry of effort, Katara raises water near her feet, freezes it, and send it in a rolling wave along the floor to Pakku, who is raised up on a pillar of ice when the wave reaches him. He liquefies the base of the ice column and begins to flow forward on it, like an iceberg riding along a river. Katara has raised her own stream of water and knocks him off his iceberg, but Pakku grabs Katara's water and freezes it in an arc around her as he slides around. As he exits the arc he knocks her down, her necklace falling to ice near her. Pakku raises a huge column of water out of one of the pools, making a whirlpool out of it in the air and then freezing it into shards the whirlpool disintegrates. Katara is now standing in front of Pakku, but the shards land closely all around her. She is trapped. She struggles in vain against her prison of ice, her hands and arms unable to move. “This fight is over”

“Come back here! I'm not finished yet!” Katara yells at him.

“Yes, you are” He stops in surprise, picking up Katara's necklace. “This is my necklace!”

“No, it's not, it's mine! Give it back!” Katara argues.

“I made this sixty years ago – for the love of my life” Katara's ice prison liquefies behind him, freeing her. “For Kana.”

“My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?” Katara asks surprised.

….......

Iroh is walking down a corridor in Zhao's ship toward a guard walking in the other direction. They stop when abreast of each other and begin to whisper.

“Our plan is working perfectly” Iroh comments. “Zhao doesn't suspect a thing” Eevee brushes up against the guard's leg and Iroh bends down to pick her up. The guard removes his mask to reveal Zuko.

“You didn't have to do this,” He tells his uncle.

“No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup!”

“Thank you, Uncle” Zuko offers softer, Iroh hears something from down the corridor.

“Someone's coming!” Zuko replaces his mask. “Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole! Good luck!” Iroh offers and then watches as Zuko disappears down the corridor.

Chapter 96: Chapter Ninety-Two

Rana stretches in her sleeping bag, Pikachu and Lycanroc curled around her. The rest of the pokemon, including Piplup and Cubone, are sleeping around the hut, Cubone laid over Sokka's chest. Rana turns a little, curling into her blankets, closing her eyes as she prepares to sleep.

…..

Zuko's eyes instantly find Rana when he opens them. She is different. She's bouncy. Definitely in a better mood despite how cold it still is. Zuko cocks his head watching her as she plant-bends, blooming flowers all around her. The grass just rising with her powers. He lets out a breath and turns. He's never seen plant-bending from her before. This is amazing. Something so unique and beautiful. He remembers the little girl with Shakra, he assumes this is the same power, but on a much large scale. Rana's soft laugh causes him to turn back to her. Her eyes watching him. She moves to him, a skip and a bounce in her step. Kisses him softly, quickly and then is moving on. He blinks. Wasn't really expecting that. But it happened and she bounced away again. Like it was that easy. He turns to watch her as she flops back into the grass, the ice blasting away from her like powdered snow. She lets out a happy noise and Zuko smiles to himself. When was the last time any of them were happy?

“I got my bending back” She looks at him and stretches out in the grass. He lays next to her and watches her face as she smiles to herself, eyes closed.

“So I see” He teases as he touches her hand between them. She opens her eyes as she threads her fingers with his and he smiles. The two of them just lay there, staring at the clouds in the sky above them. A sliver of peace despite them both knowing a fight is coming.

…..

Rana is crouched with Pikachu and Wartortle as she sorts out food for them. She's glad she's got her plant-bending back otherwise they would be stuck eating blubber or whatever it is that the water tribes pass off as food. She lets out a soft breath and smiles. Sometimes she forgets how connected she feels with Zuko. Even when they say nothing, it's like she is exactly where she is meant to be. She assumes it's the spirit-bond. The way they are linked together. But still. Even before that. Close by, she can hear Katara training with Pakku, Aang, and the rest of the water-benders. Sokka, no doubt, will be off trying to woo Yue. Rana is enjoying the peace and quiet whilst she can. Water tribe soldiers pass her and she looks up to watch them. They are at least taking that seriously and getting themselves ready for a fight with the Fire Nation. Noivern nudges at her shoulder and she holds up her hand, producing a piece of fruit for him.

…..

Zhao stands with Iroh on the deck of the flagship for the Fire Nation fleet he's amassed, cutting through the waves. Iroh at his flank.

“This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh” Zhao offers. “Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it”

“Be careful what you wish for, Admiral” Iroh counters. “History is not always kind to its subjects”

“I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se”

“I hope not, for your sake” Iroh adds.

“Tell the Captains to prepare for first strike” Iroh turns and walks away.

….....

Iroh meets with Zuko, still in his guard disguise, in a dark hallway in the lower levels of the ship.

“We'll be landing soon” Iroh whispers to Zuko. “Do you have a plan?” Zuko removes his mask and looks at his uncle.

“I'm working on it, Uncle” He assures him, the two of them sharing a look before Zuko replaces his mask before he walks away.

…....

A gong sounds through the Northern tribe village, Rana lets out a breath as she listens. She knows what it means. The Fire Nation are within sight. Zhao is in sight. She takes a deep breath and nods. It's starting and they have to be ready. The Fire Nation is not about to go easy on them.

“Pika?” Pikachu asks at her side, she hums and nods before she looks down at it.

“Gather the others,” She tells Pikachu who nods before it runs off.

…......

Chief Arnook is giving a speech to a group of Water Tribe warriors. His voice echoes through the great hall as he speaks. Behind him sit Princess Yue and Master Pakku. On the floor, their backs to a nearby wall, sit Aang, Rana, Katara and Sokka. Rana's pokemon gathered around the four of them.

“The day we have feared for so long has arrived,” Arnook tells them all. “The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence” He raises his arms up to the heavens in supplication. “I call upon the great spirits! Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us!” He lowers his arms and continuing his address. “I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission” Sokka suddenly stands up.

“Count me in”

“Sokka!” Katara scolds a little. Many other men stand up in the crowd with him.

“Be warned” Arnook adds. “Many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task” The men form a line in front of the Chief to receive his mark. It is three red lines on the forehead, made from some paint or ink that the Chief holds in a bowl in front of him. Sokka is the second in line. As Sokka leaves, he turns and makes eye contact with Yue before he turns again and walks away. Yue begins to cry silently. Rana takes a deep breath and then stands, slipping out of the room with her pokemon.

Chapter 97: Chapter Ninety-Three

Rana stands close to Noivern who waits for her, she's perched on the city wall, her tail swishing behind her as her eyes scan over the water. The Fire Nation is out there somewhere. She can't see them yet, but she can feel them. She knows that sounds ridiculous, but it is like she can feel them coming. She glances to her right, the wall is lined with Water Tribe warriors, their faces painted for war. They have a good chance here. If they can just hold them off until the sun goes down. She turns to look further along the wall to the other end where Aang sits atop Appa. Katara and Sokka standing to Appa's left. Sokka looks back at Rana, the two of them sharing a look of fierce determination. They are the oldest of the group. It is their job to protect Aang and Katara. To protect the two children thrust into war. She lets out a breath and turns to look back out across the water when, in the distance, she can now see a single ship. It launches a fireball that hurtles directly at the centre of the city wall. It strikes the water symbol in the centre of the wall and blows a massive hole through it. Many defenders are blown backwards into the city by the concussion, along with huge chunks of ice and debris. Another fireball is sent flying through the air towards the city. It lands in a canal with an explosion of smoke, water and fire. The Fire Nation crew are then launching another fireball from the trebuchet on the approaching ship's foredeck. It strikes the right side of the city wall, shattering a piece of it. Noivern recoils and roars as the smoke and exploding ice create havoc around him. Rana runs towards him and then swings herself up onto his back, settling into the saddle.

“Let's go” Rana pushes and Noivern launches off the wall towards the Fire Navy ship while the defenders on the wall try to reorganize.

…...

Noivern moves at speed through the sky, Rana at his reigns, a stern look on her face. As Rana and Noivern approach the Fire Navy ship it fires a few more fireballs at them. The last, Rana air-blasts out of the way. The blow changes the trajectory of the fireball and it goes wild, harmlessly striking the ice cliff way to the left of the city. "I'll take it from here” Noivern begins to invert himself allowing Rana to just fall off of the saddle into a free fall. Rana holds out her arms, a flap of material catching like wings between her arms and her side. She looks like a giant human Momo. She uses her tail to steer herself as she closes in on the ship. Dodging several more fireballs, Rana arrives on the foredeck, dropping down and pulling her sword from her back. She throws it out in an arc, sending a rainbow-coloured blast that blows much of the deck crew away. Rana then hops up onto the arm of the loaded trebuchet and begins to walk down it. A huge Fire Nation soldier blocks her way, however, and she is forced back up the arm. Two more soldiers have climbed the trebuchet, however, and appear behind Rana. They all swing mighty hammers at her and miss, damaging the trebuchet. Finally, Rana jets into the air and with a mighty blow blasts the trebuchet into a dozen pieces. Rana pounces over to the other trebuchet on the deck. Using her sword, she breaks the chain the stops the trebuchet arm from overextending and then fires the trebuchet. The arm overextends and the weapon shoots its fireball into the deck, straight through and into the water below. Rana runs back up the deck to two more trebuchets, Fire Nation guards in tow. She ties the chains of two trebuchets together in a bow knot, then runs over to one of the machines firing mechanisms and kicks it into operation. The activated trebuchet draws the one it is tied to across the deck towards itself. When one strikes the other they disintegrate into a pile of useless junk. Rana grins widely as she runs over to another trebuchet and is observed by a large Fire Nation warrior. She is about to strike the firing mechanism with her sword when she sees the warrior approach. She narrowly avoids multiple hammers attached to chains that attempt to strike her. Hiding behind one of the trebuchet's girders, Rana is quickly ensnared by two chains that wrap around her. Noivern suddenly lets out a sonic boom, breaking the chain and sweeping the warrior out of the way. Ran frees herself from her now loose chains. “Noi!” Noivern lands on the edge of the ship, Rana runs over and hugs Noivern's neck. “Thanks for the rescue” She whispers fondly. Suddenly the ship starts to vibrate violently. A huge spear of ice breaks through the foredeck straight into the sky. The Fire Navy ship has been surrounded by Water Tribe skiffs full of water-benders. Together they lift the Fire Navy ship out of the water on a bed of ice. Noivern and Rana take off the now heavily listing deck. As they rise above the now wrecked ship, Rana's expression turns to horror and surprise as she looks in front of her. The horizon is full of Fire Navy ships as far as the eye can see. “You have got to be kidding me”

….......

Noivern lands at the base of the Citadel steps. Aang, Yue and Katara run down to them. As Noivern lands he lies down on his belly, his feet too tired to keep him up. Rana looks small and dejected in the saddle. She slides off and lets out a heavy breath.

“I can't do it” She whispers. “I can't do it” Her voice breaks a little as she sinks to the floor. 

“What happened?” Aang asks her.

“I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships, but there's just too many of them” She points out. “I can't fight them all” She buries her head in her arms in despair as Katara sits down to comfort her.

“It's okay” Katara assures her. “You're not doing this alone” Rana lets out a breath

“No” She agrees softly and looks at Katara. “But I know what I have to do” She whispers and lifts her head to look at the others. “Zhao will be leading them when they attack” She offers. “I have to face him. I can't let him hurt anyone else." Katara and Aang share a worried look.

Chapter 98: Chapter Ninety-Four

Zuko, now out of his uniform and entirely dressed instead in plain grey clothes, though a small patch of white can be seen close to his chest. A sling holding a pokemon egg to him. He'd found it whilst taking a look around the ship. Well, by snooping around the ship. Zhao must have decided to keep it with him following Rana's attack and liberation of the last egg. Zuko couldn't leave it behind. He prepares a canoe to be lowered into the water. Behind him, a door opens to reveal Iroh entering with Eevee and Houndour. He shuts the door behind them.

“If you're fishing for an octopus, my nephew, you need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape”

“I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle” Zuko argues.

“I'm sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son...” Iroh looks away, pain evident on his face.

“Uncle, you don't have to say it” Zuko tries to stop him.

“I think of you as my own” Zuko turns to him, a genuine look of concern and understanding on his face.

“I know, Uncle” Zuko bows and salutes him with his arm over chest. “We'll meet again...” Iroh rushes forward and gives him a bear hug, careful of the egg against his chest. Zuko releases him first and walks over to the canoe. “...after I have saved Rana” He gets into the canoe and begins to lower it to the water.

“Remember your Breathe of Fire! It could save your life out there!”

“I will” Zuko assures him.

“And put your hood up, keep your ears warm!” Iroh shouts after him.

“Eevee!” Eevee shouts too, Zuko looks at her.

“I'll be fine” Zuko assures them all. He can't take the pokemon with him, it's too cold out here for them. The egg he knows is an ice type, the snowflakes on it give it away. He assumes that means it will be okay with the cold.

….........

Rana double checks Noivern's saddle, her eyes on the moon above them. They can use the darkness to find Zhao's ship and then board. If she can get close enough to him. She can kill him. They'll scramble to reorganise themselves, to find the next leader. It will buy them some time.

“Stay with Katara and Piplup,” She tells Wartortle who nods. She's wishing she found her ice pokemon by now. That would have come in handy. But alas, it is the only one she doesn't have yet. She has to make do without it.

….......

Zuko is navigating his canoe through the ice flows near the City. He is wrapped up in his grey garb. Nearby, turtle seals can be heard making noise. He floats silently near the damaged city wall, unseen by the sentries patrolling atop the damaged barrier. He beaches the craft on the ice near the wall and spies several turtle seals disappearing into a hole in the ice.

“Where are they going? They're coming up for air somewhere...” He takes off his veil, takes a deep breath and plunges into the icy water. Above the hole, Noivern's figure is flying overhead, heading towards the Fire Nation ships and up into the clouds for cover.

…..........

Katara, Yue, and Aang are walking through a courtyard behind the citadel. Yue stops in front of a wooden half-height door.

“So is this the way to the Spirit World?” Aang asks. Yue laughs.

“No, you'll have to get there on your own” She answers and then opens the door. “But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole.” Aang enters as Momo jumps off his shoulder and onto Katara. Inside there is a long pool of water. At the back of the chamber is a waterfall coming from the glacier way above. On the sides of the pool are two ledges by which one can access the landing at the back of the chamber. The landing is filled with green foliage, another smaller pool that looks almost tropical in nature, and a small t shaped gate-like structure very much akin to a Chinese paifang or perhaps a Japanese torii. The landing is connected to the ledges on the side of the chamber by two wooden footbridges. Aang then runs over the left bridge, laughing. He lands on the soft grass in front of the little pond. He rubs it fondly.

“I never thought I'd miss grass this much!” He flops over on his back as Yue and Katara walk onto the landing themselves.

“It's so warm here! How is that possible?” Katara asks as she takes off her overcoat.

“It's the centre of all spiritual energy in our land” Yue explains. Momo skitters up to the pond and begins to try and grab the fish inside. Yue and Katara look severely at Momo, who decides to run away.

“You're right, Yue. I can feel...something...it's so...tranquil” Aang offers as he then sits cross-legged in front of the pond. He closes his eyes, makes two fists and puts his knuckles together in an attempt to meditate.

…...

Zuko breaches the surface, out of breath and cold, to find himself in a dark cave filled with turtle seals. Zuko flops onto the ice floor of the cave, his breath making clouds of water vapour in front of him. He flips over, shivers, and blows fire into his hands to warm him up. He gets up and glares at the turtle seals.

“Be quiet!” They stop barking as he walks by, but begin once he passes. Zuko approaches a waterfall at the back of the cave. He enters the tunnel where the water is coming out.

Chapter 99: Chapter Ninety-Five

Aang is still in his meditation pose beside the pool, Katara and Yue behind him, watching him. Waiting for something to happen. Yue leans closer to Katara to talk to her quietly, but it is none too quiet for Aang who is trying to get inner peace to meditate into the spirit world.

“Why is he sitting like that?” Yue asks.

“He's meditating – trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration” Katara explains. Aang cracks an eye at this continued interruption.

“Is there any way we can help?”

“How 'bout some quiet!?” Aang asks, turning to look at them, Katara putting a hand over her mouth. “C'mon guys! I can hear every word you're saying!” He resumes his pose. Aang stares at the black and white fish circling each other in front of him in the pond. A second later Aang's eyes and head arrow glow white.

“Is he okay?” Yue asks.

“He's crossing into the Spirit World. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world” Yue then begins to walk away.

“Maybe we should get some help?” She asks, Katara shakes her head.

“No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him” Katara argues.

“Well, aren't you a big girl now?” Zuko's voice echoes through the chamber.

“No” Katara turns to find that Zuko is walking over the footbridge towards them.

“Where is she?” He asks, his eyes flickering around the area, he assumed Rana would be with Aang, yet she's not here. How is he supposed to get her away from the coming army and Zhao if he can't even find her? “Where's Rana?” He counters as he pulls off the sling and egg, gently setting them down on the grass close by.

“So you can hand her over to Zhao?” Katara snaps and assumes a water-bending stance. “I won't tell you” Yue runs off in the background. Aang, oblivious, still communes with the Spirit World in front of the pond. Zuko's eyes find Aang. He thought this would be easy. Find Rana. Get her out of here. But there is one thing she'll do. Find the Avatar. It's part of what she is. He lets out a breath. It's not going to win him any favours with her or her friends though. Zuko launches forward, firing several blasts of fire. Katara blocks all three with water from the pond. He fires several more as he advances, but on the last one, she uses enough water to not only douse his fire, but hurl him backwards and lay him flat on the ground. Zuko pushes himself up to his feet and then goes straight back to it. He fires another blast which she blocks. Katara then launches another stream of water at him, hurling him backwards again. He barely retains his balance, but Katara freezes the water beneath him. His feet are frozen in the ice. Then, with a massive output of effort, Katara raises a churning sphere of water from the main pool behind Zuko, encases him in it, and freezes him entirely. The ground suddenly begins to shake and the ice begins to glow yellow and orange. With an explosion of fire, the shell of ice shatters, releasing Zuko who promptly charges Katara. They trade shots that miss. Zuko gets behind Katara and almost grabs Aang's collar, but Katara blasts him out of the way with a jet of water. He gets blown over to the right ledge. While he tries to recover, Katara raises a huge wave of water that raises him to ten or more feet up the wall. She freezes him in place once again. His head droops in defeat. As the sunlight reaches him, though, his head snaps up with a look of determination. He breathes steam, melting the ice holding him in place. He slides down and charges Katara again. He fires a huge blast of fire. Katara, caught off guard while she walking back to Aang, blocks it only partially. She is thrown back into the post of the paifang gate and is knocked out. When the smoke clears, Zuko looks over her, his hand on Aang's collar, the sun shining bright in the background.

“You rise with the moon. I rise with the sun” He points out and lets out a breath. He thought that Rana would have turned up during the fight. Somehow sensing what was happening. But she's still not here. Zuko closes his eyes and makes a choice. He then looks at Wartortle and Piplup who were hidden behind a bush. Zuko then inclines his head before he moves.

…...

Rana's shadowy figure is crouched on the top of Zhao's ship, watching him below on the deck. Anger just coursing through her. Just seeing him makes her so angry. She moves closer to the edge, her fingers wrapping around the hilt of her sword on her back before she pauses. Something flickering through her mind. Wartortle talking to her from the spiritual clearing. She leans back, stopping what she is doing. She has a choice here. Finish it. Kill Zhao and be done with it. Or race back and save Aang. She closes her eyes and then moves.

…......

Katara wakes from her involuntary nap. Her eyes open suddenly, and she gets to her knees with a start. Aang and Zuko are gone.

“Aang” She yells as she pushes herself to her feet. Noivern lands and Rana slides from his back, running towards Katara.

“What happened? Where's Aang?” She asks.

“I'm sorry” Katara whispers. “Zuko...He took Aang” Rana looks at her alarmed, anger rising in her. She thought Zuko was different. She thought something in him had changed. But for him to come after the Avatar. She was wrong. “He took him right out from under me”

“Where did they go?” Rana asks, already moving back to Noivern.

Chapter 100: Chapter Ninety-Six

Zuko is carrying Aang through the snow. After some steps, the ice underneath Zuko begins to crack and cave in. Within a few seconds, most of the ground around him is collapsing. He begins to run with Aang on his back. He manages to keep just ahead of the yawning hole that his footsteps over thin ice have caused to appear. The hole finally stops expanding as Zuko trips and falls. They are now on the lip of a newly formed canyon. He really didn't think this through. He thought it would be easy. Just rock up and find Rana and convince her to leave with Aang so Zhao doesn't get his hands on her. But oh no, no, she's not even where she is meant to be and now he's freezing. He looks ahead to see a rock ledge overhanging a small cave.

“Shelter!” He lets out a relieved breath and heads towards it.

…......

Inside the cave, Zuko appears, dragging Aang inside by the collar. Outside the blizzard continues. He dumps him at the back of the cave and ties his hands behind his back with some of the rope he is carrying, just in case. A shadow appears on the wall in front of him and Zuko knows. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he looks over his shoulder. Rana is stood in the mouth of the cave, her fingers tight around her sword. Zuko stands and turns to face her. Can see that she's jumped to the wrong conclusion here. He thought she would. Her tail swishes angrily behind her. She's disappointed and angry. Her eyes flicker to Aang and then back to Zuko.

“Just when I thought that there was something even remotely redeemable about you” She snaps at him. “I..actually thought...that there was something good in you...I can't believe how stupid I was......” He moves towards her and she takes a step back at the look in his eyes. Something so focused and determined...wild. He grabs the back of her neck and crashes his lips to hers. This wasn't the plan. He wanted to talk her through what he did. Why he did it. But seeing her stood there. Looking all angry. He couldn't stop himself. And after he doesn't even know how long it's been since he saw her in the flesh. Her sword clatters to the ice and she draws her hands up, clutching to his clothing. He deepens the kiss, puts more feeling into it when she kisses him back, when she sinks into it. His free hand touches her jaw, tilting her face a little as he steps closer to her, pressing his body up against hers as he walks her back against the wall. Her tail shifts, wrapping around the two of them. “Princess” He coos against her lips. She lets out a soft but confused breath. “I took him because I knew you'd follow” He whispers. “Zhao...I had to get you away....” He strokes her jaw and nudges her nose with his own, ghosting his lips over hers with his eyes closed. “I knew you wouldn't leave them” He argues and pulls back a little. “And you didn't, even after I warned you that he was coming....”

“Shut up” She whispers, he frowns and looks down at her. “Kiss me again” He searches her eyes before he leans in and gives her exactly what she wants.

….....

The blizzard outside of the cave has worsened, whilst it means they are stuck in this cave, it also means Rana can't go running back to face Zhao and likely get hurt, so Zuko finds the situation a bit of a win-win. Zuko looks over at Aang, then looks out of the cave.

“Guess we'll be here awhile” He comments as Rana shivers, sat on the ground against the wall. He turns to her and frowns. “What's wrong with you?”

“My hands are cold” She answers.

“You don't know how to regulate your body temperature with fire-bending?” He asks, she hums and shakes her head. “For shame. Allow me to demonstrate” He crouches at her side and aggressively holds her hands, using fire-bending to warm them. He looks so focused. So determined. She smirks a little.

“My tongue is cold too” She points out, Zuko lifts his eyes from her hands and she gives him a look. He lets out a breath before his lip twitches into a somewhat smile. He searches her eyes and then leans closer, brushing his lips over hers. It's less aggressive this time. He's taking his time to enjoy it. His hand moves to her neck to draw her closer to him. There is no rush. No where to go. No explanation to give. It is just them, and Aang, but mostly just them. It doesn't take long for it to shift, taking on a desperate edge. They've both been waiting for this, longer than they have both realised probably. But with the deeper, heated kiss, comes a warmer cave. Pools of water appearing as the ice begins to melt. Rana pulls back and pants a little as Zuko drops his forehead to her shoulder. “Is that you or me?” She asks.

“Me” He answers and closes his eyes, trying to control his fire-bending, but it's harder when emotions are heightened. She brushes her fingers over the back of his neck and he lets out a breath. Comforted by it. He doesn't really remember the last time someone touched him with kindness like this. He presses his lips to her neck and her fingers stop on his neck. For a split second, he fears he's done something out of line until she lets out a soft breath. It seems he's not the only one that been void of affection. But he understands. Zhao was her father. Something passes between them when he lifts his head. A sort of affectionate understanding. His hand finds her cheek and he leans closer. Kissing her other cheek as she curls her body into his chest. He kisses the corner of her lips next, his fingers moving to touch the fur lapels of her robes, drawing his fingers down to find the button holding it all together. She grabs his wrist to stop him. His eyes lifting to meet hers from where they had been on his fingers.

“I'm suddenly very aware that we're not alone” She points out, Zuko raises an eyebrow and then looks at Aang before he nods, understanding. That would be weird. He clears his throat and leans back. They don't know when Aang is going to wake up, so not exploring further is a bad idea. He sits at her side and brushes his hands over his knees. Neither of them really knows what this means for them. Her duty is still to Aang and Zuko has no idea what he's going to do now. He can't go back to the Fire Nation. But he doesn't feel like he's ready to help stand against them and his father either. She leans against his side and he presses his forehead to the side of her head, fingers lacing with hers. Aang, still bound on the cave floor, shifts as his tattoos stop glowing, waking from his spiritual nap. He struggles briefly against his bonds, then sits up to face Zuko and Rana against the wall together.

“Welcome back” Zuko comments, Aang frowns and looks between the two of them.

“Good to be back.” Aang offers, defensively, he's not sure what this means. “What's going on, Rah?” He looks at his friend who lets out a breath and nods. Can see why he might be confused here.

Chapter 101: Chapter Ninety-Seven

Aang understands but it is still rather awkward in the cave. Rana's feelings for Zuko haven't exactly been subtle. And Zuko is just as subtle about his affections for Rana. Aang never thought it would extend to kidnapping to save her but it has and whilst it was probably a bad plan as now the Northern Water tribe is without the two people that could actually protect them. Rana stands in the cave entrance, staring out at the blizzard.

“Looks like the storm's settling” Rana offers as she pulls her robes tighter around her. The chill settling in again. “We could make a run for it back to the tribe...” Zuko frowns and moves towards her.

“I took the Avatar to draw you away from the fight as well as Zhao and you want to go back?” He asks, she gives him a look.

“Yes,” She answers. “It's the right thing to do...” She touches his chest and curls her fingers into his uniform to pull him closer to her, pushing up on her tiptoes she brushes her lips over his and he sinks into the kiss.

“I know what you're doing” He grumbles against her lips. “Trying to persuade me....”

“Is it working?” She whispers, he sighs and then groans before he nods.

“Yes,” He reluctantly admits. Aang smirks behind them. Zuko lets out a breath as she shifts away from him with a huge victorious smirk. “Let's go back,” Zuko tells them as Rana picks up her sword. Suddenly, he's sent flying back by a blast of water. Aang jumps up to his feet, squinting through the snow to find Katara standing there.

“Katara” Aang scolds a little. “Stop” Zuko groans as he pushes himself back up to his feet. Rana now standing between him and Katara almost hidden in the snow. Appa is waiting behind her with Sokka and Yue in his saddle.

“You're defending him?” Katara asks Aang who nods.

“I am” Aang agrees. “Because he did it to protect Rana” He informs her. Katara looks between Rana and Zuko. “He knew she'd come for me....taking her away from Zhao...”

“Why didn't you just tell me?” Katara asks Zuko.

“You wouldn't have listened” Zuko points out as he moves closer to Rana.

“Look, we don't have time for this” Aang argues, stopping this from descending into an argument. “We need to get to the oasis,” Aang tells them. “The spirits are in trouble” His voice draws off as a red light sweeps over them. Rana's eyes widen as she remembers something from her early teens. A visit to a library and a scroll. A bad scroll.

“He didn't” She whispers and turns to Katara, points at her. “Water-bend, now” Katara looks down at her hands and tries to water-bend but nothing happens. As she does, the moon turns red above them.

“I can't” Katara admits.

“What's happening?” Sokka asks as they all look up at the moon, taking in the change of colour and the sickly pallor it gives it.

“Aang's right” Rana answers. “We have to get back to the Oasis” Yue suddenly clutches at her head in pain, Sokka keeping her steady on her feet.

“Are you okay?” He asks her, she shakes her head in answer before vocalising. 

“I feel faint” She admits, wavering on her feet as Aang rubs his own head, feeling whatever it is too. Something is very wrong. 

“I feel it too” Aang agrees and looks up at the moon. “The Moon Spirit is in trouble” He adds. Yue nods in agreement. 

“I owe the Moon Spirit my life” Yue informs them.

“What do you mean?” Sokka asks, she looks at him.

“When I was born I was very sick and very weak. Most babies cry when they're born...but I was born as if I were asleep. My eyes closed. Our healers did everything they could. They told my mother and father I was going to die. My father pleaded with the spirits to save me....that night, beneath the full moon, he brought me to the oasis and placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white, I opened my eyes and began to cry – and they knew I would live. That's why my mother named me Yue, for the moon”

“It's dying” Rana offers. “And without it...so do you” Yue nods. Rana then whistles and Noivern lands, skidding in the ice.

“Then we hurry” Sokka adds.

“I know what needs to be done” Rana offers and then runs to Noivern. Zuko and Aang moving to trail her.

“I'm going with you,” Zuko tells her, she shakes her head.

“No" She argues and looks at him. "I'll be faster on my own” She offers as she climbs onto Noivern's back, sliding her sword away, then looks at Aang.

“Rah” He whispers, seeing something in her eyes. “Whatever it is, we're in this fight together....let us help” Zuko is thoughtful as he tries to figure out what she's planning on doing, but to him, there is only one thing that will stop this attack. Killing Zhao. 

“No, you'll stop me,” Rana tells Aang who frowns at her, not understanding. 

“Stop you from doing what?” He asks.

“What needs to be done” She answers and then Noivern takes off into the sky.

“Doing what?” Aang asks turning to the others.

“She's going to kill Zhao” Zuko offers as he folds his arms over his chest. “That's what needs to be done”

“She can't do it alone” Katara argues and looks at Aang. “She shouldn't have to do it alone” Aang nods in agreement. They all climb onto Appa, except for Zuko, who hesitates. Without Rana, he feels a little out of place with them. Aang holds out his hand down towards Zuko who glances at it.

“Come on” Aang pushes, Zuko takes a deep breath and then Aang's hand.

Chapter 102: Chapter Ninety-Eight

Zhao stares up at the red moon, standing in the oasis, in front of the pond. A few soldiers behind him. He looks rather pleased with himself. With what he has done. The doom he's brought upon them all. He's mad. And he's starting to look it. His obsession with power and control and Rana, getting to him.

“I am...” Zhao raises his fist to the heavens. “A legend now! The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon! They will call me Zhao the Conqueror! Zhao the Moon Slayer! ZHAO THE INVINCIBLE!” At this point, Momo jumps onto Zhao's head and starts pulling at his face and chittering. “Huh! Get it off!” Momo flies off as the guards surround Zhao to help him. He lands on an outstretched arm – Aang's arm. Appa has landed and the kids square off against Zhao and his men. Zuko's eyes flicker around, landing on Noivern who has been restrained and tied down by a rope net. That doesn't exactly fill him with any good feelings. There is no way Rana would have allowed that to happen if she had the choice. “Don't bother!” Zhao is holding a knife or sword to the bag with the Moon Spirit in it. Aang drops his staff and raises his hands in surrender.

“Zhao! Don't!” Aang begs.

“It's my destiny... to destroy the Moon... and the Water Tribe”

“Destroying the moon won't just hurt the Water Tribe” Aang points out. Zuko curls his fingers into his palms. “It will hurt everyone – including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world.”

“He is right, Zhao!” Iroh approaches them, Houndour and Eevee with him. Talonflame lands on the footbridge. Eevee running to Zuko's side when she sees him.
“General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?” Zhao asks. Iroh then lowers his hood.

“I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon too. We all depend on the balance.” Iroh scolds as Zuko looks around. There is no sign of Rana here at all, just Noivern. Zhao is still holding the weapon to the bag, Iroh points a finger at him. “Whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash on you ten-fold!” Iroh assumes a fire-bending stance. “LET IT GO, NOW!” Zuko takes a step forward, now at Iroh's side. Iroh tries to stop him but Zuko shakes it off.

“Where is she?” Zuko asks. Noivern making a pained noise from the rope net holding him down. Zhao cocks his head. “Where is she?!” Zuko growls at him. Firmer in his question now. Zhao whistles and behind him, two soldiers drag forward Rana. She's blindfolded, gagged, hands tied behind her back, and collared, from which two metal chains are attached and held by the soldiers. There is blood smeared down her arms and legs, and part of one of her ears is missing too.

“She put up a good fight” Zhao offers. “But she's too soft....lacks the conviction to do what is needed to be done....” He moves to her and her ears flicker towards the sound of his steps. Zhao appears thoughtful a moment, likely some acting on his part, to play it up. He hums and turns back to the others. “You can save one” Zhao offers. “The Moon spirit....or the vastaya” Zuko thinks it is an easy choice, at least to him it is.

“Zuko” Aang whispers, trying to stop him.

“Ra..” Zuko starts but Iroh is the one that stops him, dragging him back to the group with a firm look. Zuko knows what that means. That they are going to choose the spirit over Rana. Iroh and Zhao lock their eyes for a moment, then Zhao lowers the bag from the knife. Understanding the choice that's been made. He kneels and releases the fish back into the water. The red light of the moon vanishes, replaced by its normal colour. Zhao's face is quickly overtaken by a look of madness and desperation. With a cry of rage, he stands and smites the water with a blast of fire. Iroh recoils in horror. Aang and Momo's face is briefly illuminated by the fire. The Avatar looks up to witness the moon wink out of existence. Iroh springs instantly to the attack. Crossing the footbridge, fires blast after blast. Zhao blocks one blast and backs away while Iroh expertly dispatches Zhao's guards. Zhao looks on in horror as his men are wiped out by the ageing General with such ease and precision. He grabs Rana's arm, setting her in front of him as a shield. Iroh stops, jaw tight with tension when Zhao presses a spirit arrow to Rana's throat. “No” Zuko whispers. Zhao smirks and backs away with her, now pretty certain they'll not attack him with her as his insurance. Aang looks at Zuko, fire licking at his fingers as he waits. He's not going to let this stand. Good. Aang needs to deal with the spirit and Zuko can go after her. He trusts Zuko to free Rana. There is a lull just before Zhao disappears, everyone waiting for someone to give an order. To tell them what to do.

“Go,” Iroh tells Zuko. “Go get her” They share a look and Zuko runs off, Eevee and Houndour racing after him. Sokka runs to Noivern and using his knife cuts him free. Noivern instantly taking to the sky to track Rana.

Chapter 103: Chapter Ninety-Nine

Iroh is now standing over the guards who struggle to get up, before he turns and walks back to the pond where the black fish swims frantically and white, a huge gash in its side, floats. Iroh gently lifts the white fish from the water, an expression of sadness on his face. The guards are now gone from behind them, fleeing. Yue is on the verge of tears, Sokka's hands on her shoulders.

“There's no hope now. It's over” She tells them, her voice breaking. Aang's sad expression turns to determination as his eyes and tattoos glow white. His Avatar Spirit speaks through his mouth.

“No, it's not over” Aang walks forward into the pond. Katara moves to follow, but she is stilled by a motion to halt from Iroh. Aang stands in the middle of the pond, arms in prayer. He looks down at the black fish, whose eyes and white mark on his spine begin to glow white. His feet are in the pond which now glows bright white. Then he drops into the pond as if the bottom had fallen out of it and he disappears. The water in the pool around the oasis itself begins to glow a deep blue-veined with white. Yue, Sokka, Kaara, and Iroh look on with wonder at the power coming to life before them. A huge, incandescent blue wave rushes under the footbridge as if some huge creature is moving underneath it. The blue, white-veined creature is a huge fish-like being. At its centre is a blue-white bubble in which Aang is hovering, arms spread wide. 

….........

Zhao drags Rana along a walkway but finds it difficult with her struggling to get free of him. But she's blindfolded and limited in what she can do with restraint hands behind her back. She kicks out, stomping down on his foot. He releases her, but it also means that the spirit arrow pierces her neck and she cries out behind the gag, stumbling back, almost going over if not for Zhao grabbing the front of her dress and yanking her back to him. He tears the blindfold from her eyes and then grips her chin between his fingers. She stares back, defiant. Behind Zhao, Zuko hurries out onto the walkway.

“Let her go,” Zuko tells Zhao who digs the arrow into the wound on her neck as he pulls her back against his back, turning them both to face Zuko, pressing the side of his head into hers.

“You two” Zhao scolds. “Two infatuated....silly little teenagers, unravelling years of hard work...working my way up through the ranks....even raising...” He digs the arrow in and Rana struggles against him. “These filthy creatures...the vastaya” Zuko meets Rana's eyes. “I never wanted it” Zhao admits. “Your grandfather gave me an order...to find it” He puts more pressure on the arrow and she whimpers. “And raise it loyal to the Fire Nation....but they can't be broken in” He lets out a breath. “It wouldn't take much” Zhao offers. “I could wipe an entire species out...” He draws the arrow down her neck. Rana cries out in real pain as he jams the arrow into her neck. Zuko moves, launches a few fire blasts at Zhao with a cry of anguish, but his target dodges, throwing Rana down to the ground, a ring of fire erupting around her as Zhao turns to face Zuko. The Ocean Spirit's essence travels down the main canal in the background. Zuko continues his attack firing volley after volley at Zhao, who breaks them with his hands held together in a wedge in front of him. As the blasts subside, Zhao drops his smoking cloak to the ground and then returns fire. At one point Zuko is able to exploit a moment when Zhao leaves his chest unguarded. Zuko blasts him and Zhao falls off the parapet wall onto the tier below. Zuko turns to the ring of fire around Rana. She lays unmoving, blood pooling around her in the centre. He's seen this before. And it hurts no less this time. He looks at the fire. The left-hand side of his face twitches. He can't not go to her though. He has to check on her. He has to see if she's alive. He jumps through the ring of fire and moves to her, touching her shoulder and turning her onto her back. She looks up at him, eyes tired but aware of him.

"Did you just jump into fire for me?" She asks weakly, he clutches her face in his hands before he moves one to her neck to cover the bleeding wound. “It's not that bad” She mumbles, he gives her a look.

“Yes, it is” He argues, she hums and touches her side with a shake of her head, her fingers unbuttoning her robes.

“This one is way worse,” She tells him and opens up her robes to reveal another wound against her chest. And she's right. It is so much worse. It's deep and angry and he assumes it's one of those spirit weapons from the way it bubbles with purple goo. “I thought I could do it” She whispers. “I thought I could kill him, to be free of him” Zuko touches the skin around the wound and closes his eyes when she touches his cheek. “I think he's killed me instead” Behind Zuko, through the flames. Zhao appears, more dishevelled. He's grasping Rana's sword in his hand as he glares at Zuko.

Chapter 104: Chapter One Hundred

Iroh places the dead Moon Spirit fish gently back into the pond, his eyes mournful. He, Yue, Sokka, and Katara, along with Wartortle, Eevee, Pikachu, Piplup, and Cubone, stare into the pond, as if something is magically going to happen. It's not. It's over. Piplup moves to Iroh's side to peer into the water. Blinking slightly.

“Pip?” Piplup asks as it turns to look at Katara who crouches next to it and looks at it sadly. 

“It's too late. It's dead” Katara answers. Suddenly, Iroh looks up at Yue in wonder.

“You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you!” He points out. Yue looks up.

“Yes, you're right. It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back” Yue gets up and goes to the pond's edge. Sokka reaches for her, understanding what's happening here, what she's decided on.

“No! You don't have to do that!” He argues. She holds his hand behind her, but looks down.

“It's my duty, Sokka”

“I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you!” Sokka counters, she turns and looks up at him.

“I have to do this” She stops him and then releases his hand. She walks to Iroh, who holds the dead fish in his hands. She puts her palms over the Moon Spirit which begins to glow. She closes her eyes for the last time, exhales a final breath, and falls over into Sokka's arms.

“NO!” He places his hands on her cheek and looks away. “She's gone” His voice breaks as he hugs her body tightly. “She's gone”

…..

The incandescent blue of the Ocean Spirit flows out past the city wall in front of the Fire Navy fleet, it forms, towering over the fleet, and then reaches out. He pushes two ships back out to sea at amazing speed. The Ocean Spirit makes a razor cut through the bridge tower of Zhao's flagship. The cut section slides down to the foredeck and the ship's forward trebuchet is wrecked. The Spirit raises its arms, forming a huge wave that upends many vessels and pushes the rest far out to sea.

….....

Sokka cradles Yue's inert form, her body glows briefly and disappears. The fish in Iroh's glows and he drops it back in the water softly. It begins to swim in the pond. The pond glows white as they look on and a ghostly rises from it. It coalesces into Yue's form, but now she is dressed in white. Her hair floats around her. She addresses, Sokka, her voice now echoes and is otherworldly.

“Goodbye, Sokka. I will always be with you” She kisses him, their hands on each other's faces. She fades away, but in the sky, the moon shines bright.

…......

The Ocean Spirit looks up to see the moon alive once again. Instantly, Aang begins to wilt inside the creature, which dissipates into the ocean. The Spirit's essence flows back to the wall and deposits Aang atop it. There the glows leaves him as he puts his hand to the side of his head, spent with the effort.

…........

Houndour launches himself at Zhao, grabbing hold of his robes leg to drag him away from Zuko who touches his arm where the blade had caught him. Blood seeping down his arm. Eevee stands defensive in front of Zuko and Rana. Zhao attempts to get Houndour off of him but the pokemon is impressive at dodging. Zuko moves back to Rana, to check on her as she turns onto her side, trying to push herself up to move away. She curls around herself and starts to cry. She's in pain and she's running out of energy and life. Zhao storms towards them, Rana's sword in hand. Zuko pushes himself to his feet and takes a fire-bending stance. But he doesn't get to use it. The essence of the Ocean Spirit approaches fast and coalesces around the bridge. It grabs Zhao and begins to pull him off the bridge. Zhao struggles against it, holding out his hand towards Zuko and Rana.

“Help me” Zhao begs, staring at Rana, she lifts her eyes to meet his as Zuko kneels at her side. “Rana” Zhao pleads.

“No” Zuko answers instead and then turns to Rana. “Don't watch” He whispers to Rana as he brushes his thumb over her cheek, her eyes flutter as she struggles to stay awake. He cradles her head to his chest, her fingers curling into his chest as the Ocean Spirit drags Zhao under the water and disappears. Her hand drops between them, her hold on him gone. Zuko lets out a breath when it falls silent. The Ocean Spirit moving away from them. “It's over” He whispers and looks down at Rana. “Princess?” He touches her face, drawing his palm around her cheek. But there is nothing. “Rana?” He draws his hand around her cheek to lift her head. “No” He whispers, his voice breaking. “No...” He shakes her a little, just in case that works. But it doesn't. He leans forward and presses his forehead to hers, tears gathering in his eyes. “I'm sorry” Zuko whispers. Aang steps onto the walkway, tired but steady on his feet. His eyes land on Zuko, kneeling on the ground, hunched over.

“Zuko?” Aang asks as he moves towards him before he sees what's going on. What's happened. Can see Rana lying in Zuko's arms. Tears gather in his eyes. Zuko lets out a breath and then moves, shifting slightly to pick up Rana. Aang hangs his head as Zuko passes him, carrying Rana in his arms, tears on his face.

Chapter 105: Chapter One Hundred and One

Aang follows Zuko back into the Oasis where the others are still mourning Yue's sacrifice. Zuko tries to keep his head up, but he can't handle the weight of it. Everything hurts. Everything. Hearing the two of them return, Katara, Sokka, and Iroh all turn to look at Zuko who pauses slightly with their eyes on him. It's instant. Them all realising what's happened. The way Rana lays in Zuko's arms. The way he keeps his eyes and his head down as he moves towards Rana's pokemon. Iroh's eyes sadden as he takes in his nephew's face. Zuko's distraught.

“No” Katara whispers, Piplup clutching to her leg. Cubone drops his bone and pulls his hands to his chest.

“Pika?” Pikachu asks, hopping forward as Wartortle waddles a few steps, Rana's Eevee looks down sadly. Zuko's jaw trembles as he kneels in the grass in front of the pokemon.

“I'm sorry” Zuko whispers to them as he lowers Rana a little. He couldn't protect her. He couldn't help or save her or do anything to stop this. He lowers his head. Pikachu touches Rana's face and Eevee nudges her hand as Wartortle pushes at her shoulder. Trying to wake her up. Katara covers her face as she cries. Sokka falls to his knees next to the pond and closes his eyes. Today has been a very bad day for all of them. Iroh lowers his head as Aang lets tears stream down his face. Rana was the strongest of them. What does it say about their chances if even she can die?

“This isn't supposed to happen” Aang whispers. “She's not supposed to die before me” He looks down at his hands and curls his fingers into his palms.

“It's not your fault, Aang” Katara tries to comfort him. “It's his” She then looks at Zuko who refuses to look up from Rana.

“Now, hold on a minute” Iroh argues.

“How do you think Zhao knew where we were?” Katara asks. “Where she was? He had to have told him....”

“Katara” Aang tries, but she's hurting and grieving. Aang knows this isn't Zuko's fault.

“His obsession with finding you...all of it, it's all because of him....” She adds. Zuko closes his eyes and lowers his head to Rana's shoulder.

“Guys” Sokka whispers, pushing himself back and away from the pond as it swirls into a whirlpool, bright colours and lights gaining in brightness with each spin. Whatever it is. He doesn't like it. Something big and black and solid is crawling out of the pond. Sokka's eyes widen. “Guys!” He yells, getting their attention now. Eyes widen across the board as they all take it in. Eevee, both Rana's and Zuko's, stand with Wartortle, Houndour, and Pikachu in front of Rana and Zuko. Ready to protect them if need be. Whatever it is. It's huge and powerful. And glistening in the moonlight. Noivern lands and moves forward, charging at the beast, ready to attack before he stops, staring at it. Something passes between the two of them before Noivern lowers his head and steps aside. “Noi!” Sokka scolds and grabs his boomerang. He's just lost Yue. Rana is about to go next. He's not about to lose her to some weird pond monster.

“It's a pokemon” Iroh realises. There is only one reason Noivern would accept it just like that. To just allow it to move closer to Rana. Noivern makes a noise at the other pokemon and they all move out of the way. Zuko shakes his head. No. It can't have her. It can't. He wants to make sure it is done the traditional way. He doesn't know what that means for the vastaya, but she was from the Fire Nation too. And it's cremation on a pyre. The large pokemon reaches out with a huge clawed hand and reaches for Rana.

“No” Zuko argues, his voice breaking as he tries to hold onto her. “No” It takes Rana from him and he sinks back. Bringing a hand up to his head, his eyes on the pokemon as it stares down at Rana's body. It suddenly wraps its claws around Rana, holding it against its chest and then suddenly it lights up, shining brightly, causing them all to shield their eyes from it. Bright and brighter it burns. The pokemon all dive for cover, hiding where they can. When the light disappears, the pokemon uncurls its claws, Rana still laying there. It lays her down onto the grass in front of Zuko before it retreats into the swirling mass of the pond. Zuko crawls to Rana and touches her face, brushing her hair back to look at her. “Princess?” He whispers. Two shooting stars erupt from the pond and disappear into the sky just before the whirlpool closes. The chunk taken out of her ear has been replaced, he strokes her ear and frowns. She suddenly sits up, almost knocking him straight over. Her eyes are wide as she takes deep breaths.

“Rana?” Sokka asks, she looks at him and then at the others before her eyes land on Zuko. He touches her face, curling his palm around her cheek. To cheek that she's okay. She nods into his hand and he lets out a breath before he hugs her tightly. She clutches back to him as he buries his face into her hair. Sokka closes his eyes and leans back, relieved. Aang smiles and nods. Katara cries with relief.

“You had us worried there,” Iroh tells Rana, a soft tone to his voice, his own relief evident. “How do you feel?” Rana pulls back from Zuko.

“I thought I was dead” She admits and touches her chest where her wound was.

“You were” Zuko points out, she looks at him and then around, frowning when she finds Yue missing.

“Where's Yue?” She asks as she pushes herself to her feet. Sokka looks down and at the pond. Rana seems to understand that she's gone. “I'm sorry” She whispers and lets out a long breath. “And Zhao?” Zuko moves to her side.

“He's dead” He assures her and touches her arm. The two of them share a look. “You don't have to worry about him anymore”

“What happened?” She asks him but it's Sokka that answers her.

“You probably won't believe me, but this weird black pokemon climbed out of a whirlpool in the pond and brought you back to life” Sokka explains. Rana blinks a little.

“You're right” She offers, Sokka looks vindicated. “I don't believe you” Sokka sinks a little.

“I wouldn't either” Katara points out. “But we all saw it....it brought you back....” She looks at Iroh for confirmation. He nods.

“Where is your book?” Iroh asks. Sokka touches the satchel on his side and then pulls out Rana's tome from inside and holds it out to Rana who opens up the book and flicks through the pages.

“That's it,” Katara tells her stopping her. Rana touches the page.

“Necrozma” She reads and traces the sketch. She lets out a surprised breath. “It's one of the Light Trio”

“The what?” Zuko asks her.

“Light trio, they're...kind of pokemon spirits” She explains. Sokka blinks and looks at her. “Hmmm...yeah, there is Solgaleo and Lunala” She answers. “The Sun and the Moon....”

“And this Necrozma?” Sokka asks.

“They cycle of life and death” She answers softly and draws her hand over the page. Her eyes turning sad. This means she really did die. And Necrozma brought her back. She closes the book and lets out a breath. Katara touches Rana's back and then hugs her tightly. Rana looks down at her and then at Aang as he hugs her too, following by Sokka. Rana closes her eyes and sinks into the embraces. The three of them wrapping their friend up to comfort her. Zuko glances at where he left the pokemon egg before he moves to it. He picks up the sling and touches the egg before moving back to Rana. She pulls away from her friends just as he reaches her.

“I found this on Zhao's ship” He draws the sling over her head and settles the egg against her chest. “I thought it would be better off with you” She touches the egg and smiles softly at him before it falls.

“My necklace” She whispers sadly touching the empty space where her crystal ball should be against her chest. “Zhao took it from me....”

“How many were in it?” Aang asks, she shakes her head and shrugs.

“I don't remember...” She whispers. “With everything going on....” She looks down at the egg. “Oh, I hope you're a little one”

Chapter 106: Epilogue

Iroh walks with Rana through the ice village. Talonflame flying above them. Watching over Iroh. Wartortle and Eevee follow them along the walkways. With the battle over. It's time to think about what is coming next. What needs to be done next. Rana's kind of hoping there might be time to find Alola, the vastaya safe haven. Probably not but she can hope. She wants to apologise to Taru for the way she was with him.

“I'll write to Shakra” Iroh offers at her side. “See if there isn't a way to replace your necklace” Rana gives him a grateful smile and touches his arm.

“Thank you” She then tilts her head, her ears flickering on the top of her head. “You and Shakra are very close” She muses as she watches him. Iroh strokes his beard and nods in agreement. She gives him a look and he smiles and nods.

“Yes,” He agrees. “We are spirit-bonded” She turns to face him, folding her arms over her chest.

“So how do you do it?” She asks. “How do you be together but not together?”

“Patience” He answers, she snorts. “Trust. Hope” Iroh adds. Rana nods along and looks across at Zuko who walks towards them with Houndour and Eevee following behind him. Pikachu perched on his shoulders. “He's come far” He then comments noting her gaze on his nephew. “But you both still have further to go”

“I know” She agrees and lets out a breath. Iroh slips away as Zuko joins her. Giving them a moment to themselves. Zuko helps Pikachu down from his shoulder and sets him down with Eevee and Houndour. Rana adjusts his water tribe clothing with a smirk when he stands again. How they'd managed to talk him into wearing it she'll never know. It's more like her robes though. Darker. More black with grey fur around the edges. Zuko watches her softly. Still amazed that she's alive. She sobers slightly, staring at the dress pin he's placed in the robes. Her dress pin. She touches it and then lets out a breath. “You know what this means” She starts and looks at him. “For you and your uncle” Zuko nods.

“I know” He agrees. “I knew the second I made the choice to follow you up here” He touches her cheek. He then lets out a small snort-laugh. “I'm okay with it” She raises an eyebrow surprised. He shrugs a little.

“So I guess that means you must really like me?” She teases, pulling him closer to her. He hums in agreement and touches her cheek.

“But...” He starts. She frowns a little. “I can't go with you” He admits sadly, she cocks her head. He lets out a breath. He hates the idea. But it is what is best to keep her safe. He understands what will come from him. He can't bring that down on Rana. “We both know that he'll send Azula to bring us back...So I can't be around you, or them” He nods across at her friends. “When she finds me” He presses his forehead to hers. “We need to go in different directions” Katara is glaring over at him. “Plus we both know that Katara might have a slight problem with me joining you....” She hums and nods in agreement. She doesn't like it. Not when they finally feel like they're on the right path. But if Iroh and Shakra can do it. So can they.

“Just look after your uncle” She straightens his robes and he nods. “I think he isn't like other Fire Nation soldiers” She teases a little, Zuko hums in agreement as they both look over at Iroh talking with Arnook.

“I know” He agrees softly and pulls her closer to him so he can kiss her forehead. She lets out a soft sigh and closes her eyes as he moves down, kissing her cheek and then the corner of her lips. He lingers there a moment before he fully captures her lips in a deep kiss. His hand shifts on her face, tilting her head slightly. He could easily be persuaded to stay. Easily. But he can't. Azula will come. Azula will hurt them, hurt Rana, to get to him. Zuko forces himself away from her and closes his eyes before he turns and walks away, clenching his fists at his side. Pikachu jumps up onto Rana's shoulder.

“Pika” Pikachu offers sadly, Rana hums in agreement.

….....

Rana's tail flicks behind her as she takes a shaky breath and holds her head up, watching Zuko and Iroh's little boat sail away. Sokka touches her shoulder and curls his fingers in to comfort her. Despite the victory, it does all kind of feel hollow. With Yue dead and Zuko leaving. They could have used his help. But even Sokka knows that Katara would never be okay with it.

….

Outside of the city, on the sea is a variety of wrecked Fire Navy ships destroyed in the battle. Among the sunken shifts a small raft sails through the waters. Iroh and Zuko are sat together on the raft with Eevee and Houndour. Zuko looks lost. Not really wanting to leave Rana.

“I'm proud of you” Iroh admits, Zuko looks at him, surprised but touched, his fingers scratching at Eevee's head where she lays stretched out between the two men. “To come to the understanding that your future lay with Rana, only to walk away because you knew it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do to protect her....that took immeasurable courage...” Zuko looks down, a blush working onto his cheeks. “Especially after what happened....” Iroh smiles. “I am proud of you” He repeats softly. Eevee suddenly erupts into a bright blue light. Zuko and Iroh lean back, shielding their eyes as Eevee evolves between them. When the light fades, no longer does Eevee lay between them, but something a lot brighter, something a lot pinker. Zuko blinks a little looking at this new pokemon who blinks and looks up at him too. The two of them sharing a look as it wraps some kind of ribbon around his wrist. Zuko smiles and holds out his other hand.

“Sylveon”

“I think your Eevee was proud of you too” Iroh teases a little as Sylveon curls up in Zuko's lap. Houndour starting at his friend before he moves to join them.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of True Elemental
• Part 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender