The Waterbending Master

Appa flew past icebergs as the group looked for any signs of the Northern Water Tribe.
"I'm not one to complain, but can't Appa fly any higher?" Sokka asked. Aang twisted around from his spot.
"I have an idea! Why don't we all get on YOUR back and YOU can fly us to the North Pole!" He snapped.
"Aang..." Lucy trails off.
"I'd love too. Climb on, everyone. Sokka is ready for takeoff." Sokka sarcastically said. Momo and Plue climbed onto his back.
"I wouldn't ride on you even if you knew how to fly." Happy said. This caused Sokka to glare at him.
"Guys, calm down. Please." Wendy advised.
"Yeah. I'm tired too, but can you guys not argue?" Natsu asked.
"I agree. We're all tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight." Katara added.
"And for what? We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe." Gray said.
"Yeah. There's nothing up here." Sokka added, disappointed.
"Hopefully we might be able to..." Lucy was cut off by the sound of something splashing loudly.
Ice jutted from the water. The Airbender screamed as he pulled the reins to make Appa move right. Another iceberg formed in front of them and Aang pulled the reins to make Appa move to the left. But this one was able to catch Appa's middle right leg and throw him off balance with a roar. Everyone screamed as Appa spun out of control in the air. Aang hung on tight to the reins as he was flung around while Appa spun. The bison crashed on his side and Aang used his airbending to move back onto Appa's head. When it seemed that the ocean was settling down, ice quickly formed towards the bison and Appa roared as it completely surrounded him.
"What is going on?" Erza asked.
"Hey look!" Katara shouted, pointing at boats that surrounded the whole group.
"They're Waterbenders!" Katara excitedly said.
"That means we found the Northern Water Tribe!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Sweet!" Natsu cheered.
Elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom at a Fire Nation harbor, Zhao and Shasta were holding a war meeting. They stood before a map of the four nations.
"They're heading north. The Northern Water Tribe. The Avatar needs to master Waterbending and according to the prophecy, the Celestial Mage must master three elements which might mean she chose to learn Waterbending as well. They're looking for a teacher." Zhao said.
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's go get them!" A captain questioned.
"Patience, Captain Li. This isn't some Earth Kingdom village we can march into." Shasta pointed out.
"Indeed. The Water Tribe is a great nation. There's a reason they've survived a hundred years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous, the landscape itself is an icy fortress. We'll need a massive invasion force." Zhao explained.
Appa floated across the ocean with the six Water Tribe boats as they made their way to the Northern Water Tribe. 
"There it is!" Aang excitedly said.
"The Northern Water Tribe." Katara breathlessly said.'
"We're finally here." Lucy noted.
"It looks amazing." Gray said.
The group came up to a wall before coming to a stop. The Waterbenders on the canoes moved to the front and clasped their hands together before their arms in a circle and held them high before sliding their left foot, bending their knees and bringing their hands down. It caused a half circle to appear in front of Appa and the ice slid down like a door, allowing passage into the tribe. One of the Waterbenders gestured for the group to go inside. With a flick of the reins from Aang, Appa swam through the tunnel with a slight groan. The group soon found themselves within a waterway with Waterbenders standing on three sides of them; six on the sides and four in front of them. All of the Waterbenders here performed the same motions as the ones on the canoes and water began to flow from the separate channels and into the groups square.
"It is amazing how many Waterbenders live up here." Erza said.
"I know." Katara added.
"We'll find a master to teach us no problem." Aang said, thinking the element of water was in the bag.
"Can't wait." Lucy stated.
The wall where the four Waterbenders were standing started to lower as the water reached a certain level. As they neared the water, platforms kept the Waterbenders from sinking as two new Northern Water Tribe boats waited for them. As Appa followed after the two boats, they passed by a few men that rode on arctic animals that had curved horns on their heads. They all looked in wonder to how majestic everything in the Northern Water Tribe looked. Up head was another gate way point before a third gate way point and then the main city. Once they had passed through, they followed one of the boats to the right while bystanders watched them from above on rooftops. As they passed down water canals, the people of the Northern Tribe started to cheer at the passing heroes.
As they continued following the boat, another yet more regal looking boat passed by on the same canal. Sokka glanced down at the young woman who was sitting at the front of the boat with her hands in her sleeves. Her hair was tied in an interesting way. Sokka thought she was very beautiful as he smiled while his cheeks blushed as he thought he was falling in love.
"This place is beautiful." Katara said.
"Yeah, she is." Sokka said with a love struck look while Katara looked back to her brother.
As the gang continued venturing into the city, a young man with semi-dark brown hair wearing a dark blue hooded coat and a polar dog observed the gang. He then spots Lucys and a blush forms on his face. The polar dog looked at him with a puzzled expression on it's face.
"I think I likes you." Wendy pointed out.
"I just hope he knows what happens when he gets careless with you." Natsu commented.
"Natsu, play nice. It's going to be okay." Lucy reprimanded him. Natsu nodded, but looked at the man with slight jealousy.
"She's beautiful, isn't she Zanta?" The young man asked. Zanta continued to look at him with a puzzled expression.
A crescent moon flashed over Prince Zuko's ship as the strum of a guitar filled the air. The lieutenant strummed a soft melody a few times. Two members of the crew played drums while two others danced to the rhythm and Iroh started to sing.
"Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall...Winter, Spring...Summer and Fall...four seasons...four loves...four seasons...four loves." Iroh and Flannery sing but then the music stopped when Aiko noticed Zhao and Shasta walking onto the ship. Two soldiers were by their side. 
"What do you what now?" Aiko asked.
Back at the North Pole, night had come over the Northern Water Tribe as well. But it was a night of celebration as the entire tribe was gathered. After meeting with the chief of the northern tribe, the chief held a feast in honor of their arrival. Six men banged on large animal skin drums while the rest of the tribe sat at tables in front of the palace.
"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe. And they have brought someone with them, someone very special, someone whom many of us believed he disappeared until now...the Avatar. And traveling with him is someone who is also very powerful and we believed she'd never appear until now...the prophesied Celestial Mage." The chief said and the crowd cheered. 
"Last but not least, a Firebender who's regarded as a legend. The White Dragon." Ray raised a sword into the air.
"We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age." The chief added. 
"Thank you Father." Yue looked to the chief and said. "May the great ocean and moon spirits watch over us during these troubled times."
"We also celebrate my nephew's seventeenth birthday! Kang has become a full-fledged warrior!" The chief announced.
"Thank you, Uncle. I shall stand to fight for my people and protect what I love." Kang said causing the crowd to cheer.
"Now Master Pakku and his students will perform." The chief said.
The drums started to play again as the three Waterbenders readied themselves. Master Pakku and both of his students raised their arms before bringing their left arm close and sweeping their right hands in a downward arch. They then switched the places of their hands and three large streams of water came flying out of three big earns in front of them. The two outer streams moved around the central in a winding fashion before all three moved back and became giant spheres of water. The crowd applauded at the performance. Even Aang and Katara were really excited as they applauded. Master Pakku then moved his hands behind him as he moved the stream diagonally down and bringing it back up. His students mirrored his movements as they all moved the streams of water around them. They brought their streams of water together to create one giant stream and bent it around all three. Then they moved around each of them.
As the master and his students continued to perform, everyone else was enjoying themselves. Sokka in particular was stuffing his face with food as a certain princess walked up behind him and sat down on his left.
"Hi there. Sokka, Southern Water Tribe." Sokka introduced himself.
"Very nice to meet you." Yue said with a bow.
"So...you're a princess? You know, back in my tribe, I'm kinda like a prince myself." Sokka said, leaning against the table.
"Please. Prince of what?" Katara scoffed before asking.
"A lot of things. Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here." Sokka said.
"Of course. My apologies, 'Prince' Sokka." Katara said with a bow. 
"So it looks like I'm gonna be in town for a while. I'm thinking you and I could do an...activity together?" Sokka asked.
"An activity?" Yue asked. Now nervous, Sokka straightened up confusing the princess and then started to stuff the rest of his food into his mouth.
"Very smooth." Katara leaned over to him and said.
"Pathetic." Gray muttered.
While Sokka and Yue were having a conversation, Kang sat down next to Lucy.
"Hi there. I'm Kang, Waterbender and Water Tribe warrior." Kang introduced himself.
"Lucy Heartfilla. Nice to meet you." Lucy introduced herself as well.
"So...uh, you're the Celestial Mage from that prophecy I heard about?" Kang asked.
"Yeah." Lucy nodded.
"So...uh...how do you plan on defeating the Fire Nation and ending the war with the Avatar's help?" Kang asked.
"I'd like to end the war around summer's end. I just need to train on Waterbending and I have at least one more element to decide to bend." Lucy answered.
"I see." Kang nodded as his polar dog approached him.
"Oh yeah, this is Zanta my faithful companion." Kang introduced Zanta who walked over to Lucy and licked her face.
"That means he likes you already." Kang explained.
"Hi." Lucy greeted the polar dog. Unbeknownst to her, Natsu was becoming jealous.
"Natsu, no." Happy warned him.
"I know." Natsu said.
"So anyway, these are my friends. This is Natsu, Happy, Gray, Erza, Wendy and Carla." Lucy introduced her friends who proceeded to wave at him and he waves back.
"So Lucy, I was wondering if you'd like to...uh...have a grand tour around the city? With me? Your friends are more than welcome to join in." Kang offered.
"That's nice. Thanks, but the reason I came here is to train on Waterbending. I need it to help me defeat the Fire Lord." Lucy told him.
"Right." Kang nodded in understanding.
"But we can go on the tour after I've successfully mastered." Lucy replied.
"Great." Kang said. Lucy then turned to see Natsu.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing." Natsu said, looking away from her.
When they were done performing, the chief led Aang over to Pakku.
"Master Pakku, meet your newest student, the Avatar." The chief said. Aang gave a respectful bow to the man.
"Just because you are destined to save the world, don't expect any special treatment." Pakku responded.
"My friends and I can't wait to start training with you after we've relaxed for a couple days." Aang excitedly said.
"If you want to relax, I'd suggest visiting a tropical island. If not, I'll see you and your friends at sunrise. Good night." Pakku said as he walked away.
Back on Zuko's ship, he sat alone in the dark of his room. Zuko wore his training tunic as he scowled while leaning against the wall. The door opened as Iroh and Aiko enter the room.
"For the last time, I'm not playing the tsungi horn." Zuko said.
"No. It's about our plans." Iroh informed him.
"Apparently we have a problem...again." Aiko said as Zhao walked in with Shasta by his side.
"I'm taking your crew." Zhao stated.
"What?!" A shocked Zuko shouted.
"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." Zhao said.
"Uncle, Aiko, is this true?" Zuko looked to them and asked.
"As much as I hate to admit it, it is." Aiko nodded.
"He's taking everyone...even the cook." Iroh said with a grim frown. Flannery entered to comfort her father.
"Sorry for all this, Zuko. He believes it's necessary to capture the Celestial Mage and the Avatar." Shasta informed him.
"It's a shame you won't be there to watch it happen. But I can't have you getting in my way again." Zhao said.
With a growl Zuko tried to rush the man, but Aiko stopped him.
Zhao then took a look around the prince's room and his gaze fell on the wall opposite the door. Hanging on the wall were two familiar broadswords and the sheath to carry them underneath them. Zuko's eyes grew wide as he removed the blade.
"I didn't know you were skilled in broadswords, prince Zuko." Zhao said.
"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko lied.
"General Iroh, have you heard of the Blue Spirit?" Zhao asked the former general.
"Just rumors." Iroh put off.
"I didn't think he's real." Flannery said.
"He's real. He's a criminal and an enemy of the Fire Nation, but justice will catch up with him someday." Zhao added as he handed the sword to Iroh.
"It's time to go, Shasta." He instructed.
"Right." Shasta nodded.
"General Iroh, my offer to join my mission still stands...if you change your mind you and your two daughters are more than welcome to join as well." Zhao stopped at the door and said before he and Shasta closed the door behind him before he and his associate disappeared.
The next morning Aang, Lucy, Katara, Natsu and Gray made their way to the stairs where they were supposed to meet Master Pakku for training.
"I've been waiting for this day my whole life! I'm finally going to learn from a real Waterbending master." Katara said.
"I can't wait to get my Waterbending training done." Lucy added.
"After all the adventures we've had while coming here, it's finally gonna happen." Natsu declared.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"Yep. Also Gray, won't you catch a cold without a shirt on?" Aang asked.
"I'm an Ice Mage which means I don't get cold." Gray answered.
When they made it to the top, Master Pakku currently had a bubble of water and went through the motions as he changed it's shape. The water between his hands rippled as he continued to concentrate. 
"Good morning, Master Pakku!" Aang shouted from behind.
"No please. Do march right in. I'm not CONCENTRATING or anything." Pakku said sarcastically.
"Nice guy so far." Gray stated.
"Uh...these are my friends, Lucy and Katara. The ones I told you about." Aang said.
"I'm sorry. I think there's been a misunderstanding. You didn't tell me your two friends are girls." Pakku replied.
"Why does that matter?" Natsu asked.
"Because in our tribe, it's forbidden for women to learn Waterbending." Pakku answered. 
Lucy and Katara's eyes trembled as they became angry with this news. Natsu and Gray were flabbergasted.
"What do you mean you won't teach me and Katara?!" Lucy demanded.
"We didn't travel across the entire world so you could tell us no!" Katara marched up to him.
"No." Pakku said.
"Hey, gramps! In case you haven't figured this out already Lucy is the prophesied Celestial Mage and according to the prophecy, she has to learn three elements of her choice to end the war and she chose Waterbending as one of her elements! So make an exception!" Gray shouted.
"No. I don't care if she's a princess of this tribe, she can't learn to Waterbend here. She can choose a different element." Pakku said.
"Why you..." Natsu growled.
"There must be other female Waterbenders in your tribe." Katara said while placing her hands on her hips.
"Here, the women learn from Yugoda to use their Waterbending to heal. I'm sure she would be happy to take you two as her students, despite your bad attitudes." Pakku said with a smile, before it disappeared.
"We don't want to heal! We want to fight!" Lucy argued.
"I can see that, but our tribe has customs, rules." Pakku said, not changing his mind.
"Your rules stink!" Gray replied.
"Yeah! They're not fair! If you won't teach Lucy and Katara, then..." Pakku cut Aang off.
"Then what?" Pakku asked.
"Then I won't learn from you!" Aang decided.
"Then have fun teaching yourself. I'm sure you'll do a great job." Pakku said sarcastically.
"Wait. He didn't mean that." Katara and Lucy ran after him.
"Aang, you can't risk your training for us." Lucy said.
"But..." Katara cut him off.
"I know, but you still have to learn from Master Pakku. Even if he is a big jerk." Katara begrudgingly said.
"Why don't we get started, then?" Pakku questioned.
Bending the water from a waterfall behind him, Pakku then twisted it before sending it to Aang. 
Sokka walked across a bridge looking for Princess Yue. He then looked over the side of the bridge and saw a familiar boat and face.
"Princess Yue! Good morning! How about that picnic last night? Your dad sure knows how to throw a party." Sokka said.
"I'm happy you enjoyed yourself." Yue said with a smile.
"It wasn't really much fun when you left." Sokka stated.
"So uh...I was hoping you and I could see each other more." Sokka said.
"Do an activity, you mean?" Yue asked.
'Yes...at a place...for some time." Sokka said, a little tongue tied.
"I'd love to. I'll meet you at that bridge tonight." Yue said with a smile.
"Great! I'll see y..." Sokka screamed as he fell off the side of the street.
"Sorry." Yue offered.
"That's okay. It was worth it. See you tonight." Sokka said.
Back at Zhao's base of operations he was sitting in his tent as he listened to a specific group list their talents they could lend for the mission.
"I'm very impressed. You all seem highly qualified for the mission I have in mind." A set of hands reached for a small box in front of Zhao and pulls it back to them. The owner of the hands was revealed to be the pirate captain that once teamed up with Prince Zuko. His reptile bird squawked as the crew looked over their captain's shoulder as he opened the box. One of the pirates reaches into the box and takes out a piece of gold. He then bit down on it.
"That's some tasty gold." He happily said.
The captain grabbed the piece from him and put it back in the box, confusing the pirate. Closing the box, the captain turned his attention back to Zhao.
"What do you need us to do?" He asked.
"I believe you're acquainated with Prince Zuko." Zhao said before he smirked as he had someone to do his dirty work.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe Lucy, Natsu, Gray, Erza and Wendy were walking across a different part of the city. She was still upset about what happened with Pakku.
"Don't let that old geezer get to ya Luce. You're still a great Waterbender." Natsu told her.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"But I want to improve it. You know how crucial it is for me to learn three elements, especially before summer's end." Lucy pointed out.
"We know. We'll probably find you a different Waterbending master." Erza said.
"I doubt it." Lucy replied. She continued walking but wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone, knocking them down. It was Kang.
"Oh, Kang! I'm sorry! I didn't look where I was going!" Lucy apologized as Kang picked himself up.
"No problem." Kang said as he held his hand out. Lucy accepted it allowing Kang to pull her up.
"What's wrong? You look upset." Kang asked.
"I was supposed to learn Waterbending, but Pakku refused to teach me due to the fact I'm a girl." Lucy explained why she was upset.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that stupid rule in this tribe. I don't know why it's a rule in the first place. Women have the right to Waterbend as much as men do. It makes me sick people think that different genders can't do things equally." Kang said.
"Don't worry about it. Hey, I know. Why don't you give us that tour?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. Let's do that. Follow me and I'll start showing you around." Kang said. He and Zanta walked off and the five follow them.
Katara walked up a small flight of stairs and into a room where a woman was using her bending to maneuver her healing abilities on a mannequin that had points where the chi flowed. She moves the water up the mannequin's arm, from the shoulder and down the middle of the chest before making the entire mannequin's body glow.
"Uh hi. Are you Yugoda?" She said.
"Are you here for the healing lesson?" Yugoda asked as she calmed her breathing and relaxed her bending.
"I guess I am." Katara said, still bummed out.
"Welcome. Welcome." Yugoda greeted and Katara walked in to find a place to sit. Katara sat down on Yugoda's right and listened to the lesson.
Elsewhere, water rippled as Aang bent the water back and forth as he tried to get the hang of Master Pakku's lesson.
"You're moving the water around, but you're not feeling the push and pull." Pakku said, criticizing the Avatar.
"I'm trying." Aang said with gritted teeth and tried to hold it. Pakku brought the steaming cup to his mouth and slurped noodles and a tentacle into his mouth.
"Maybe that technique is too advanced for you. Try an easier one." Pakku criticized the Avatar once again. Aang threw the blob of water down and turned with a growl of frustration.
Meanwhile Kang continued to show Lucy and her friends around the city. He showed them a building and inside is what looks like a training ground with water inside a couple containers and Water Tribe weapons displayed throughout the room.
"This is my own training ground. I work on my Waterbending and warrior skills here." Kang explained.
"This place looks amazing." Lucy said.
"Yeah. Too cool." Natsu added.
"Yeah. I always come here to better myself. One day, I wanna be like my father and protect this tribe and everyone that I love." Kang told them.
"That's very brave of you. Your father sounds like a good man." Erza said.
"Yeah." Kang nodded.
"What happened to your father?" Gray asked.
"He left this tribe when I was ten years old. He said he had to go deal with the Fire Nation troops. I believed he would come back one day, but he never returned." Kang added.
"That's terrible." Wendy gasped.
"Yeah. Now Zanta, Yue and Uncle Arnook are the only family I have left. I want to become the strongest Waterbender and Water Tribe warrior of this tribe no matter what." He said.
"I'm so sorry, Kang." Lucy told him.
"Think fast!" Kang shouted as he sent a stream of water at Lucy who raised her hand to stop the water and threw it right back at Kang. He proceeded to bend it back into the container.
"Not bad. You have the spirit of a Waterbender." Kang said with a smile.
"Thanks." Lucy replied.
Back at Katara's lesson, the girls carried the mannequin out of the room while Katara stayed behind. When they were gone, she turned to Yugoda and was a little grateful.
"Thanks for the lesson." Katara said.
"Anytime." Yugoda nodded. Then she noticed something.
"So who's the lucky boy?" She asked.
"I'm sorry." Katara said as she became confused.
"Your betrothal necklace. You're getting married, aren't you?" Yugoda asked.
"No. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. My grandmother gave my mother this necklace. And my mother passed it down to me." Katara explained the history of the object.
"I recognize that carving! I don't know why I didn't realize sooner; you're the spitting image of Kanna!" Yugoda said, startling Katara.
"How do you know my Gran Gran's name?" Katara asked.
"When I was about your age, I was friends with Kanna. She was born here in the Northern Water Tribe." Yugoda explained.
"She never told me." Katara said while looking away, wondering how much of her grandmother she didn't truly know.
"Your grandmother had an arranged marriage with a young Waterbender. He had carved that necklace for her." Yugoda said.
"If Gran Gran was engaged, why did she leave?" Katara asked, really confused. Yugoda shook her head.
"I don't know. That's always been a mystery to me. She left without saying goodbye." Yugoda said.
Back at Prince Zuko's ship later that night, the men who had been drafted for Admiral Zhao's plan had just stepped off the ramp.
"Good luck!" Iroh shouted from the deck.
They bowed in respect before walking off.
Iroh, Aiko and Flannery walked all the way to Zuko's room and opened the door. Zuko was lying on his cot, staring up at the ceiling as he was angry at the loss of his crew.
"The crew wanted us to wish you safe travel." Iroh said, sticking his head inside.
"Good riddance to those traitors." Zuko dismissed without getting up.
"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join us? It would clear your mind." Aiko offered, but Zuko remained quiet.
"Or just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy." Flannery said.
The three shut the door and walked down the hall. 
Iroh continued humming as he, Aiko and Flannery walked down the ramp off the ship. But as they walked, the reptile bird flew past them and up onto the ship. The ship was quiet as three of the pirates ran onto the deck of the metal vessel and ran to the other side. Looking down, two other pirates came rowing up to the ship with two barrels in the dinghy. One of the pirates looked about to see if anyone was nearby before lowering a rope with a hook on one end down to the dinghy. The two pirates on the boat hooked the barrels before sending them back up. Two of the pirates were able to bring their barrel up with ease while the third struggled as he was pulling it by himself. The first two brought the barrels on board, but the third struggled with his and nearly let it fall off the side.
"Careful with the blasting jelly." One of the other two ran back up and warned with a whisper.
The three pirates carried the barrels to the door and one of the pirates places his hands on the door's catch. He slightly turns but it causes a small squeak that causes the pirate to cringe.
Prince Zuko heard the squeak from his room and found it odd.
"Uncle? Aiko? Flannery? What's going on?" 
When he didn't get an answer, he found it to be very strange. With a dash he assumed his Firebender's stance and cautiously walked down the hall. He jumped around the corner, ready for anything, but didn't see anyone or anything. Relaxing his guard, Prince Zuko walked down the hall to see if his uncle had come back early or something.
Out on the ship's deck, the pirates had placed the barrels where they needed to be and created a trail of black powder from the deck. One of the pirates kneeled down and lit a match. The holding the match near the beginning of the trail, they waited until the black powder lit up and quickly moved along the trail. With that done, all three pirates high tailed it off the ship to get away from what was about to happen next. The spark quickly traveled down the powder trail to its destination.
Up on the observation deck, Prince Zuko walked in to see if there was someone with him on board. The spark had nearly reached the barrels of blasting jelly. But when he passed by a window while rubbing the back of his head, a screech startled him. Assuming his stance again, he turned to the source of the noise and saw a reptile bird staring at him through the window. Knowing that it looked familiar to him, he and the bird looked into each other's eyes before he recognized it as the pirate captain's bird. The bird took flight and that's when Zuko realized something was up. The flames touched the barrels and resulted in a loud bang. Zuko screamed as the entire ship started to implode. The explosions quickly went up each floor until they made it to the observation deck. Prince Zuko gave one last scream as he tried to use his firebending to shield himself from the blast. Multiple explosions rang through the ship before the entire thing exploded.
"Zuko!" Iroh shouted.
"Come on!" Aiko yelled. They quickly run back to the ship, but were too late as it had been destroyed.
"Zuko." Flannery said, beginning to cry. Iroh closed his eyes and hung his head as he started to think the worst for his nephew.
It was late at night at the North Pole as Sokka quickly made his way to the bridge. Princess Yue was already there waiting for him and was gazing up to the sky. Walking sideways he came up right beside her.
"Hi, Princess Yue. I made you something. I carved it myself." Sokka said. He brought his hand around and opened his palm. Princess Yue looked down to see a little wooden figure carved. 
"It's a bear." Princess Yue said, thinking that it looked like one. 
"Actually, it's supposed to be a fish. See, it has a fin." Sokka then turned it around. He pointed to one end.
"Oh. Listen, I'm sorry. I should have never asked you to come here." Yue said with shame in her voice before running off.
A heartbroken Sokka watched as she ran off and stood there as his heart shattered into a million pieces. Then in an act of hurt and frustration he threw his carving into the water.
He made it back to their living quarters shortly after that.
"How's warrior training going?" Katara looked up to her brother and asked.
Sokka's response was kicking his sleeping bag with a frustrated grunt and then flopping his face down on it.
"That bad?" Natsu asked.
"No. It's Princess Yue. I don't get it. One minute she wants to go out with me, and the next she's telling me to get lost." Sokka said.
"Damn, that's gotta suck." Ray grimaced.
"So, how's Waterbending training?" Sokka asked.
"Master Poophead won't teach Lucy and Katara because they're girls." Aang said with a glare.
"Why don't you teach them Waterbending, Aang?" Carla suggested.
"That's it! Why didn't I think of that." Katara said with a smile.
"Yeah. At night, you can teach me and Katara whatever moves you learned from Pakku." Lucy added.
"That's not a bad idea. That way, Aang has someone to train with and Lucy and Katara can learn Waterbending." Gray agreed.
"Everyone's happy!" Natsu shouted.
"I'm not happy." Sokka said as he looked away.
"You're never happy." Happy told him.
"You'll have to be careful where you'll learn to Waterbend." Erza advised.
"Got it. Let's go Aang." Lucy said. She, Aang and Katara left the house and walked towards a canal.
Water gurgled as Aang started to bend the water out of the waterway.
"Master Pakku said this move is all about sinking and floating." Aang whispered.
He passed it over to Lucy and she was able to hold onto it. 
"I got it." She excitedly said. She then passed it to Katara.
"I'm getting it!" Katara said. 
Then she became confused as the water started to move on it's own as it went over her head, around her feet and up the wall.
"That was amazing, Katara." Aang said, astounded.
"That wasn't me." Katara honestly said.
The three looked up to see Master Pakku standing on the bridge above them with the confiscated water. Moving it above his head, Master Pakku put one foot on the side of the bridge and turned it into ice spikes that embedded themselves into the ice bridge. 
"I was just showing Lucy and Katara a few moves." Aang tried to explain.
"You have disrespected me, my teachings and my entire culture." Pakku told Aang.
"I'm sorry, I..." Aang tried to say. But Master Pakku would hear none of it.
"You are no longer welcome as my student." Pakku stated.
The old master then turned and walked off into the night.
"We're sorry Aang." Katara apologized.
"It's not your fault, guys." Aang reassured them.
The next morning, the group had gone directly to the northern chief and told him of their predicament.
"What do you want me to do? Force Master Pakku to take Aang back as his student?" The chief questioned.
"Yes." Lucy answered.
"Please." Katara begged.
"I suspect he might change his mind if you swallow your pride and apologize to him." The chief offered. Lucy and Katara looked back to Aang, knowing they couldn't mess it up for him.
"Fine." Katara turned back to the master with a slight glare.
"I'm waiting little girls." Master Pakku smugly said.
"NO! There is no way we're apologizing to a sour old man like you!" Katara shouted as two pots shatter.
"I agree. We'll be outside if you're man enough to fight us." Lucy declared. Yue gasped while Kang had a shocked expression on his face. Katara and Lucy walked out of the chamber. 
"I'm sure they didn't mean that." Wendy said.
"Yeah. I think they did." Sokka replied.
"Shut up." Erza ordered.
"Yes ma'am." Sokka complied.
It was a little early in the morning back at the Fire Nation base camp. In the admiral's tent, Zhao poured a cup of tea for his honored guests.
"I'm devastated to hear about Prince Zuko. Just...devastated." Zhao said.
"No you're not." Flannery remarked.
"The Fire Lord will not be pleased when he hears who is responsible." Iroh stated.
"I think he'll be happy." Aiko said.
"Do you know who was behind the attack?" Zhao asked.
"Yes! Pirates. We had a run in with them a while back. They wanted revenge." Iroh said.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Zhao asked as he set his cup on the table.
"Yes. I accept. It will be an honor to serve as your general and I talked to my daughters. They agreed to join us. To the Fire Nation!" Iroh said.
"To victory!" Zhao said.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, the group walked down the stairs.
"Luce? Katara, are you guys sure about this?" Natsu questioned.
"You guys won't win this fight." Sokka told them.
"We know." Katara stated as she removed her fur coat and threw it at her brother.
"We don't care." Lucy added.
"You two don't have to do this for me. We can find another teacher." Aang tried to reason with them.
"We're not doing it for you! Someone needs to knock some sense into that old geezer's head!" A real angry Lucy said.
"This is not a good idea. Only a master should take on another master." Ray advised. He knew that fighting a master bender wouldn't go in their favor.
They saw Master Pakku coming down the stairs.
"Decided to show up?" Katara asked.
Master Pakku didn't say anything as he continued to walk down the stairs. 
"Aren't you gonna fight?" Lucy questioned.
"Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong." Pakku said while not looking back. Lucy and Katara became angry and sent water whips which struck Master Pakku.
"Fine, if you two want to learn how to fight so bad, study closely." He turned back to Lucy and Katara as he said with a slight smirk.
Then with a waving movement from his arms, Pakku raised two large streams of water from two wells. Then he moved it around himself as he prepared.
He then sent the water at Lucy and Katara, but both dodge. Pakku moved the water around the three of them and trapped Lucy and Katara inside the ring.
Lucy and Katara manage to edge away from the water ring and redirect it. The water hit Sokka and knocked him down. Pakku raised an ice wall. Lucy slid across the frozen surface, flew up into the air, flipped in mid air and came landing on a post on her knees. Katara did the same thing. Master Pakku glanced to the ice wall while melting it down into a wave of water and sent it at them. Lucy and Katara bent the water around them before sending it away.
"You can't knock us down!" Lucy shouted.
"We're going to beat you!" Katara yelled.
"Go Katara!" Aang shouted.
"Go Luce!" Natsu cheered.
"Aye!" Happy exclaimed and everyone else cheered.
Lucy and Katara jumped off the post and ran at Pakku a third time. When the two were a few feet away, Pakku quickly melted some snow at his feet and created an ice wall. Katara melted it away before Lucy and Katara tried to punch at him. Pakku moved out of the way of one punch before using a wave of water to knock Katara and Lucy into one of the wells. Everyone looked in surprise and shock while a smirk grew on Pakku's face. Katara and Lucy resurfaced. Katara raised a small pillar of ice from the well and with a quick motion of her hand, she sent ice disks Pakku's way. Lucy formed small water shurikens and threw them. With careful timing, Pakku was able to break each of the blades that came his way. But time seemed to slow down as one blade came really close to his face. This allowed one of Lucy's shurikens to hit him. Moving out of the water, Katara twists while summoning a stream of water around her. She and Lucy then combine their efforts and send the stream of water at Pakku. 
But Pakku was able to grab it with his will before twisting it around him before raising it behind him. Katara and Lucy came running at him once again, but with a swift motion of both hands, Pakku struck the water on both sides of Katara and Lucy. They gasp before being struck by the water. 
"Well, I'm impressed. You two are excellent Waterbenders." Pakku said.
"But you still won't teach us, will you?" Katara questioned.
"No." Pakku's face fell as he answered.
With an angry grunt, Katara bent some of the ice in front of her and sent another wave of water at him. Pakku jumped over it while creating a pillar of ice underneath him to raise himself higher. Then with a flick of his wrist, he turned into a wave that he rode towards Katara. Katara tried to send a stream of water at him, but Pakku was able to disperse it and turn it into a frozen arch that he used to slid at her. Katara cried out as he pushed her down. But the blow caused her mother's necklace to fell from her neck. Pakku came sliding to a stop before jumping with a twist onto a well. Katara fell to the ground with a groan, her hair disheveled and exhausted from the exertion. Pushing herself back up, Katara panted as she fought to regain her breath. Deciding to end it, Master Pakku lifted a stream of water high into the air. With a slight clench of his hands, Pakku raised it above Katara and flicked his wrists. The water turned into ice shards and Pakku moved them to where they trapped Katara in place. Her friends could only watch in worry for her. The other Northern Tribe people looked in horror, thinking that Pakku went a little too far. 
"This fight is over." Master Pakku stated.
"On the contrary, no it isn't." A white fireball quickly melted the ice that was holding Katara in place.
"You're dealing with me now." Ray stared at Pakku with a fire in his eyes.
He would finish what they started. That was a guarantee.
Before their battle could get underway, Pakku looked down and noticed Katara's necklace on the ground. When he reached down to pick it up and recognized it, Pakku then held it with both hands.
"This is my necklace." He said.
"No it's not! It's mine! Give it back!" Katara demanded.
"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life. For Kanna." Pakku said. This shocked Katara.
"My Gran Gran was supposed to marry you?" Katara asked, now seeing him a different light.
At the Fire Nation harbor where Zhao's forces were preparing, Iroh, Aiko, Flannery and Shasta walk through a hall and pass a soldier. 
"Our plan is working perfectly." Iroh told the soldier.
"Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." Shasta added.
"You guys don't have to do this." Zuko said as he removed his mask.
"No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some back." Iroh glanced to his nephew and said.
"We're here for you." Aiko told him.
"Thank you, everyone." Zuko said gratefully. The clanging of a door was heard nearby.
"Someone's coming." Flannery warned.
"Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Celestial Mage and the Avatar will be yours. Good luck." Shasta instructed.
The four begin to walk off.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, most of the crowd had dispersed and only the group, the chief and the princess remained. 
"I carved this necklace for your grandmother when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long, happy life together. I loved her." Pakku said. 
"But she didn't love you, did she? It was an arranged marriage. Gran Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must have taken a lot of courage." Katara said.
"I can't blame her." Lucy added.
Princess Yue broke out into tears as she ran away sobbing.
"What do you want from me?" Yue questioned.
"Nothing. I just want you to know that you're beautiful and I never thought a girl like you would even notice a guy like me." Sokka said as he came right up to her.
"You don't understand." Princess Yue said, a swirl of emotions going through her.
"No. That's the thing. I do understand. You're a princess and I'm a Southern peasent." Sokka calmly said.
"Sokka..." Yue was cut off.
"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I'll see you around." Sokka walked away. But Princess Yue grabbed his hand and pulled him close. Turning his head toward hers, the princess gave Sokka a kiss on the lips.
"Okay. Now, I'm confused. Happy, but confused." Sokka admitted.
"I do like you a lot, but we can't be together and not for the reason you think...It's because I'm engaged." Yue said. She felt ashamed and sad as she pulled down the part of her coat that concealed her neck to reveal a special necklace.
Sokka was completely shocked by this revelation. 
"I'm sorry." Princess Yue said.
Then she turned and ran off without another word.
The next morning, Aang left their room early to get a head start on his lessons. There were four other Waterbending students watching as Aang swirled a sphere of water around him. Then after one more pass, he sent it off. Then he looked to Master Pakku with a smile.
"Not bad, not bad. Keep practicing and maybe you'll get it by the time you're my age." He said with a chuckle. 
Aang lowered his arms while looking at his teacher with a deadpanned expression before turning to Katara and Lucy as they ran up the stairs for their first official practice. 
"What do you two think you're doing? It's past sunrise. You're both late." Pakku lightly scolded them.
"It's good to see you here." Aang said to the two.
"You too." Lucy said with equal excitement.
"Same here." Katara added. 
The massive Fire Nation fleet started to move out from the harbor. On the flag ship that had a golden bow, Admiral Zhao stood with General Iroh, Aiko, Flannery and Shasta behind him as they gazed out to the north of the ocean.
"My fleet is ready. Set a course for the Northern Water Tribe." Zhao said.