Chapter 21: Bato the Water Tribe Warrior

Location: Earth Kingdom

Ricky kept an eye out for anything as he and his friends walk through the woods and to the beach. He was on edge ever since Aang had found that sword made out of a whale's tooth, only for Sokka to reveal it was made by a Water Tribe soldier. He had already put a mental image in his head that everyone in the Water Tribe—except for his friends—hates firebenders and so does everyone else.

Sure he has made a reputation of being one of the very few firebenders to fight against the Fire Nation, he was still convinced that the opposite nation would be too stubborn to listen. He noticed that some of the trees were burnt, meaning that the Fire Nation was here and there was a battle. Sokka seemed to be excited for some reason, being the only tactician out of the four, he might've reenacted the battle in his head and was heading downhill. He had to stay behind as they search for the shorelines. Sokka seemed disappointed but it changed when they found a ship.

"Is it dad's?" Katara asks.

"No, but it's part of dad's fleet," Sokka shook his head.

Sokka seemed to be in a hypnotic trance, ignoring the world around him. He felt the memories of his youth as he wanted to join and fight alongside his dad. Ricky came out of his hiding spot and joined his friends.

"What happened?" he asks.

Katara explains, "We found a ship that belongs to our dad's fleet. Wonder why this was left behind?"

Ricky was told that their dad was leading the Southern Water Tribe to fight against the Fire Nation and as for the Northern Water Tribe. He really doesn't know what they do, but maybe bigger than Sokka and Katara's dad's fleet. The feeling of not seeing their loved one overseas is heartbreaking.

"I think we should camp here for tonight", Ricky suggested.

The three agreed as Aang called out for Appa, while Sokka and Ricky went and collect some firewood for tonight.

Location: Fire Nation Ship

Everything was going slow on the ship, Iroh and Zuko were drinking some tea to pass the time with no activity for the moment. Nothing was going on since Zuko returned from his absence a week ago and he refused to share any information with anyone at the time. They just accepted the thought he won't share it anytime soon, so they dropped it.

Zuko was at least thankful for not being barraged with questions on the event, and he could still feel the pain from last week. With the fight against the Avatar's friend and how he was dead serious he was when he said he'll kill him the next time they meet. He now has nothing but wanting vengeance and death on the Blue Dragon. His train of thought came was interrupted when the ship violently jerks to a halt. forcing the tea to spill all over the prince's pants.

"What's going on?!" he yells.

Suddenly, a giant creature jumps up and lands onto the docks. Standing before them was a Shirshru with a woman riding on its back. She was pale with long black hair with a gothic makeup, dark grey kunoichi strapped around with leather belts, dark boots, tattoos on her shoulders, and was holding a whip. She looks around at the ship, spotting Zuko and Iroh before speaking.

"I'm looking for a stowaway," she said.

"There is no stowaway!" Zuko argued.

The woman didn't respond to him as her Shirshru starts sniffing the air before it looks down and begins tearing the metal dock, causing Zuko and the firebenders in a pre-fighting stance. The Shirshru growls at the hole as a strange man begins climbing out of the hole and tries to run away. He didn't get far as the woman's creature lashes its elongated tongue at the man and slashes at his back, causing him to fall onto the ground.

Zuko looks at the fallen man, seeing he wasn't moving, but a closer look and he sees that his body was paralyzed with a shock expression.

"He's paralyzed!" he exclaims.

"Only temporarily," the woman said as she jumps down and begins tying the man's arms and legs, "the poison lasts about an hour, but soon he'll be behind bars and I'll get my money."

The woman flings the paralyzed man on the back of the saddle as she climbs back up and whips the reins. The Shirshru begins to move, but Zuko stops it.

"Wait, how did you know he was on my ship?" he questions.

"Nyla here can smell a rat a mile away, even if it's on the other side of the continent," she explains only to crack her whip and Nyla begins to bolt out of the ship and disappear out of sight.

Zuko was amazed while Iroh starts to lean on the ship's ledge.

"I'm impressed. Very impressed."

Zuko looks at his uncle in disgust as he sees the old general smiling a bit creepily. He paid no mind after that, as a new plan to capture the Avatar and his friends begin to take fold.

Location: The Water Tribe Ship, Earth Kingdom

Sokka looks down at the small fire as the rest of the Gaang, thinking back on the memories of the past. Remembering how he wanted to help his father to fight off the Fire Nation and how he was told to watch out for the village. He wished to reunite with his father again. So does Katara.

"Can't sleep?"

Sokka looks up to see Ricky sitting down across the fireplace. Sokka just nods his head.

"Just wish my dad was here," is all he said.

Ricky could understand Sokka's pain. After all, his father was in the navy and he rarely sees him and whenever he did show up, it was only temporarily. Now he can never see him again because of his duty to help Aang end the war.

"I know the feeling," he said, "My dad was in the navy where I'm from. Hardly see him because of it."

Sokka looks at the dark brunette, seeing that there were some things that they have in common. But before Sokka could drop the question, the two heard faint footsteps coming from the shadows. The two got up from their spots and ready themselves with Sokka arming himself with his boomerang and Ricky concentrating his hand with a small blue fireball.

"Who's there?!" Sokka called out.

The sound of footsteps stop, forcing the two waiting in anticipation for whatever is about to come. Without warning, a rock was flying and hit Ricky right in the forehead, knocking him back to the ground and lose his fireball. Sokka looks in shock before raising his boomerang at the assaulter, he wasn't going to allow anyone to attack his friends.

"Show yourself!" he demanded.

The intruder didn't say anything as a foot was shown in the light caused by the fireplace. Sokka looks closely and got a good look at the figure; it was a middle-aged man wearing Water Tribe attire with his left side of his torso and arm covered in bandages, he had long dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail and had blue eyes. The man looks at Sokka closely before speaking.

"Sokka?" he spoke.

Sokka looks at the man quizzically before his eyes widen in surprise.

"Bato?"

"Who the what now?" a voice asks groggily with Sokka turning to see Aang and Katara waking up from their sleep.

Katara rubs her eyes as she looks at her brother and smiles gleefully.

"Bato!" she said with excitement, running out of her sleeping bag and gave Bato a hug with Sokka in toll.

Bato returns the hug to the two kids with a smile on his face.

"My, my, you two have grown," Bato replied, "I miss you two so much."

Aang got up from his sleeping bag until he heard a moan, looking down to see Ricky slowly getting up from being attack whilst rubbing his forehead.

"Ow, that hurt!" he muttered.

Bato's smile instantly disappeared and quickly turned into a frown as he pushed Katara and Sokka behind.

"Stay back you two, I'll handle this firebender!" he said with an angry tone in his voice.

The three kids look in shock and moved in front of Bato.

"Wait, Don't hurt him!" Katara begs, "He's on our side!"

"What are you talking about Katara? He's a firebender!" Bato questions rather angrily, "How can you two be friends with an enemy?!"

"Gee, way to make assumptions there," Ricky said sarcastically, "If I was from that fascist nation, wouldn't I be keeping Kat and Sokka held hostage with their hands tied behind their backs? Also, do I seriously LOOK like I'm from the Fire Nation?"

Bato looks at the dark brunette skeptically and notices that his attire wasn't even from the Fire Nation, except for the boots. He looks at Katara and Sokka one last time and looking back at Ricky.

"You sure he's a good guy?" he asks rather calmly this time.

"Of course, he is," Katara stated with Sokka nodding in agreement.

The Water Tribe soldier took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

"Okay, I trust you," he said noticing the cold wind starting to blow, causing the kids to shiver.

"This is no place for a reunion. Follow me."

The four kids alongside Appa and Momo followed Bato, but with Ricky trailing behind. He could see Bato giving him quick glares before turning away, knowing full well he doesn't trust him.

"Déjà vu all over again," he said to himself.

The five continued to walk as they finally reached an abbey with a nun welcoming in.

"The sisters here took care of me after your father took me to this place," Bato explains.

"That reminds me, where's Dad?" Katara asks.

"Your father and the other warriors are at the east side of the Earth Kingdom," Bato said, "Mother Superior, these are Hakoda's children and their friends."

The nun named Mother Superior bowed to them with kindness.

"Welcome to our humble abbey. It's an honor to meet you young Avatar," Mother Superior said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. If there's—" Aang said before Sokka interrupts him.

"What is that I smell?!" Sokka asks.

"The sisters specialize in perfume and ointments," Bato explains.

"Well then, guess we going to need to dump all of it to make Appa smell good," Sokka said waving his hand in front of his nostrils in a joking manner, "Am I right?"

No one laughed at the joke, with exceptional coughing in the background.

"You still inherit your father's humor, I see," Bato said with a small smile.

The Gaang decides to follow Bato, except for Ricky as he drags further away from the group. Noticing that they're heading to a small house, already believing that's where Katara and Sokka's old friend is staying.

"I'm going to stay out here," he said but they didn't hear him as they continued to walk in.

Ricky felt the sense of being ignored. But he was used to it, it wasn't their fault, he just feels like Bato doesn't fully believe he's the good guy.

After all; he's a firebender.

He could feel the cold wind blowing, sending shivers down his body as he wraps his arms around his body. He tried his best to channel all of his heat to course through his body for some warmth that he learned from the scroll Iroh gave to him. Unfortunately, he couldn't understand nor read the world's language, despite it was similar to the likes of Chinese or Japanese. But at least he was able to understand it with the pictures. Exhaling a small blue flame from his mouth as he could feel the warmth coursing through as he continued the process a few times. Ricky heard the door moving to see Aang walking out, but notice a very gloomy expression on his face.

"Hey Aang, you alright?" Ricky asks.

Aang looks to see Ricky standing on the side of the house with his arms crossed.

"What are you doing out here?" he asks the brunette.

"Staying out here," he said with a shrug, "I don't think Kat and Sokka's godfather likes me all that much. You still haven't answered my question."

Aang contemplated how to answer the question.

"I'm just going for a walk," he said.

Ricky could tell something was off, but before he could pop in another question, he watches the young Avatar walking away. He begins to think back about his past life; how he was ignored most of his life, with only his friends staying by his side. His father was overseas and only could stay a few hours or a day to spend time, his sisters with their own lives to worry about. He couldn't but overhear the conversation inside the house.

"We loved to see dad, but we can't," Sokka said rather glumly, "We have to take Aang to the North Pole."

"Besides, even we want to hear from father, we can't waste any time," Katara assured.

Ricky cracks a small smile, knowing that the two are putting Aang's goal first over their chance of seeing their father.

'Maybe that's what got Aang so upset. He thought they were going to leave him to see their dad,' he thought.

Knowing that reassured that they won't be able to leave, all he has to do is to convince Aang that they're not going to leave him.

"Now, about that firebender that's with you," Bato changed the subject, "How did you guys meet him?"

"It's a long story," Katara said quite nervously.

Bato let out a light scoff, "I've got all night."

Location: A Tavern, Earth Kingdom

Zuko knew it didn't take long to find that elusive bounty hunter for long. He could see the woman that has boarded on his ship and left with her terrifying beast and left with the stowaway, arm wrestling with some man with no effort. Zuko had to drag his uncle along because he couldn't trust his uncle if it meant listening to another one of his songs.

"Move out of the way, filthy peasants!" he insulted.

"I'm sure you all bathed regularly," Iroh apologizes.

The prince continues marching his way towards the table, clenching both his fists as he glares at the woman.

"We need to talk," he said in a demanding tone.

The bounty hunter didn't bother turning her head but could see Zuko and Iroh walking towards her table, creating a small smug smirk.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my new friends: Angry Boy and Uncle Lazy," she said.

Iroh laughed at the woman's remark, though Zuko not so much.

"You destroy my ship! And now, you're going to pay for it!" Zuko shouts.

"Sorry, kiddo, but I don't have any money on me," she said nonchalantly as she easily slams the thug's hand on the table and grabs the wallet and raised it in the air.

"Drinks are on me, boys!" she announces with the sounds of cheering filled the bar.

Tipping the cup next to her for a drink, only to have her hand getting snatched by the scarred prince's hand, glaring at her.

"I wasn't talking about money," he said.

This perks up her interests a bit, thinking that he was talking something a bit more... intimate, but she thought it was probably the usual.

"Let's talk outside."

Zuko released the bounty hunter's arm, taking one gulp from her cup and got up from her seat. The two men followed her outside, seeing her giant Shirshru lying down. Believing it's a perfect time, Zuko grabs Katara's necklace from his pocket and showed it the black-haired woman.

"I need you to find someone for me."

The lady took a look at the necklace, letting out a small chuckle.

"What happened? Did your girlfriend ran out on you?" she joked.

"It's not a girl, it's a bald monk with arrow tattoos she's traveling with," he corrected her.

"Sure, whatever," she said already losing her interest, climbing onto her saddle.

"We have gold to pay you if you get the job done!" Iroh stated.

She stopped and turned around with her eyes gleaming with greed and begins walking towards the old general.

"Make sure the gold is paid in your weight, then we got a deal," she stated as she pokes at Iroh's stomach.

"You got it! Miss..." Iroh laughed.

"June," she said as she swipes the necklace out of Zuko's grasp and saddles onto her Shirshru. "Get on you two!"

Zuko and Iroh got onto June's animal as she lifts the necklace over the creature's nose as it took a long sniffed. Picking up on Katara's scent and begins to its trek to find the scent.

'Everything is going to plan,' Zuko thought.

Location: Abbey, Earth Kingdom

It was morning and everything was pretty normal, except the fact that Ricky tried to keep his distance between him and the Water Tribe kids with Bato around and Aang acting weird with them as well. He was caught littering in the abbey by Mother Superior and scold him or it. But it didn't last as the five left and return back to the beach where a Water Tribe ship was resting, with some scars covering the sides.

"Is this the ship you used for ice dodging?!" Sokka asks in excitement.

"Yep and the scars are proof of it," Bato stated proudly.

The sound of wind could be heard from behind the Gaang, but the only one who noticed it was Ricky as he turned around to see Aang whistling nervously. Raising an eyebrow at the Avatar's antics.

"I'm sure you must have stories on your first ice dodging, Sokka!" Bato said.

"He never got to, Father left when he was young," Katara explains with Sokka looking sad.

"Ah, that's right, you were too young."

"What's ice dodging?" Ricky asks.

"It's a passage for Water Tribe boys for a coming of age," Bato said placing a hand on Sokka's shoulder, "And you're going to see how it works."

"Um, I think I'll pass. You know, me being a firebender and all," Ricky gulps waving his hands politely.

Katara and Sokka look at him with sadden expressions, but before they could say anything, Bato spoke up.

"Listen, kid, Katara and Sokka told me everything about you about how you helped them and the Avatar's journey. And if they say you're alright, then I believe it."

The brunette look in surprise to hear, looking at the two giving him reassuring nods. The five got onto the boat with Katara and Aang using waterbending to push the boat into the water and away from the shores. Five minutes had passed and they begin sailing.

"Ice dodging is a test on courage, wisdom, and trust. The Southern Water Tribes would use the boats to weave around icebergs," Bato explains.

"But there are no icebergs," Sokka said, "What are we going to dodge?"

"Those."

The elder Water Tribe points at the jagged rocks and the rough waters crashing against sharp jagged rocks. With only the Water Tribe siblings and the brunette with his face going pale.

"We're going to die," Ricky murmured.

No one heard the comment, but the expressions were enough to get a chuckle out of Bato.

"Sokka, you will be controlling the helm and calling the shots. Choose Wisely," Bato explains, "Katara, you secure the sails and be brave. Aang, Ricky, you two will control the jib. Without you two, we'll go down, we need your trust."

Ricky only nodded, while Aang randomly got all defensive.

"I know about trust; I'm the Avatar! Why wouldn't I know about that?!" he crosses his arms, avoiding any eye contact though no one seems to notice the airbender's tone.

"You will succeed or fail on your own, without my help," Bato explains as he sits in the front of the ship's nose.

The four begin to go to their spot, with Sokka taking the steer as he eyes on the rocks, studying the safest path between the jagged stones sticking out on the water.

"Aang, Ricky, easy on the jib. Katara, steady the mass," Sokka orders.

The ship was slowly turning to the left with the sails between two rocks. This caused Sokka to order in a stern tone.

"Ricky, helm to lee! Helm to lee!" Sokka yells.

"What does that even mean?" Ricky yells back.

"Your dad's in the navy! You should at least know what that means!"

"Just because my dad is in the navy, doesn't mean I know diddly squat how to sail one!" the firebender counter, "And FYI, the ship my dad's on is more related to those stupid Fire Nations'!"

The waves begin hitting the boat, knocking Bato around and the four closing their eyes. Without no one noticing, something hit Ricky in the face using his free left hand to move the object out of his face. He instant recognizes it as a piece of paper, not knowing where or how he scrunches it up and shoves it down his pocket. Luckily for everyone, the boat was able to pass by between the sharp rocks and the waves calm down.

"We made it!" Katara cheered.

"Great job!" Sokka congratulated.

Though it didn't last when the brunette firebender turns his head around and his face gone pale.

"Um, guys," Ricky stuttered pointing his finger out front.

The Gaang and Bato turn around to see their path is blocked by a group of jagged rocks and the ship was sailing right towards them.

"There's no way through!" Katara says in concern.

"How are we going to get out of this?" Aang hollers nervously.

Sokka didn't say anything as eyes both the bundles of rocks and the boat. He continues to do this until he finally changes his gaze to his friends and sister. It was then he came up with an idea.

"We can make it."

Those were the words that seem to shock the group on board.

"Sokka, I swear to God and the Spirits! If we die, I am never going to talk to you!" Ricky screams.

"He's right, Sokka, you've proven yourself! You don't need to—" Bato said but was cut off by Sokka.

"Aang, give more wind to the sails. Katara, I need you to bend as much water as you can between us and those rocks," Sokka orders confidently before turning his head towards Ricky, "Ricky, I need you to keep the boat balance with your firebending."

Ricky wanted to argue at the ponytail wearing teenager. He truly did, but all he did was let out a low groan as he begins to feel the wind being blasted from the young monk and felt the boat moving upwards by Katara's waterbending. He felt the ship begin to topple to the left side, as instincts kicked in, he threw a punch to his left as the heat explode from his right hand and a gust of blue flames exited his fist. He can feel the ship moving now leaning to the right. He changes his stance and threw another punch with his left hand with the same enough firepower he did before.

Sokka bit his lower lips in pure anxiousness, as he watches everything that's happening; with the three benders doing their part as the boat was slowly rising above the rocks and wobbling side to side. It was then he looks down and behind to see they were over and passed the rocks. Sighing in relief that they made it one piece.

Looking up to see Bato giving him a proud and an approving smile.

The Gaang were able to set on shore and far away from the bundle of rocks with the four all lined up and Bato standing in front of them with a small bowl in his left hand.

"The spirits of the water will now witness the marks," Bato announces as he dips his right finger into the bowl with purple paint on his index and middle finger, "Sokka, you earn the Mark of the Wise. Just like your father."

Bato marks Sokka's forehead with the Mark of Wise, he begins to move towards to Katara.

"Katara, you earn the Mark of the Brave. Your bravery has encouraged us all today," he said as he marks Katara's forehead with the Mark of Brave.

"And to Ricky and Aang, you both earn yourselves the Mark of the Trusted," he finally said to the two boys as he marks Aang's forehead first and then Ricky's with the same markings as Aang, "You both are official members of the Water Tribe."

Ricky only smiled in embarrassment, he was glad that Bato was able to give him a second chance. More importantly, he was grateful for Katara and Sokka to convince him to give him said chance. He turns to his airbending friend, only to see him frowning.

"I can't," Aang says solemnly.

"What are you talking about? Of course, you can!" Katara objected rather confusingly to Aang's rejection.

"No, you guys can't trust me," he said as he wipes the marking off his forehead.

He slips his right hand into his sleeves but felt nothing as he frantically begins searching his body.

"I swear, I had a note on me!" he panicked.

"You mean this note?" Ricky said pulling the scrunched up paper from his pocket, "I was wondering where it came from."

Sokka quickly snatched the note from Ricky's grasps, undoing the damage of the paper and he begins to read it.

"Guys, you must understand. I was afraid that you—" Aang tried to explain but was cut off by Sokka's angry yelling.

"This is the map to our father!" he yelled before glaring angrily at Aang, "You had this the whole time! How could you?! You can forget about us helping you get to the North Pole!"

"Sokka, let's hear what Aang had to say in this," Bato reassured but it fell into deaf's ear with Sokka turning his back on them.

"Katara, are you coming?" he asks angrily.

Katara didn't say anything as she eyes on her airbending friend. She never felt this much of betrayal in her life, looking away from the airbender.

"I'm with you Sokka."

She turns and follows Bato and Sokka, leaving Aang alone. His head hanging low from the guilt he has, seeing that the only one who hasn't left his side was Ricky. Though he had his hand rubbing the bridge on his nose with his brow in a frown position.

"Ricky?"

"We'll talk about this later," Ricky said sternly as he left Aang alone.

He hung his head with Momo flying onto his shoulders, looking at him in curiosity.

"I'm an idiot Momo," Aang mumbled to the flying lemur as he slowly follows Ricky.

The trek back to the abbey only took twenty-five minutes and the Gaang were finally made it to the gateway with Sokka and Katara with Bato, while Ricky and Aang sat on Appa.

"I guess this is goodbye then," Aang said solemnly.

"Seems like it," Katara said before looking at Ricky.

"Take good care of him. Okay, Ricky?"

"I will Kat, don't worry," He said.

Katara adjusted her bag and follow the two Water Tribe boys out of the abbey gate. The thought of Aang betraying them was heartbreaking, sure, but she doesn't know why he did it. He said they can't trust him because he hid the note from them about their father's location. It made her mad, but yet at the same time, she felt disappointed. Both at the Avatar and at herself.

The sound of a wolf seems to snaps her out of thought. She realized that she, her brother, and Bato were walking for probably half an hour away from the abbey.

"That wolf sounds sad."

"It's probably hurt," Sokka said.

"No, it's not," Bato turns to the kids with a sadden expression, "It's been separated from its pack. I understand its pain when being separated from family, it's how I felt when being separated from the Water Tribe. It was more painful than any physical scars. They were my family."

The two were quiet, feeling the same way. Sokka, however, remembers that pain. His separation from his father when he was young, painfully waiting for his return. But then he remembers about Aang's decision. It hit him hard: he was afraid that they'll leave him all alone.

"Sokka?" Katara calls his name.

"We must go back," he said, "I really want to see dad, but Aang and Ricky need us."

Katara smiles at her brother, agreeing with him.

"Your father would be really proud of you two," Bato praises, "I'll tell him everything when I see him and give him the good word about your firebender friend."

"Thanks, Bato!" Sokka said.

"Come on Katara, let's go before Appa leaves!" Sokka calls as he turns around and ran ahead.

"I'm right behind you!" she said as she waves goodbye at her father's friend and ran after her brother.

Aang didn't leave, in fact, he hadn't let Appa get off the ground. He just sat on the flying bison's head while Ricky was petting Momo's back. The dark brunette didn't say anything to the young monk. The silence was internally killing the Avatar.

"Look, Ricky, I'm sorry for what I did is wrong!" Aang apologizes.

"I'm not mad at you," Ricky sighs, "I'm just disappointed. But I kinda understand why, both you and Sokka. Mostly Sokka."

Aang's silver eyes look at the firebender, tilting his head and raising his eyebrow in confusion. He didn't respond but Ricky decides to talk anyways.

"Remember when I said my dad is in the navy?" he asks to see Aang nod, "I rarely got to see him since he was overseas and only stays for probably once a day before he had to be called back to work. He could've just retired but he was one of the best they have. I understand how Sokka felt with his father, but I knew what you did is probably something I would've done too. I fear that my friends could leave me and forget about me, but now that I'm dead, guess that's something to be remembered by."

He let a small chuckle as he looks at the young Avatar. True that he was scared of losing his friends, but now he has new ones. Aang didn't know what to say, but he let out a small smile at his friend. Feeling a bit better, but the sentiment was interrupted by a voice.

"Avatar, you and your friend must leave!" a desperate voice calls out.

Aang and Ricky turn their gazes to Mother Supreme, Aang was already getting annoyed.

"Okay, I get it! Everyone wants me gone!" Aang groans.

"Two people are out to capture you!" Mother Supreme warns catching the two boys' attention.

"Wait, what do they look like?" Ricky asks.

"A terrifying looking women riding on a monster and a young man with a scar on his face."

The two grimace when they recognize the one the nun describes.

"Zuko," Ricky growls, "I'm going to murder him."

"Wait, how did they find us?" Aang questions.

"A beast is using the scent of a necklace to track you."

Ricky tried to think what she meant by necklace since Aang never wore one, but the airbender's mind instantly clicks on what Mother Supreme said.

"Katara! He has Katara's necklace!" Aang announced.

Ricky didn't expect that the Fire Prince would have Katara's prized possession. The two begin to worry for the Water Tribe kids, not sure how they're going to stop Zuko or whoever the woman he's traveling with.

Katara an Sokka ran as fast as they can to reach to the abbey, hoping that Aang hadn't left to the North Pole alone with Ricky. They continue to run as fast as their legs can allow them, but they weren't intercepted by a Shirshru with June, Iroh, and Zuko.

"So, this is the girl you're after," June joke to Zuko, "No wonder she left you. I'd say she's too good for you."

Zuko ignores the bounty hunter as he eyes on the two kids, though he did notice that two people are missing. He jumped off of the creature and eyes at the Water Tribe kids angrily.

"Where's the Avatar!" he demands.

"We split up, you won't find him," Sokka said with a determined smile on his face.

"You think I'm an idiot?" the prince snarled leaving only Sokka grinning.

"I do. Katara, run!"

But before they could set foot, the Shirshru launches its tongue out and whips at them and the two fell to the ground. They couldn't move as the toxins begin to paralyze their muscles. Zuko was now furious; how will he ever get the Avatar now and how to avoid the Blue Dragon's wrath. Though, he was shoved by the blind beast as it begins to sniff at the two kids.

"Looks like Nyla found a new scent," June said.

The Shirshru named Nyla starts moving its nose near Sokka and a piece of paper fell out the pack. Nyla starts to smell not one, but two scents and it begins to growl. Zuko quickly grabs it from the ground, while June grabs the Katara and Sokka, hoisting them on the back of the Shirshru.

"Let's go," Zuko said climbing onto Nyla.

June cracks her whip and hit Nyla, forcing it to follow the scent in top speed. The two kids were scared about what's going to happen to Aang and Ricky, not knowing if they either left or not. But their questions were answered they return back to the abbey, with the door connected to the gateway was destroyed by the brute force, slowing it down as it starts to move in circles.

"Why are we moving around in circles?!" Zuko demands.

His questions were about to be answered when Nyla moved its head up where one of the scents it smelled was in the air. Before it had time to react, Aang came down with a huge gust of wind at it and knock the five off.

"Aang!" Katara says cheerfully but she notices someone is missing.

'Where's Ricky?'

June quickly got up and begins to crack her whip at Nyla, demanding it to get up. The Shirshru started to fumble but it got up quickly and its trainer climbed back onto the saddle, but they were knocked back by the sheer brute force by Appa, reined by Ricky. Ricky jumped off of the six-legged bison and got into a decent fighting stance. June once more got up and repeated her same technique at her beast.

"Get up!" she growls angrily, but she barely dodges the blue flames that came her way.

She quickly jerks her head to her attacker, noticing the young teenage boy with his left fist was stretched out and smoke steaming out. She moved her black hair out of her face and smirks.

"My, aren't you a feisty boy," she smirked.

"I don't know why that Scar Face paid you, but you are not going to lay a single finger on my friends!" Ricky yells as he shot another fireball.

This time, June was able to dodge it and cracks her whip at the dark brunette. He jumped back and ran to the side as he tried his best to aim at the bounty hunter, but she was dodging every attempt he made to lay a single singe of burnt skin or clothing on her. All the while he tries to avoid the woman's leather whip. He looks to see Zuko and Aang are having their own battles with fire and air clashing with each other and seeing Appa struggles with to stand up against Nyla's paralysis tongue.

Not paying attention that his left ankle was now wrapped around and he fell on his back to the clay floor. He groans in pain as he tries to get up but the whip was now gripping around his neck, choking him. Not wanting to die by lack of air, he grabs the other side of the leather whip and try to loosen it but failed.

"Try as you might, but you're only making this worse for yourself!" June laughs, "No one escapes my Nyla's scent. Once I capture the Avatar, I'm going to live like royalty and I'd be known as June: the bounty hunter who captured the Avatar!"

The name rang through the brunette's brain as memories begin to play through his head.

June...

His eyes widen, this was the bounty hunter that left Konna to rot in prison in Omashu. Without thinking, he used one hand to keep the whip from tightening its grip and the other in arm's length on the whip with heat emitting through his body. Heat begins to escape the firebender's grip and the sound of a snap was audible, with June falling backward and Ricky gasping for air. The red markings caused by the whip was noticeable and it burns.

"So, you're June..." Ricky pants heavily.

"What's it to you?" she sneered.

A smirk was etched onto the boy's face as he returns back to his fighting stance.

"Let's just say an old friend of your's wants me to send you his regards. From Omashu."

"So, Konna is still alive," the bounty laughs, "Didn't think he would someone after me for some payback."

"Trust me, you were the one came to me than the other way around," Ricky counters.

Things were getting difficult for Aang. He could see Ricky was battling the strange woman, Katara and Sokka are out of commission, and Zuko continues to fire barrads of flames in his way. He lands on the abbey's well to dodge the prince's fireballs when he noticed something that Zuko was holding.

Katara's necklace.

"You have something I want," he stated but no response was found by the prince as he continues to fires three more fireballs and Aang avoiding them.

This routine continues with both of them dodging each other's attacks and Aang stretching out to reach for the blue necklace. Zuko sent a huge fireblast at the Avatar, only to get kicked in the face, losing grip on the waterbender's necklace. Aang swung his left foot upwards as the blue fabric landed on it with success, going into a backflip. Aang smiles, but now he has to worry about his friends' safety.

Ricky continues to shoot blue fireballs at the bounty hunter, as she continues to dodge each one. Getting sick and tired of this charade, she blows a whistle at Nyla and got its attention. Ricky saw the beast running towards him with tongue out in told. His face went pale as his fight-or-flight response starts to kick in.

'Run!'

He ran the opposite direction with June laughing at his sudden behavior. It was just amusing to watch as the boy was getting chase by Nyla in a comical way. The Shirshru whip out its tongue at the firebender with barely missing an inch but was able to hit his leg the second time, causing him to fall to the ground face first. Ricky couldn't get with the toxin starting to take control of his body, but he could feel heavy breathing down his neck and he could the venomous drool dripping near his head. Heavy panting etched closer to him, but Nyla was attacked by Appa forcing it away from the firebender. With the two giant beasts fighting, a nun grabs Ricky and drag him towards Katara and Sokka.

The three were sat next to each other, still in a daze of the toxins but Mother Supreme pulled out a vile of perfume and waved it underneath their noses. The trio instantly revolted by the strong smell and the paralysis was instantly gone.

"That thing can see with its nose," Sokka said as he rolls his shoulders, "We need to a way to blind it."

Ricky felt his legs wobbling like jelly but held onto one of the large pots and smelled something strong. He looks down to see a multicolor liquid sitting in the clay pot, with an idea forming in his head.

"Why not use the perfume?" he suggested.

Sokka smiles with everyone pushing the large pots filled with perfume. They noticed that Appa was down and Aang being cornered by Zuko and Nyla.

"Kat, get that beast's attention!" Ricky yelled.

Katara nods as she got in front of the large pots and open her water satchel. She begins to bend the water out and whips at the Shirshru, distracting it and roars at the waterbender. Without warning, she begins to bend the liquid out of the pots and threw it onto Nyla.

Nyla was in a daze as it nostril was being blared by several scents it couldn't keep track. Moving out of control it begins to lash its tongue out and accidentally hits Zuko and then June. June didn't see it coming when she tried to get the blind beast under control but was too late as the toxins begin to take control of her.

Iroh took notice and lunge for her, shouting in a dramatic way.

"June! Noooooooooooo!"

Aang moved away from the trio and walk up towards his friends with satisfying smiles on their faces. He was happy to see them were not harmed. With Mother Supreme having Appa smell the strong perfume, they were able to leave and waved goodbye at the nuns. Ricky at the reins and the others on the saddle.

"So, where do we go from here?" Aang asks the two Water Tribe kids.

"To the North Pole, we've lost a good amount of time," Sokka stated.

This caught Aang off guard.

"But, what about your father?"

"Aang, we miss him sure, but you're part of our family as well," Katara reminded him, "Besides, someone has to keep an eye on you two."

Pointing at both him and Ricky, which they both laughed.

"I wish I could give you something to remind you of home Katara," Aang said.

Ricky instantly heard a small little slyness in the Avatar's voice.

"I'll be alright," Katara said dismissively waves her arm.

"It's nothing much, but maybe you might like... This!" Aang said with a huge grin on his and holding Katara's necklace.

The shock and surprise expression were seen all over Katara's face.

"Aang, how did you get it?" she said as he gave her mother's necklace and wrap it around her neck.

"Zuko told me to make sure to give to you," Aang joked.

"Aw, how sweet of him," Katara sighs dramatically, "Can you give him a kiss when you see him?"

"Sure thing!" Aang replies with Katara kissing him on the cheek.

Ricky looks behind him and to see the young boy blushing, only to give him a smug smirk.

"You sneaky little rat! I didn't think you were that devious," Ricky says.

Aang only shrugs innocently with the four laughing and Momo sitting next to the young Avatar, as they continue to head off north. However, there was a sense of dread rushing through Ricky, feeling a massive headache gripping onto him.

"You cannot escape from me boy," a dark voice called out, "You will be mine and I will be free!"

"Ricky, are you okay?" Katara asks as she notices Ricky lurching forward.

The strange headache earlier was gone as if nothing happened. He just shook his head.

"Yeah, just a headache is all," he replies scratching the back of his head.

'What was that?' he thought, hoping nothing bad is going to happen in the near future.

Author's Note: Oh my God! Finally got out of the writer's block and finally posted the chapter! I have to STOP procrastinating like this! Anyways, sorry for keeping you waiting, despite you guys are really patient with me, but finally, I'm done with this chapter. Also, as you are all aware that Netflix and the creators of the Last Airbender series are bringing back our beloved series in live action and I am both excited and concern for this. I really, really, want the live action to be good and hopefully, they don't blow this one like that awful movie, that we shall never speak about. I'm waiting for more news about it and hopefully get the next chapter going.

Also, Happy New Years!

LeoPrime13 is out, PEACE!