Oh my God!!! 999 Reads!!! You guys are all so awesome!!!! Sorry for leaving you for a day without a chapter but writing's been busy.
Enjoy the next chapter!
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One move, all it needed was move to take that pupil down. Katara had proven to be a great bender as she spent hours practicing the last week. Iris was same as good. They both had really beaten all of Pakku's pupils.
"Nice try, pupil Sangook, a couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea-sponge," Pakku said releasing the kid off the ice. "Does anyone care for a rematch with Katara or Iris?" he asked looking at his injured pupils.
"Katara, Iris, you've both advanced quicker than any pupil I've ever trained. You've both proven that, with fierce determination, passion and hard work, you can accomplish anything," Pakku said pleasingly as he stood towards both Katara and Iris. "Raw talent, alone, is not enough," Pakku said looking at Aang moving an air ball with Momo on top of it. "Pupil, Aang!"
"Yes, Master Pakku," Aang responded immediately and he stopped fooling around.
"Care to step into the sparring circle? I figured since you have time to play with house-pets you must have already mastered water bending," Pakku said smirking.
Aang woke up using his air bending and he said "I wouldn't say 'mastered' but... check this out!" Aang said and he used his water bending to lift the snow from the ground, stick on him creating a snowman.
Iris could only face-palm her forehead. After another short moment of practicing and learning new forms, something black started falling from the sky. Iris had seen it before. Right before the last attack in the Southern Water Tribe. It was a mixture of snow and coal which like real snowing. She could only assume that they were many...
She turned and looked at her brother who was playing with the snow, still to notice the black snow. "Aang, focus!" she exclaimed at him.
He stopped playing and then he noticed the snow. "What is this?" Aang asked opening his palm letting one of them land on it.
"Snow mixed with coal... the Fire Nation is here," Iris said looking at her brother and he looked back at her with a glare of fear.
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"The day we have feared for so long, has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me knowing 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, I call upon the great spirits... Spirit of the Ocean, Spirit of the Moon, be with us... I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission-"
"Count me in!" Sokka said waking up at once.
"Sokka?!" Katara asked.
Iris wrapped his hand drawing his attention "What are you doing?"
He did not respond and he walked towards the Chief "Be warned, many of you might not return," Chief Arnook said as other men in the crowd woke up. "Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task,"
Sokka and several other men walked towards Chief Arnook.
The silence before the battle, was one of the worst things Iris had ever experienced. It was just the same as the silence before the Fire Nation attacked the Western Air Temple. They were not prepared, but it was the same overwhelming sound. She had promised herself a long time ago, she would avenge her people's death and she would certainly not allow the Fire Nation do this to other civilizations.
Both Iris and Aang glared at the blue City of the Northern Water Tribe. They didn't speak. Neither of them was in mood to do so. As the overwhelming silence filled the atmosphere, Iris couldn't be more grateful for Chief Arnook saying from behind...
"The stillness before battle is... unbearable. Such a quiet dread," Arnook said and Katara came on the other side placing her hand on Iris's shoulder and giving her a smile. Iris forced a smile back at her friend.
Aang woke up "I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people, I'm gonna make a difference this," he said determinedly.
Everything was set. The Northern Water Tribe Warriors had been waiting on the wall. Appa with Aang on his head stood in the middle. Katara and Sokka on the other side of Aang and Iris stood right in front of Appa looking coldly on the horizon everyone stared at.
Suddenly a fireball came flying towards them. It would fall right on the spot Iris stood on and it would destroy half of the wall. Iris jumped from the wall and she flew right towards it. She used her air bending to dodge it and change its direction back to the sea.
The warriors were surprised to see her flying without any contraption and most of them found her abilities amazing. But she didn't care, they had work to do. One Fire Navy ship could be seen, coming towards the Tribe with raised speed.
"Common, Aang!" Iris said and she started flying toward it as quick as she could.
She let herself fall in the sea. After reaching a good spaced altitude underwater, she created the water-tornado. She reached higher than the ships and, still, close enough to get to them. She created a small spiky, icy mountain beneath the Fire Navy ship cutting it in the middle.
She remained on the tornado and she moved a bit further along with Aang who was flying on Appa. There could be seen hundreds of other Fire Navy ships. Her eyes widened, she had never seen so many Fire Navy ships before. She was willing to bet that Zhao would be in one of them and she hoped she'd find him and kill him.
After some long minutes of taking out Fire Navy ships and keeping a close look on her brother's safety, she finally caught a glimpse of Zhao. She knew that the Water Tribe mission was to get in his ship and ambush him. But she suddenly saw Hahn, who was supposed to lead the mission, falling off the ship.
Idiot! She thought exasperatedly. She got off her tornado jumping on the ship's tower coming face to face with Zhao. Maybe killing their General would stop the fight.
But before she was able to get closer, Appa came with Aang on his head and he said "Iris, common! They're pausing the fight!"
She turned around and she looked at the sky. Of course, the sun had set and the moon was nearly full. The Fire Nation soldiers would be slaughtered from the water benders.
She flew right back on Appa's saddle and they flew together with Aang. Aang was exhausted and panicked, altogether. He didn't know what to do to save an entire civilization, dealing with all these people with only his sister. She sat beside him on the saddle and she passed her left hand around his shoulders, noticing worried look on his face. Aang let his head rest on her shoulder.
"How are we going to do this, Iris?" Aang asked desperately.
She sighed desperately as well "I don't know, Aang,"
"We'll never win this fight," Aang said desperately.
"We have to,"
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"Aang!" Katara shouted pointing on Appa flying towards them and landing nearby. "Iris!"
Both Katara and Yuen walked towards Appa, Aang and Iris. Aang collapsed on his knees and Iris sat beside him on the ground. Both scared, exhausted and desperate.
"I can't do it! I can't do it..." Aang said placing his hands on his head as Iris placed her hand on his shoulder.
"What happened!?" Katara asked sitting on her knees beside Aang.
"We must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships but there's just too many of them," Aang answered taking his hands off his head and looking at the girls. "We can't fight them all alone,"
"But you have to, you're the Avatar," Yuen said.
"I'm just one kid," Aang admitted and he buried his face in his hands pressing his legs against his chest.
Katara placed a hand on his shoulder. Yuen looked at Iris with pleadingly eyes. Iris heaved a sigh and she said "I'll try everything I can. I'm not going to let them take the Water Tribe,"
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"The Legend says the Moon was the first water-bender. Our ancestors learned how to push and pull the tides and they learned how to do it themselves," Yuen said as the four of them glanced at the moon in the middle of the sky.
"I've always noticed my water bending stronger at night," Katara said.
"Our strength comes from the Spirit of the Moon, our life comes from the Spirit of the Ocean. They work together to keep balance," Yuen said.
Suddenly, Aang jumped from his place "The Spirits! Maybe we can find them and get their help!" he said.
"How can you do that?" Yuen asked.
"The Avatar and the Defender are the Bridge between our world and the Spirit World," Katara said "Aang and Iris can talk to them," she said and she excitedly walked towards Aang and Iris who were turned over to Yuen.
"Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!" Yuen said excitedly.
"Or maybe they'll unleash a crazy spirit attack in the Fire Nation!" Aang said excitedly, but noticing none of the girls responding he said "Or wisdom, that's good too,"
"The only problem is, last time you got to the Spirit World by accident. How are you gonna get there this time?" Katara asked.
"I know how to get to the Spirit World," Iris said.
"I know something that will help, follow me!" Yuen said and they did.
She took them to the Spirit Oasis. Some meters behind the Palace. There was a wooden circled door. "Is that the way to the Spirit World?" Aang asked.
Yuen chuckled "No, you'll have to get there on your own. But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole," Yuen said opening the door letting Aang, Katara and Iris get in and she followed from behind.
It was indeed a spiritual place. There was a pond and a waterfall falling behind it. But there was surprisingly some greenery... in the middle of all the snow. It was surprisingly warmer in there. Aang ran towards the grass laughing. His childish laughter made Iris smile. After everything they had gotten through, he was still the same innocent boy.
"I never thought I'd miss grass so much," Aang said falling on his knees and touching the grass.
"It's so warm in here, how's that possible?" Katara asked taking off her heavy jacket.
"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land," Yuen said.
Momo saw the two koi-fish circling each other. He sank his hand to grab one of them but he stopped when the three girls looked at him with deadly looks.
"You're right, Yuen. I can feel... something, it's so... tranquil," Aang said crossing his legs and sitting down putting his fists.
"We'll be in the Spirit World in no time," Iris said and she sat beside her brother getting in the same stance and closing her eyes.
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"Why are they sitting like that?" Yuen asked.
"They're meditating, they're trying to cross over into the Spirit World," Katara answered "It takes all his concentration," Katara continued.
Aang's one eye opened, and eventually Iris opened her eyes as well. The two siblings glanced at each other and then they close their eyes trying to concentrate.
"Is there any way we can help?" Yuen asked.
"How about some quiet?!" Aang snapped at them.
"Common, guys, we can hear every word you're saying!" Iris said loudly as well and the girls stopped talking. She noticed her brother focusing on the koi-fish.
She took a deep breath and she tried to concentrate to it. Something was different. The one fish was white with a black circle and the other was black with a white circle. They circled around each other endlessly. This was definitely the Ying and Yang.
Suddenly, Aang's eyes and tattoos started glowing. Iris's eyes closed. The both siblings managed to get to the Spirit World successfully.
"Is he okay?!" Yuen asked worrying with a grasp.
"They're crossing into the Spirit World. They'll be okay as long as we don't touch their bodies," Katara said "That's their way back to the physical world,"
"Maybe we should get some help," Yuen said and she made some steps away.
"No, they're my friends, I'm perfectly capable of protecting them," Katara said.
"Well, aren't you a big girl now," Zuko's voice heard from behind.
Katara turned around "No,"
"Yes, hand him over and I won't have to hurt you," Zuko said.
Katara got immediately in her stance as Zuko started shooting fire blasts, endlessly. Katara used the water in the oasis to dodge them all as Yuen walked away. She shot another strong water blast that made him fall down.
"I've seen you learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to lose to you," Zuko said and he managed to send another fire blast but she was quicker and the water pushed him behind.
Katara started bending the water around him trapping him in an icy water ball. A small smile appearing on her lips and she remained in the stance.
"You little peasant, you found a master haven't you?" Zuko said using his fire bending to burn the ball and he jumped outside sending a fire blast, which she dodged immediately with the water.
Katara avoided the next two blasts and she tried to hit him with the water which he avoided as well. He managed to reach closer to her but each of his blasts was dodged with water. He walked towards Aang but before he was able to touch him, Katara shot him away with the water and trapping him in a big, mountain-like ice.
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"You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun," Zuko said and he glared over at Katara who sprawled on the ground.
He looked over at Aang and then his gaze slipped over at Iris. He walked towards her. She was in the Spirit World and he knew she wouldn't understand him being there. He sat on his one knee closer to her. He slipped his hand over her cheek. He had missed her, but he just couldn't admit that. When she left him, his life became a worse mess than it already was.
He pushed one of the two forelocks that fell in front of her eyes, behind her ear. He had to take her with him. He knew whatever his father had said from the Avatar was for the Defender as well. But he just couldn't. He would trap her in a life of misery if he'd take her back to the Fire Nation, and he didn't want that. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't do that to her. He looked over at Aang. He sighed regretfully and he muttered "I'm sorry, Iris,"
He returned back to Aang and he picked him up. Now, the only left to do was to figure out a way to get out of this mess...
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Katara's eyes snapped opened. She looked around her only to see Iris meditating, but Aang was nowhere to be seen.
"Aang!" She shouted.
Appa landed in front of her. Sokka and Yuen got off Appa and they ran towards her, worriedly. "What happened, where's Zuko?!" Sokka asked.
"He took Aang, he took him right out from under me," Katara said and she couldn't help but accuse herself.
"He didn't take, Iris!" Yuen said.
"Maybe Zuko doesn't know that Iris is the Defender," Katara said.
"Let's go find him!"
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Here it is, guys! I hope you liked it! And thank you so much for your support!!! The next chapter is AWESOME! You're gonna love it!!!
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