Jet

In a forest with leaves mixed with colors that were a mixture of red and orange, a beetle crawled over a log. As it came to a stop, two shadows loomed over it. It opened it's wings and took off as Momo landed where it was. The lemur looked to see if he had it as Happy flew over to him.
"That beetle's getting away, Momo! After it!" Happy exclaimed. Momo took off after the bug with Happy following him.
Momo and Happy chased it up and around the trunk of the tree. The bug landed on the ground and Momo tried to pounce on it again, but didn't have any luck as it flew off again.
"Shoot! Oh, well. C'mon, Momo. Let's find something else." Happy said before turning and seeing Momo staring at something.
"What is it?" Happy asked as he saw what Momo was looking at. It was a pile of apple-like nuts sitting on some leaves.
"Looks like we hit the jackpot, Momo!" Happy said as Momo chittered. The two leapt at the pile. But it turned out to be a trap as a cage sprang out from under the leaves. Momo and Happy were then hoisted up into the air with a couple of hog monkeys.
"Aw, man! This is bad, Momo. Why didn't we realize this was a trap?" Happy asked as Momo chittered sadly.
Meanwhile Aang, Lucy, Katara, Sokka, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Wendy, Ray and Carla were in a different clearing taking a break from traveling.
"Has anyone seen Momo?" Aang looked around and asked.
"Yeah, and where's Happy?" Natsu asked as they then hear screeching.
"HEEEEEEEEEEELP!" A voice echoed through the forest.
"That sounds like happy." Lucy noted out.
"Let's go see what kind of trouble that cat has gotten himself into this time." Gray muttered.
The gang went to go find Happy and finally come across the three cages hanging from the trees.
"Guys! Help!" Happy cried.
"Happy, why do you do stuff like this?" Carla asked.
"We're sorry. Please get us down!" Happy yelled and Momo chittered.
"Hang on, you two!" Aang said using his airbending to jump higher before bouncing from tree to tree. He reached Momo and Happy in no time.
Aang went up to a branch, sat down and then flipped over the branch dangling beneath it and worked to lower it. When it came close to the ground, the others gently lowered it to the ground. Together they pull the slats apart for an exit, as Momo and Happy jumped out of the cage.
"Thanks, guys! I thought we'd be hanging around forever." Happy said as he and Momo began eating the nuts that caused them to be captured in the first place.
Aang lands back on the ground, but then he looks back up at the still suspended hog-monkey.
"Okay, you guys too." Aang said as he jumped back up.
"I'll handle this." Erza declared.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!" Erza was then covered in a suit of silvery armor. Then she threw multiple swords at the cages, cutting them down from their trees. The cages hit the ground and split open, allowing the Hog-Monkeys to escape.
"That worked." Aang said as Erza sheds her armor. Sokka approached one of the busted cages and examined it.
"Fire Nation. You can tell by the metal work." Sokka said.
"We should pack up camp and get out of here." Lucy commented.
They return to camp and quickly packed up their things. Sokka looked over to see Katara handing a bundle to Aang.
"Uh uh, no flying this time." Sokka quickly got up and said.
"What?" Wendy asked.
"Why wouldn't we fly?" Natsu questioned.
"Think about it. Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa, he's too noticeable." Sokka explained.
"What? Appa is not noticeable." Katara questioned in disbelief and defended the bison.
"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him!" Sokka pointed out causing Appa to growl in annoyance.
"Sokka's just jealous because he doesn't have an arrow." Aang said to Appa.
"Nah. He's just not special." Happy added.
"Look, I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe and walk this time." Sokka said, worried about being caught again.
"Who made YOU the boss?" Natsu asked.
"I'm not the boss. I'm the leader." Sokka defended himself.
"YOU? The leader. Your voice still cracks." Katara snickered as she questioned him.
"I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior so I'm the leader." Sokka said as he tried to make his voice deeper.
"YOU'RE not older than US, kid. WE are." Gray stated crossing his arms addressing himself, Lucy, Natsu and Erza.
"Okay. You, Natsu, Lucy and Erza are older but I'm still leader." Sokka argued.
"In your dreams. If anyone is the leader, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar." Katara pointed out.
"Or Lucy. She's the prophesied Celestial Mage." Happy added.
"Are you kidding? Aang's just a goofy kid!" Sokka questioned, then looked over to Aang.
"You know, Sokka. I may be goofy sometimes, but that was a little uncalled for." Aang said, feeling offended.
"And why can't I be leader?" Lucy asked.
"Because you're not a warrior." Sokka answered.
"That's a stupid reason." Gray replied.
"Fine. Then I say Erza should be the leader. She's smarter than you, stronger than you and is a better warrior than you'll ever be." Lucy countered.
"But she's bossy." Sokka said.
"Is that so?" Erza asked, giving him the evil eye.
"Nope. Not at all." Sokka said as he quickly put his gear on his back.
"Actually guys, I should be the group's leader." Ray informed everyone else as they turned in his direction.
"Why do you think you should be leader?" Sokka asked him.
"I...have a confession to make. You guys probably won't believe what I'm about to say, but I'm 10,000 years old."
"10,000 years old?!" Sokka's eyes were bugged out.
"How have you been alive for so long?" Erza asked in disbelief.
"Don't really remember the exact reason, but I stopped aging after I turned 18." He remarked. "Over my long life, I've acquired a extensive list of helpful skills." 
"Come to think of it, he was the one who came up with the successful plan to restore Haru's confidence on the prison ship." Gray recalled. "If that doesn't make him a strategist, I have no idea what does?" 
"I swear why do boys always think someone has to be the leader? I bet you wouldn't even be bossy if you kissed a girl." Katara said with a smirk.
"I kissed a girl. You just haven't met her." Sokka defended himself.
"Who? Gran Gran? I've met Gran Gran." Katara said.
"Or maybe it's that..." Lucy was cut off by Sokka.
"Don't say anything. I've kissed a female besides Gran Gran." Sokka said.
"You know what, let's have a vote. Anyone in favor that Ray or Erza should be leader, say 'aye'!" Lucy said as she raises her hand.
"Aye!" Lucy said.
"Aye!" Aang said raising his hand.
"Aye!" Katara said raising her hand.
"Aye!" Natsu said raising his hand.
"Aye!" Happy said raising his hand.
"Aye!" Gray said raising his hand.
"Aye!" Wendy said raising her hand.
"Aye!" Carla said raising her hand.
"And anyone in favor that Sokka should be leader, say 'aye'!" Lucy said and no one raised their hand.
"Sometimes, I really hate you guys." Sokka said.
"You're just mad because you're not the leader." Natsu said.
"Thanks." Ray said simply.
"Okay, fine. He's the leader, but I still say we should go on foot because I trust my instincts." Sokka said.
"If you insist." Ray nodded.
"Who knows? Walking might be fun." Aang said who is now wearing a backpack.
The gang are walking through the forest with Sokka and Erza in front while Aang, Lucy, Katara, Natsu, Gray, and Wendy follow them.
"Think walking's fun now?" Gray asked.
"Walking STINKS! How do people get around without a flying bison?" Aang asked.
"Well, Natsu, Gray, Erza, and I take a train whenever we go on jobs." Lucy said.
"Yeah, but Flamebrain still suffers from motion sickness." Gray said.
"Shut up. I'd rather ride on Appa than take a train." Natsu said.
"How long until we get out of this forest?" Wendy asked.
"I don't know, Wendy. Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts? They seem to know everything." Katara said.
"Very funny." Sokka said sarcastically.
"I'm so tired of carrying this pack." Natsu said.
"I know who you should ask to carry it for you. Sokka's instincts." Katara said.
"Great idea! Hey, Sokka's instincts, would you mind..." Natsu was then cut off by Ray.
"Give it a rest." Ray instructed.
"Alright." Natsu said in agreement.
"Look, guys, I'm tired too, but the important thing is that we're safe from..." Sokka cut himself off as he walked through some bushes. "The...Fire...Nation."
It turns out they walked into a Fire Nation camp as the Fire Nation soldiers sat around a fire eating.
"Any ideas now Sokka?" Lucy asked.
"I've got one. RUN!" Sokka shouted. The soldiers got up and began to chase the group. The leader of the soldiers threw a fireball that hit the bush behind them.
"Great, now we're cut off." Gray said before noticing something on Sokka's left sleeve.
"Also Sokka, your sleeve's on fire." He added.
"Ah!" Sokka screams in panic.
"Not to mention Gray, your clothes are off." Aang pointed out, causing him to notice he was in his boxers again.
"Ah!" Gray screamed in panic as well.
Katara removed the cap from her waterskin and bent the water above her palm. Then with a small flick of her wrist, she made the water leap out on to her brother's shoulder and doused the fire. When it was out, she bent the water back into the pouch. Soon the gang was surrounded by Fire Nation soldiers. They all assumed fighting stances.
"Natsu, see if you can eat the fire behind us." Lucy said softly.
"Hey, yeah! Good call, Luce." Natsu said as he began sucking the fire into his mouth.
"If you let us pass, we won't hurt you." Sokka told the soldiers before Lucy and Erza punch him.
"What's wrong with you?" Erza asked.
"What are you doing?" Lucy questioned.
"Bluffing." Sokka looked to Lucy and whispered.
"Good call, genius." Gray said. A soldier with a eye patch laughed.
"YOU won't hurt US?" The one eyed soldier scoffed. Then something whistled and hit him in the back. He fell down on his face with a groan.
"Good work, Sokka. How'd you do that?" Happy asked.
"Uh, instinct?" Sokka answered, unsure.
"Look!" Wendy said, pointing up at the branch of a nearby tree.
Standing on the tree was a teenage boy with brown hair, rebel looking clothes and two hook swords. Instead of falling from the branch he was on, the young man used the swords to grab onto the tree branch and swung himself at the Fire Nation soldiers. He landed on two of them and knocked them onto their faces with a dramatic pose. Then looking up, he held his hook swords out as he ran to the other soldiers. He caught two ankles and lifted them up. The Fire Nation soldiers went up as the teen brought them down. Time seemed to slow down as they were launched and then speed up again as the two soldiers fell on their downed leader. When the teen landed in a crouching pose, he smirked.
"Down you go." The teenage boy said, smirking. The group looked at him with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Another soldier came at him to swing his sword down on him. But the teen caught his wrist with one of his blades and threw him down with a pull.
A soldier looked up.
"They're in the trees!" He shouted.
Just then a small boy fell onto his shoulders and turned his helmet around to blind him. The soldier grunted as he stumbled while the boy laughed as if it were a ride. Three other soldiers held their swords at the ready when a trio of arrows knocked the blades out of their hands.
The teen placed two more arrows on his bow string before falling back slightly. He stayed in the tree as he hung upside down with only his legs to keep him from falling as he shot the swords out of two more soldier's hands. Another rebel looking teen dropped out of another tree and ducked as one soldier tried to run him through. Using his shoulders, the teen sent the soldier into the air and up into the tree as he dodged the sword stroke of another soldier. The teen grabbed the soldier's wrist and spun him around before letting him fall. A fourth teen fell from a tree with a knife held in a backwards position and then ran off into the fray.
"Let's go!" Ray yelled, charging forward. The others ran after him.
The first teen looked up to see Aang and Katara using their bending to fight back. Katara threw a glob of water while Aang used his airbending to drag a soldier across the ground.
Lucy summoned Chou and they fight the soldiers together.
Natsu launches a series of punches and then follows it with a kick.
"Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" Gray slashes at the soldiers with a icy sword and then created a large, long-barreled cannon made from ice before firing cannonballs made out of ice.
Ray locked swords with a soldier as Erza sliced through them before launching a series of punches knocking five of the soldiers down.
"Sky Dragon Crushing Fang!" Wendy cloaked one of her hands in wind and struck a soldier with her fingertips, leaving behind a trail of wind.
Happy and Carla then join the battle, attacking several soldiers.
Sokka let out a war cry as he held his boomerang and went to attack an incoming soldier. But the first teen beat him to it by using his hook swords to keep his balance as he did a drop kick.
"Hey! He was mine!" Sokka hollered.
"Gotta be quicker next time." The teen said with a smirk.
Two Fire Nation soldiers stood at the ready as they backed away; one holding his blade with one hand and the other held the hilt of his sword with both hands. They both stopped as someone crashed behind them. They turned to see a big fellow with a log on his back. They seemed startled for a moment before preparing themselves to fight. The teen only smiled as he removed the log from behind his back and held it with both hands. Then bringing it above his head, the big teen brought the log crashing down. The first teen looked back when he heard a thud and clang. The soldiers who tried to tangle with the large teen backed away in fear with their swords twisted. The two soldiers discarded their ruined weapons and ran off into the woods.
The first teen spun his blades through the air and caught them with the blades facing the sky with a smirk. But the smirk vanished when a soldier with a spear tried to run him through. The teen caught the spear's tip with the hooks of his blades and fought to keep it from going through his heart. Then with a spin, the teen brought the spear out of the soldier's arms and whacked him with it before it flew off. The butt of the spear flew through the air until it hit a soldier in the back of the head.
"Aw, man!" Sokka whined.
The teen smirked until he looked behind him and saw another soldier with a spear coming at him again. The teen caught the spear head between the hilt and the guard on one blade. He let the spear go through before allowing the soldier to move behind him. The two faced each other with the teen holding his blades at the ready and the soldier twirled his staff. When the soldier lunged with his spear, the teen grabbed the end with his hooks and broke the spear as he literally ran over the soldier's head. The Fire Nation soldier fell to the ground as the teen stumbled towards Katara and Lucy.
"Hey." The teenage boy said.
"Hi." She said back, clearly starting to feel enamored by him. Lucy didn't say anything. Then the three turned to look at the now empty encampment.
"You just took down a whole army almost single-handed!" Aang said in awe.
"Army? There were only like twenty guys." Sokka shrugged.
"Jealous, are we?" Happy asked.
"Shut it!" Sokka snapped.
"My name's Jet and these are my Freedom Fighters Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke and Pipsqueak." Jet introduced himself and the Freedom Fighters.
"Pipsqueak, huh? That's a funny name." Natsu said chuckling as he walked over to the small boy that turned out to be The Duke.
"You think my name is funny?" The giant who turned out to be Pipsqueak asked. This made Natsu a little nervous.
"It's hilarious!" Natsu said as a smile formed on his face. Pipsqueak then started laughing along with the Duke. Natsu joined them and Pipsqueak patted Natsu on the back knocking him down to the ground face first making The Duke stop laughing as he looked down at Natsu. Natsu looked up and started laughing again, making The Duke smile.
Most of the Freedom Fighters either looked about the Fire Nation camp or did their own thing. Sneer looked in a crate and pulled out a smaller back. Longshot used a knife to work with something on his bow. Sokka watched as Smellerbee walked around with some wood in her arms. His face turned to a scowl as she walked by.
"Uh Jet, thanks for saving us. We were lucky you were here." Katara said.
"Actually, I should be thanking you. We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning. Just needed the right distraction and then you guys stumbled in." Jet admitted.
"We were just relying on instincts. That's all." Wendy said.
"You'll get yourself killed doing that." Jet warned them. Sokka heard their conversation and closed his eyes in frustration before walking away.
Pipsqueak and The Duke inspected a barrel of something. The Duke reached his hand inside the barrel and brought it back out with something brown on his finger. He inspected it by sniffing.
"Hey, Jet. These barrels are filled with blasting jelly." The Duke told his leader.
"That's a great score." Jet said.
"And these boxes are filled with jelly candy!" Pipsqueak picked up a box and showed it to Jet.
"Also good. Let's try not to get them mixed up." Jet replied.
"We'll take this stuff back to our hideout." Pipsqueak said.
"Hideout?" Gray asked.
"You guys have a hideout?" Aang asked, excited.
"You guys want to see it?" Jet asked. Lucy was about to open her mouth when Katara quickly cut in.
"Yes we'd like to see it!" Katara answered with clasped hands and Jet smiles.
"Um thanks, but we still need to move on and not waste anymore time here." Lucy said.
"C'mon Luce, let's just stay here for one night." Natsu insisted.
"Ray, help me out here." Lucy pleaded.
"Isn't it getting late. It would probably be best for us to wait until morning before we continue traveling." Ray pointed out. Lucy sighed.
"Okay, fine. We'll look at your stupid hideout." Lucy muttered.
After a while of walking, the two groups came to a part of the woods. They all stopped when Jet looked up.
"Okay. We're here." Jet said.
"Where? I don't see anything." Gray questioned.
"Here. Hold this." Jet then took a rope with a loop and handed it to Gray.
"Why? What does this do?" Gray asked. Then all of a sudden he was pulled up by the arm holding onto the rope into a nearby tree canopy.
"Are you serious?" Sokka questioned as he held a rope and was pulled up as well into the tree canopy but got stuck in the leafy branches.
After Katara, Erza, Wendy and Natsu were pulled up, Jet offered another rope to Aang.
"Aang?" Jet asked.
"I can get up on my own." Aang politely declined.
Ray stomped his legs on the ground and ignited the soles of his feet, soaring up to the treetop canopy. On the way up, he glared at Jet. Something about him didn't feel right, but he didn't know what.
"Lucy?" Jet offered her a rope.
"I'm no damsel in distress! I can get up by myself too!" Lucy yelled as she launched herself into the tree as well.
"Ow. Talk about a ice princess." Jet said.
"She's nice once you get to know her." Katara explained as Jet held a rope.
"Yeah. Grab a hold of me, Katara." Jet said offering his free hand.
"Okay." Katara said as she placed her hand into his.
Jet's rope started to pull them into a spin while Katara held onto him. She blushed as she stood close to him. Unbeknownst to them, Lucy who was still climbing up the tree watched this with disgust as Katara embraced Jet while they were still being pulled into the air. She only did it for support while Jet focused on their ascent. Lucy was even more disgusted and continued climbing.
'Something about that guy rubs me the wrong way. He appears charming, but I can't help but think there's something wrong about him.' Lucy said in her mind.
Katara and Jet look up and see a plank platform in the canopy. When the two reached the platform, they stepped back as the rope lowered back down. Katara looked around and saw wooden stairs spiraling up the tree trunk and a suspension bridge that links their platform to somewhere else. They watched Aang, Momo, Natsu, Happy and Wendy slide down a rope.
"Nice place ya got!" Natsu exclaimed while still sliding.
"Yeah! It's really cool!" Aang shouted, still sliding.
Katara and Jet both start walking to the bridge and they see nearby trees with the same platforms, stairs and bridges. Some platforms have tent huts.
"It's so beautiful." Katara said.
"It's beautiful and more importantly, the Fire Nation can't find us." Jet said. Smellerbee then approached the two.
"They'd love to find you, wouldn't they Jet?" Smellerbee asked.
"That's not gonna happen." Jet said as Lucy and Sokka join them. Then Gray, Erza, Wendy and Carla approached while Aang, Momo, Natsu and Happy still played on the zipline.
"Why does the Fire Nation want to find you?" Wendy asked.
"I guess you could say that I've been causing them a little trouble. They took over a nearby Earth Kingdom village a few years back." Jet explained, smirking.
"We've been ambushin the troops, cuttin off the supply lines and doing anything to mess with them." Pipsqueak said.
"I suppose that's what's expected from young rebels." Erza commented.
"One day, we'll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that village." Jet turned to them and said.
"That's so brave." Katara commended.
"Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a treehouse." Sokka commented sarcastically.
"Don't pay any attention to my brother." Katara said to shrug him off.
"No problem. He probably had a rough day." Jet replied.
"So you all live here?" Gray asked.
"That's right. Longshot over there? His town got burned down by the Fire Nation. We found The Duke trying to steal our food. I don't think he ever had a home." Jet explained.
"That's horrible." Wendy said.
"What about you?" Katara asked. Jet and Katara stopped in the middle of the bridge as everyone passed them.
"The Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever." Jet answered.
"Sokka and I lost my mother to the Fire Nation." Katara told him.
"I'm so sorry Katara." Jet said as he turned to her.
'As much as I don't like this guy, I kind of feel sorry for him and his gang. The Fire Nation should be worse than Phantom itself.' Lucy said in her mind.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" Katara asked her.
"Nothing." Lucy answered, walking away.
"I just can't stand this guy. He seems nice, but like I said there's something about him that makes me sick." She said to herself.
"You don't trust Jet, do you?" Lucy turned to face Ray, who was whispering.
"No I don't." Lucy confided in him.
"I'm guessing you don't trust him either." She added.
"I don't know what Jet's up to, but I intend to find out and if it's something rotten...well, I'm going to stop him." Ray said with a determined expression on his face.
The sun had set over the forest as Appa stuck his head from the top branches growling. He had caused a few birds to fly and caw in fear from him.
Lanterns had been lit as the Freedom Fighters sat about, taking a load off. At the main table, Aang's group had joined the Freedom Fighters for supper. Jet then climbed onto the table.
"Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine!" Jet cried out, making everyone at the table and upper platform cheer. Lucy looked like she didn't care and Sokka had a grumpy expression on his face.
"I got a special joy when I saw the look on that one soldier's face when The Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey."
The Duke took pride in this by standing up with a smirk and walking on the table. Mostly everyone cheered and applauded The Duke as he then sat back down.
"Now the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a bunch of kids hiding in the trees. Maybe they're right." Jet said.
This caused the other Freedom Fighters to boo.
"...or maybe they're DEAD WRONG!" He added as his words caused the children to start cheering again. Jet then sat down between Katara and Lucy who turned her head away.
"That was a nice speech, Jet." Katara complimented him.
"Thanks. I was really impressed with you and Aang. That was some great bending you guys did. Lucy and her friends are pretty good fighters too." Jet said as he sat down.
"Thanks, Jet!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Aye!" Happy nodded.
"Well, Aang and Lucy are great. Aang's the Avatar and Lucy's the prophesied Celestial Mage. I still have more training." Katara admitted.
'Tell the whole world Katara!' Lucy said in her mind.
"The Avatar and the Celestial Mage, huh? Very nice." Jet said.
"Thanks, Jet." Aang replied.
"Better than you." Lucy mumbled.
"Luce, you seem irritated. What's going on with you?" Natsu asked.
"It's nothing." Lucy answered.
"Hey, I was thinking you guys might wanna help with our little struggle." Jet said.
"Well I wish we could, but we have to leave." Sokka informed him.
"For once, I agree with him." Lucy added.
"Really?" Sokka asked.
"The ONLY reason I agreed with you is because Aang, Katara and I need to get to the North Pole and train our Waterbending. Nothing more, stupid. See ya WHEN we see you." Lucy said, beginning to walk away.
"C'mon, Luce. I need you for an important mission tomorrow." Jet said, making her stop and turn to Jet with a evil glare.
"Don't...call...me...Luce. Only my FRIENDS are allowed to call me that." Lucy demanded.
"We're not friends?" Jet asked.
"NO!" Lucy yelled.
"What'd I do to make you hate me?" Jet questioned.
"I...just don't like you." Lucy admitted.
"Luce, you can't judge a book by it's cover." Natsu told her.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"Well I'm sorry, but we still have to go." Lucy apologized, before continuing to speak.
"C'mon Lucy. Just help me and Sokka with ONE mission tomorrow. Please?" Jet pleaded.
"Wait, why me too?" Sokka asked.
"What mission?" Lucy asked, trying to rein in her anger.
The next morning Jet, Lucy and Sokka were positioned in the trees a few miles from the hideout. Jet placed his hands in front of his mouth and made a birdcall. Smellerbee and Pipsqueak emerged from their hiding spots and they both reply. Sokka then stuck his knife into the trunk of the tree.
"What are you doing?" Jet asked.
"It amplifies vibrations." Sokka explained.
"Good trick." Jet said.
"Not bad, idiot." Lucy muttered.
Sokka cups his hands around the pommel bone and puts his ear to it.
"Well?" Lucy asked.
"Nothing yet. Wait, there's someone approaching." Sokka said.
"How many?" Jet asked.
"I think there's just one." Sokka answered and Jet whistled again.
"Good work Sokka. Both of you ready yourselves." Jet said as Sokka ripped his knife out of the trunk and Lucy pulled her whip out along with her gate keys.
They both wait for their target. Lucy was shocked to see it was just a old man with a walking stick wearing a red robe. She then observed Jet was about to attack.
"Wait! False alarm! It's just an old man!" Lucy shouted but Jet had his hook swords at the ready and jumped down to confront the old man.
"What are you doing in our woods, you leech?" Jet demanded.
"Please, sir. I'm just a traveler." The old man tried to explain.
Jet's response was to walk up to the old man and slap his cane into the woods with his hook swords. The old man backed away as Jet pointed the hook swords in his face. The old man tried to run away, but the untimely arrival of Pipsqueak hindered him as the elderly man bumped into him. The old man tried to crawl away, but Pipsqueak stopped him by holding him down with a foot.
"Do you like destroying towns?! Do you like destroying families?! Do you?" Jet demanded.
"Please let me go. Have mercy." The old man started to beg.
"Does the Fire Nation let people go?! Does the Fire Nation show mercy?!" Jet angrily demanded as he readied his foot to kick the old man. Lucy snagged his foot with her whip before that could happen.
"Jet, stop! He's just an old man!" Lucy shouted.
"He's Fire Nation! Search him!" Jet ordered as Pipsqueak and Smellerbee follow his instructions.
"He's not hurting anyone." Sokka argued.
"Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother?! Remember why you fight!" Jet questioned Sokka.
"We got his stuff Jet." Smellerbee took the man's bag and informed her leader.
"This isn't the right way." Lucy argued.
"It's just what has to be done." Jet dismissed her concerns.
Jet, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak then walked away as Lucy stayed to look at the old man, who seemed helpless.
"Lucy, come on!" Jet shouted.
Lucy was hesitant as she still looked at the old man.
"I'm sorry." She apologized before leaving with the others.
Back at the hideout Lucy sat against a trunk and stared at the platform thinking about what Jet did earlier today. Soon Erza joined her.
"What's wrong, Lucy?" She asked. Lucy then explained everything Jet did, leaving her flabbergasted. As Lucy explained everything to her, Aang, Momo, Natsu and Happy laugh as they slide down the zip line.
"Hey, Luce. Look what The Duke gave me." Natsu took out a small pellet with a sly grin on his face as he tossed it at the platform next to Aang's feet and the pellet explodes with a pop.
"That's it! Pellet war!" Aang declared as he threw his own pellet at Natsu's feet making him dance wildly. Natsu retaliated by throwing his pellets at Aang's feet.
"Morons." Lucy muttered.
"Are you sure it was just a old man and it was Jet that beat and robbed him?" Erza asked.
"Yes. Sokka and I saw the whole thing." Lucy answered.
While Aang and Natsu were engaged in a pellet war Katara, Gray, Wendy and Carla approach Lucy and Erza.
"Hey. Is Jet back?" Katara asked.
"Yeah. He's back...but we're leaving." Lucy informed her.
"What?" Aang and Natsu asked at the same time.
"But I made him this hat." Katara said as she showed the hat for Jet.
"Yeah. I'm sure he'd LOVE it." Gray said sarcastically earning a glare from Katara.
"Why do you wanna leave, Lucy?" Wendy asked.
"Because Katara's new boyfriend is a thief and a thug." Lucy explained.
"What? No, he's not." Katara countered.
"Yes he is. He's messed up, Katara." Sokka said as he approached the others.
"He's not messed up. He just has a different way of life." Natsu argued.
"Yeah. A fun way of life." Aang added.
"There's nothing 'fun' about him! He beat and robbed a helpless old man!" Lucy shouted.
"I want to hear Jet's side of the story." Katara said.
They went to Jet's tent and talked with him.
"Lucy, you told them what happened but you didn't mention that guy was Fire Nation?" Jet asked with his eyes closed.
"No, she left that part out." Katara looked at Lucy with a cross expression on her face.
"Fine, but even if he was Fire Nation, he was a harmless civilian." Lucy argued.
"Not to mention an old man." Sokka added.
"He was an assassin." Jet said, revealing a knife. He stuck the knife in the stump of a log.
"There's a compartment for poison in the knife." He unscrewed the ring to the hilt.
"He was sent to assassinate me, but you saved my life, Luce." Jet explained.
"I knew there was an explanation." Katara said, feeling relieved.
"First of all, don't call me Luce! You're still not allowed to call me that! Second, I didn't see any knife and neither did Sokka because he was with me!" Lucy yelled.
"That's because he was concealing it." Jet argued.
"See, Luce? I'm sure you just didn't see the knife." Natsu said.
"There was no knife!" Lucy shouted. Erza placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder to calm her down.
"Calm down, Lucy." Erza said. Lucy then sighed.
"I'm going back to the hut to pack my things!" Lucy exclaimed, storming off.
"I'll go with her." Erza said as she followed Lucy.
"I second that." Sokka agreed, following Erza. Ray watched them walk off and then turned to Jet with narrowed eyes. It was apparent that Jet is lying to everyone else.
"You guys aren't leaving yet, are you? I really need your help." Jet said, sounding desperate.
"What do you want us to do?" Wendy asked.
"The Fire Nation is planning to burn down our forest. Aang, Katara, if you guys can use Waterbending to fill the reservoir, we can fight the fires, but if you guys leave now, the whole valley will be destroyed." Jet said.
Lucy, Erza and Sokka were in the hut. They were packing their belongings when the others entered.
"We can't leave yet. The Fire Nation is going to destroy the forest." Happy told them.
"Sorry Cat, but I'm not trusting that deranged thug." Lucy said.
"Neither am I." Sokka added.
"If what Lucy said about Jet is true, then I'll believe her word over Jet's." Erza finished.
"You know what I think? I think you're all jealous that Jet's a better warrior and a better leader!" Katara accused with her arms crossed.
"What? Me? Jealous of that weasel, no way." Sokka said.
"He can't be a better warrior and better leader than I could be. I can destroy him with two hands behind my back." Erza added.
"Why would I ever be jealous of that smooth-talking, spineless, heartless creep like Jet? It's quite obvious that you're blinded by his charm." Lucy pointed out.
"Oh, so you're jealous that I like him?!" Katara demanded.
"WHAT?! I didn't even like him since I met him. He's no Prince Charming. He's just a manipulative jerk!" Lucy yelled.
"Jet is not a jerk!" Katara yelled back.
"Knock it off. This isn't up for debate. Tomorrow morning, we're leaving. It's that simple." Ray declared.
"Well right now, I don't even CARE what you say!" Katara snapped at him.
"Don't talk back to him! We all agreed he's leader and he has the final word!" Lucy shouted.
"You know fine? You guys can leave for all I care! WE'RE staying here a little longer and helping Jet!" Katara snapped as she left the hut.
"Sorry guys." Aang apologized.
"We hope you understand." Wendy said as they follow Katara.
"Thanks for having my back." Ray turned to Lucy, before looking in the direction Katara, Aang and Wendy were walking. "But Katara will need to learn this the hard way, you can't blindly trust someone."
At night the gang was now asleep, except for Lucy who was unable to sleep due to her argument with Katara earlier. As she tossed and turned, she heard something and opened the door to see Jet and the Freedom Fighters scaling down the hideout. She decided to wake Erza and Sokka up attracting Ray's attention as he stood up and followed them out of the hut, then the three quickly lowered themselves onto a branch when they saw Jet leading the Freedom Fighters through the forest while pulling a cart of blasting jelly. The three kept themselves hidden while following Jet to the edge of a cliff; there was a perfect view of the valley and a dam that blocked off most of the water from the river. Jet stopped at the cliff and looked towards the dam before addressing his gang.
"Now listen, you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal. If the reservoir isn't full, the Fire Nation could survive." Jet instructed.
"But what about the people in that town? Won't they get wiped out too?" The Duke asked.
"Look Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the Fire Nation." Jet said before turning to Longshot.
"Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal. Got it?" Jet asked.
He didn't notice Erza, Lucy and Sokka watching them from the bushes.
"I knew there was something off about that guy." Lucy whispered.
"Yeah. You're right Lucy." Sokka said.
"We must warn the others before..." Erza was cut off when they hear a noise from behind. Lucy and Sokka felt pain as someone grabbed their ponytails. Another hand grabbed Erza by her hair.
Ray slowly advanced forward then quietly climbed the tree and crouched down on a branch, looking towards the ground.
Pipsqueak held them by it as Smellerbee came in with the knife and held it close to Lucy's neck.
"Where do you three think you're going?" Smellerbee questioned.
"Unhand us, you wretched worm!" Erza commanded.
"Shut her up." Smellerbee ordered. Pipsqueak whacked Erza, knocking her out.
"Erza!" Lucy exclaimed.
"You jerks! You're not getting away with this!" She shouted.
"Shut it, Yellow hair!" Smellerbee hollered.
Pipsqueak brought Lucy, Sokka and Erza to Jet who was still standing near the cliff edge.
"Lucy, Sokka, Erza. So glad you three could join us." Jet said.
"We heard about your plot to destroy the Earth Kingdom town." Erza told him.
"Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation." Jet explained.
"There are people living there, Jet. Mothers, fathers and children." Sokka tried to reason with him.
"We can't win without making some sacrifices." Jet said.
"You lied to the others about the forest fire!" Lucy accused pointing her finger.
Ray climbed down the tree he was standing on and slowly made his way towards another one closer to the cliff edge. He wanted to hear more about this.
"Because they don't understand the demands of war. Not like you three and I do." Jet said.
"Oh, I understand alright. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want." Lucy admitted.
"I was hoping you three would have an open mind, but I can see you all made your choice." Jet said as Smellerbee, Pipsqueak and two other Freedom Fighters grabbed them before Erza even noticed them. Before Lucy could do anything Jet pins her wrist down with one of his hook swords while her other hand was forced back.
"I can't let you warn any of your friends Lucy and I have no intention of letting you summon any Celestial Spirits either." Jet said as he released Lucy's hand which was then forced back.
"Take them for a walk. A long walk." He ordered.
"You can't do this!" Sokka exclaimed.
"We're not gonna let you get away with this, you monster!" Erza shouted.
"Cheer up. We're gonna win a very great victory against the Fire Nation today." Jet smirked.
Later that day Jet led Aang, Katara, Natsu, Gray and Wendy to a small brook.
"Jet, I'm sorry how Lucy and my brother were acting." Katara apologized.
"No worries. They already apologized." Jet said.
"Really? Sokka apologized?" Aang asked.
"Lucy too?" Natsu questioned.
"Yeah. I was surprised too. I got the sense that maybe Katara talked to them or something." Jet said and stopped.
"Yeah. I did." Katara said, knowing what he meant.
"I guess something you said must have got through to them. They're on a scouting mission with Erza, Pipsqueak and Smellerbee." Jet told them where the two were.
"Well, I'm glad they both cooled off." Katara smiled and said.
"Yeah. Lucy can be just as stubborn as Sokka sometimes." Gray added.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
They are now walking in a gully beside the river. Aang stopped for a minute and started to feel a breeze coming from the ground then screamed when a steam vent shot him into the air.
"We're here. Underground water's trying to escape through these vents. Aang, Katara, I want you two to help them along." Jet explained.
"I've never used bending on water I can't see. I don't know." Katara said with uncertainty.
"Katara, you can do this." Jet reassured her.
"What about me?" Aang asked.
"I know the Avatar can do it." Jet said.
Soon Aang and Katara stood over a geyser and lifted their arms up and down. They took deep breaths as they lifted the water out. Soon the water came up and down as they continued. When it reached the top, Aang and Katara threw the water out of the steam vent and into the river.
"They did it!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Good job, you two. This river empties into the reservoir. Just a few more geysers and it will be full." Jet cheered.
"There's another steam vent!" Aang shouted.
"You two keep it up. I'm going to see how things are at the reservoir." Jet said as he started to leave.
"When they're done, we'll meet up." Natsu said, making Jet stop.
"Actually, you guys should meet me back at the hideout when you're done." Jet suggested as he left.
Aang and Katara nodded as he walked away. They went back to bending water out of the geysers. After enough time, Aang and Katara had just finished bending water into the river.
"I think that's enough. I'm not just saying that to be lazy." Aang said.
"I think that's good enough. Not bad, you two." Gray admitted.
"Let's meet Jet at the reservoir." Katara suggested.
"I thought Jet said to meet him back at the hideout." Wendy reminded them.
"Well, we finished early. I'm sure he'll be happy to see us." Katara said confidently.
Meanwhile in a different part of the forest Pipsqueak and Smellerbee kept moving Lucy, Erza and Sokka who had their hands tied behind their backs.
"Can't you two free yourselves?" Sokka asked.
"I could, but Jet managed to tied my hands up real good." Erza answered.
"I can't get to my keys because both my hands and fingers are tied up." Lucy added.
"Wow, Jet's smart." Sokka said.
"You're still an idiot." Lucy muttered.
"Come on! Keep moving!" Smellerbee ordered, shoving the three.
"How can you two just stand by and watch while Jet destroys a town?" Lucy asked.
"Hey listen, Lucy. Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says and things always turn out okay." Pipsqueak argued.
Lucy then noticed snare leaf pile traps nearby and got an idea.
"Well, if this how Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn." Lucy said as she dashed towards the leaf piles.
"Hey!" Smellerbee cried as she and Pipsqueak chase after her.
Lucy jumped over the leaf piles, but Smellerbee and Pipsqueak didn't and were caught in the snare trap.
"Good trick, Lucy." Sokka said. His hands were now free as were Erza's hands.
"Why are you already free?!" Lucy demanded.
"What, Jet didn't tie my hands well enough." Sokka explained as he united Lucy who smacked him across the face.
"You could've freed us earlier, you moron!" Lucy yelled.
"I had to make it look convincing." Sokka said as he looks up at Pipsqueak and Smellerbee.
"While you guys are up there, you might want to tell Jet to practice his knotwork." Sokka smirked as he told the two captive Freedom Fighters.
"I have something I need to do. You two go find the others." Lucy ordered.
"We'll go with you." Erza said.
"No. I'm going by myself. Find the others." Lucy insisted before she left.
"Guess we should go find the others and warn them." Erza said.
"Right." Sokka nodded as they head in a different direction.
"Hey Smellerbee, you gonna eat your leechee nuts?" Pipsqueak asked. Smellerbee threw her nuts at him who began to eat them.
Aang, Katara, Natsu, Gray and Wendy came to the rise that overlooked the town and the dam. They looked to the base of the dam and noticed some of the Freedom Fighters unloading something from a wagon arranging them near the dam.
"What're they doing?" Natsu asked.
"Those look like the red barrels Jet got from the Fire Nation." Katara said.
"Why would they need blasting jelly?" Gray asked as Aang realized something.
"Because they're gonna destroy the dam." Aang explained, shocking the others.
"But that would destroy the town." Wendy said.
"Jet would never do that." Katara pointed out.
"Looks like he will." Natsu said. Aang opened his glider.
"I'm going to stop him." He said.
"C'mon Happy." Natsu told him.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"Carla!" Wendy yelled.
"Right." Carla also nodded.
"Jet wouldn't do that." Katara repeated.
As Aang, Natsu and Wendy reached the edge, Jet suddenly dashed past them and swiped his glider, Happy and Carla making Aang, Natsu and Wendy wobble near the edge but Aang used his airbending to save himself, Natsu and Wendy. They they saw Jet tying Happy and Carla against a tree trunk.
"Yes I would." Jet admitted.
"Jet, why?" Katara asked.
"Katara, you would too if you stop to think. Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother. We can't let them do that to anyone else ever again." Jet said.
"This still isn't the right answer!" A voice called out as they saw Sokka and Erza approaching.
"Sokka!" Katara cried out as she hugged him.
"Erza!" Gray exclaimed.
"I just wanted you to understand me, Katara. I thought Sokka or even Lucy would understand, but..." Jet trailed off.
"What?" Wendy asked, shocked.
"What have you done to Lucy?!" Natsu demanded.
"Where is she?" Aang asked as tears fell from Katara's face.
"Katara..." Jet walked over to Katara who turned away. Natsu let out a roar of rage and threw a fireball from his hand at Jet who leaped back.
"So you're a Firebender, too?" Jet asked.
"No I'm not! I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer! There's a difference!" Natsu yelled.
"Doesn't matter. You still use fire, which means you're my enemy." Jet said.
"I need to get to that dam." Just when Aang reached the staff, the hilt from one of Jet's hook swords stopped him.
"You're not going anywhere without your glider and I wouldn't try untying those annoying cats, pink hair." Jet said.
Natsu let out another angry roar and unleashed a stream of fire at Jet who spun his hook swords to get rid of the flames. He then charges forwards and swings his swords at the two. They avoid the attack by rolling out of the way.
Aang then jumped up to the tree to escape his opponent, and Jet quickly climbed after him.
"I'm not gonna fight you, Jet." Aang stated.
"You'll have to if you want your glider back." Jet countered as he unhooked his blades. When he ran towards Aang, Natsu threw a flaming punch knocking him down.
"Filthy fire rat!" Jet yelled.
"What Luce was tryin to tell us the whole time, she was right all along. I can't believe I believed YOUR word over her's. I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" Natsu shouted as a stream of fire came out of his mouth. Jet quickly rolled out of it's way.
Jet then swung his swords at Natsu who dodges and ignites his foot to kick Jet. He quickly grabbed Natsu's neck with one of his hook swords and spun him around, bringing him down to the ground. Natsu easily recovered though and began getting to his feet before throwing more fire in Jet's direction. He backed off and hooked a branch to pull himself up to go after Aang who retreated back into the forest.
"Get back here, ya creep!" Natsu yelled as he climbed a tree and pursued Jet.
The two jumped from branch to branch as the group followed from the ground. Aang landed on a branch and began to run. Jet came sliding on an overhanging branch and tried to slash at Aang with his free blade. Jet attacks; Aang defends himself with balls of air, which Jet ducks. Jet attacks head on, but Aang blocks with his arms and sends his opponent flying into a tree trunk with an air kick. Jet combines his swords again and advances. Aang avoids the flail-like move and sends another air blast. Jet stoops down and lets the air flow over and past him before lunging.
They continue the chase through the many levels of the forest. Jet catches up to Aang and sends them both free falling, attacking as they go. They both end up on a branch. Jet continues his attack. Aang avoids it all. Jet charges again, but Aang hits him with a jet stream of air. Jet falls. He recovers, but loses the glider in the process. Before Aang can get to the ground Jet kicks him into a trunk. He lands with a thud next to his glider.
A small tributary flows past him. Aang is slow to get up. Before Jet can take more than a step however, he his hit by a large water strike. Katara is there; she uses water from the river to throw Jet against the trunk of the tree. Over and over she attacks; Jet is unable to cut the water and its force plasters him against the trunk. She freezes Jet from toe to neck.
"Why, Jet? I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me! You're sick and I trusted you!" Katara said.
"I doubt you'll be causing..." Sokka was cut off by a signal call and everyone looks around to see where it was coming from and they see Jet answering the call.
"What are you doing?" Gray asked.
"You're too late." Jet said.
"No!" Wendy said.
"Happy!" Natsu said as he goes for the still tied up Happy and Carla.
"I've gotta hurry!" Aang said as he opens his glider and runs to the cliff but as he was about to fly he falls to the ground due to the glider being damaged and Katara, Sokka, Erza, Gray, and Wendy run up to help him.
"Lucy is still out there." Erza said.
"She's our only chance now." Sokka said.
"Come on, Luce. You've gotta hurry." Natsu said while still untying Happy and Carla.
"Please, Lucy. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Please." Katara said.
'Hate to disappoint you Jet, but no one's dying today.' Ray thought to himself. After listening in on Jet's plan last night, he took it upon himself to evaporate the dam water to limit the casualties. He took a deep breath before inserting his hands into the water. Soon, the water in the dam started turning into steam.
They see Longshot standing on a branch of a tree and he prepares a fire arrow and then he shoots the fire arrow and it's going at the base of the dam.
"No..." Katara and Natsu said at the same time.
The center of the dam explodes in a cloud of smoke and fire and everyone sees a wall of water going over to the town which is empty and the water rushes trough the open gate and a huge wave engulfs the wall and the gate and the entire town is destroyed by the large wave of water.
"Lucy didn't make it in time." Aang said.
"No...NO! NO! NO! NO!" Natsu cried as he punches a tree.
"All those people..." Wendy said as she starts to cry.
"Jet, you monster!" Katara yelled.
"How could you do something this ruthless?! You're worse than anyone I've known!" Erza yelled.
"This was a victory. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe." Jet said.
"You're right about one thing." The leader of the Freedom Fighters turned his head to the right in shock and saw Ray approaching them. "This valley will be safe..."
"...Without YOU!" They then see Appa walking up to them with Lucy on his head.
"LUCE!" Natsu cheered.
"You're okay!" Katara said.
"What did you guys expect?" Lucy asked and then turns to Jet.
"I warned the villagers of your plan, Jet. Just in time." She said.
"You WHAT?!" Jet asked shocked.
"At first they didn't believe me. The Fire Nation soldiers assumed I was a spy, but then one man vouched for me...the old man you attacked. He urged them to trust me and we got everyone out just in time before the flood." Lucy explained.
The villagers are on high ground above the river and a little girl runs down at the water's edge and sees a doll floating by and she picks it up.
"Missus Pretty!" The little girl cheered hugging her doll.
"Lucy, you fool! We could've freed this valley!" Jet said.
"Who would be free? Everyone would be dead." Lucy said.
"You traitor!" Jet barked.
"No, Jet. YOU became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people." Lucy replied.
"Katara, please. Help me." Jet begged.
"Goodbye, Jet." Katara said as everyone gets on Appa.
"Yip yip." Lucy said and Appa starts flying leaving Jet who is still frozen against the tree.
Appa is flying through the sky again with Lucy driving the bison while everyone else is on the saddle.
"Lucy, I thought you were going to dam." Aang said.
"I thought so too when you said you had to take care of something. Why'd you go to the village?" Sokka asked.
"Because MY instincts told me." Lucy answered.
"Well, if it wasn't for you, then all those lives would've been lost." Carla said.
"It wasn't just me, he's the one that started to evaporate the dam water." Lucy pointed out, gesturing to Ray.
"If it makes you feel better, we should both lead the group." Ray shrugged his shoulders.
"I kind of agree now that I think about it." Sokka said.
"I'll think about it." Lucy said.
"Lucy, I'm sorry I doubted you and..." Katara was cut off by Lucy.
"Don't worry about it, Katara. You were just affected by Jet's rubbish. That's all." Lucy said.
"Hey, Luce, are we going the right way?" Gray asked.
"My instincts should be right about where we're going so yes." Lucy answered.
"Okay then. Lead the way, Wise Leader." Natsu said.
"Very funny." Lucy said.
"No. He was serious." Aang said.
"Aye." Happy said.
"Oh, okay then. Let's keep going and we'll might have to stop for the night." Lucy said as she makes Appa keep flying through the sky.