Chapter Text
The team and the men were meeting in Hakoda’s tent. They had been establishing their new plan of action. It had been decided, though reluctantly, that they would destroy one of their boats, they knew the Fire Nation Navy was redoubling their numbers in the Earth Kingdom waters so they needed to flee as fast as they could, a made up battle would serve its purpose to make them believe their numbers had been dwindled.
They would later take hold of a warship and sail away, it was easier said than done. There was a small team formed by Hakoda, Katara, Zuko, Azula, Suki and five other Water Tribe’s men. They had been approaching their target thanks to Katara’s mist, the ship was a middle class warship that Azula stated it was a cargo ship rather than one containing soldiers.
“Alright everybody, you know the plan, stay hidden until the time comes and we will all board the ship” Hakoda said to his men, the plan was simple and yet dangerous at the same time but he hoped, no, he believed they could pull this plan and get themselves a new ship.
Once aboard Zuko and Azula quickly dispatched the sentinels while Katara led the men through the hallways of the ship, the ship was identical to the one in the South, a few differences here and there but the same type of ship regardless.
She quickly summoned the water from the canteens the men were carrying and once her father opened the latch on the bridge she sent it forward freezing the four men and women inside the bridge.
“Take them to the cells” Hakoda said to his men, he didn’t wanted more blood on this ship and he had agreed to take the ship as bloodless as possible, this people weren’t soldiers after all.
Azula and Zuko reach them and updated the status. Then the Princess started to tell the Chief how to use the Fire Nation equipment.
“This vessel uses more than just a sail and a steering wheel” She playfully joked
--
By nightfall the rest of the men and their friends had taken residence inside the Fire Nation vessel. Katara and Zuko wanted to have their own private room but decided against to avoid Hakoda’s unapproved of his daughter’s actions and awkward encounters in case the couple decided to get intimate.
Zuko was staring at the ocean, the cold night breeze caressed his face and hair, he had his eyes close and still he felt her presence behind him.
“The night is cold, you should wear something else” She said to Zuko who was contemplating the moon and the ocean in the horizon.
“I’m a Fire bender, what’s your excuse?” He said to Katara
“I’m exhausted from all of Aang’s healing” She said as Zuko put an arm over her sharing his body heat with her.
“How is that going?” Zuko asked.
“I don’t know, I mean I managed to cure his injury and there will be no scar and yet…”
“He doesn’t wake up” He finished
“Exactly, perhaps I’m doing something wrong”
“No that’s not it, whatever is happening with Aang goes beyond the physical realm, there’s something inside his spirit that prevents him from waking up”
“You think so?”
“Yes, we don’t know too much from the Avatar or the Spirits, so I think that when the time is right he will wake up”
“And if he doesn’t?” Katara asked, she didn’t want to sound pessimist but it was a possibility that Aang’s coma was forever.
“Then we’ll deal with Ozai together” He smiled and kissed her forehead.
--
Toph tossed and trashed on her bed, yes it was a comfy bed but the metal surrounding her was not a way for her to see, once again she had found herself locked up inside a metal cage, just like in Gaoling or in Ba Sing Se, she always found herself surrounded by the strange element, away from her earth, away from her senses, she needed the earth, the ground, the earth was her guide, the earth was malleable, it was warm. The metal was tough, it was rigid, it was cold, she hated it, she hated how useless it made her feel, how the others would perceive her, because in this metal ship she was completely blind, just a poor defenseless blind girl that needed the others to survive. Just as her parents saw her, how everyone saw her.
She felt frustrated, angry. She was so frustrated that she kicked the wall harshly and for the first time since they had taken this stupid metal ship she saw something, a glimpse, she kicked again and the vision returned briefly. She decided to punch it with her entire fist and not only did her vision slightly returned but she had dented the metal.
“WUU! Toph, you rule!” She said to no one in particular.
--
In an infinite and timeless place, not quite the living world, nor the Spirit world, this world was filled with pure cosmic energy, an energy that enveloped everyone. In this place the young Avatar Aang was floating. His spirit had taken a major hit during the confrontation with Ozai, but as the boy opened his eyes he saw the tall Avatar Kyoshi looking down at him.
“You finally wake up” She said smiling at the boy