Back From Hiatus

Back from Hiatus

It seems like I got my inspiration back and I'm here with a new story.

It's an Avatar the Last Airbender one, which will feature the beauty that is Zutara, personal growth for everyone and a badass OC.

So give Yin and Yang a chance ^^

Comments are my lifeblood, I need moooorrrrrrreeeee :D

Yin and Yang: Book 1.08

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

I couldn’t wait to post Part 2 of Winter Solstice so here you go!

Enjoy and please comment, please, please, please!

Book 1.08: Winter Solstice, Part 2

Water. 

Earth. 

Fire. 

Air. 

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. 

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. 

Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished. 

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua. 

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone. 

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

In the early morning hours in Senlin Village, you could see four figures trying to leave the village.

Well, it was two humans, Aang and Hua with Appa, the flying bison and Jaiyi, the kyuubi, trying their best to get their animal companions moving.

“Let's go, Appa! Come on, boy!”, whisper-shouted Aang, pulling the reins.

“Jaiyi, be a good girl, shrink!”, begged Hua, trying to get her ninetails to turn into her fox cub form and not stay in her big fighting form. Like this, she couldn’t fit on Appa’s saddle.

Nonetheless, none of the two animals listen to their masters. 

They refused to obey since they didn’t like to leave people behind.

This realized the two children at the same time.

“Look, I'm sorry, but Katara and Sokka aren't coming to the Fire Nation with us.”, told Aang sadly.

Hua frowned, giving Appa and Jaiyi a pet.

“We don’t like it either, but if anything happened to them, we would never forgive ourselves.”

“So get your big butt off the ground, Appa!”

“And you Jaiyi shrink!”

“And then let’s go!”, chorused the Avatar and Daimon together.

This earned them unimpressed looks from Appa and Jaiyi. Both sit down on their butts, refusing to move.

“Thanks for nothing your useless fluff balls.”, groaned Hua.

Why did they have to be so stubborn?!

Suddenly Sokka called out to them, his voice full of sass: “I think the useless fluff balls are trying to tell ya something.”

Surprised and startled Hua and Aang turned towards the right to reveal a collection of Senlin villagers, with Katara and Sokka standing in the front.

“Please don't go, Hua and Aang. The world can't afford to lose you two to the Fire Nation. Neither can I.”, plead Katara desperate to them.

These two were her rays of hope. 

Hope was the only thing which had kept Katara going on for years in the cold lonely nights when she missed her mother and worried for her father.

Now the world had a chance for peace if Hua and Aang ended the war and the waterbender would be damned if she let anything happen to them!

Guilty Hua and Aang look at Katara before they look at each other. 

They see the vision of the comet Fang and Qinyan showed them clearly before their eyes.

Neither of them wanted to hurt their precious people, especially Katara, however…

“But we have to talk to Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue to find out what our vision means!”, argued Aang back.

“We need to get to the Fire Temple before the sun sets on the solstice. That's today!”, added Hua.

Aang airbends himself atop Appa's head, while Hua earthbend herself on the saddle.

If Jaiyi wouldn’t come, she wouldn’t force her anymore, but she needed to go.

As Appa stands up, Jaiyi, Katara and Sokka run to stand before the bison, preventing him from moving any further.

“We're not letting you two go into the Fire Nation, Hua and Aang.”, scolded Katara.

“At least, not without your friends.”, told them Sokka grinning. “We got your back.”

Jaiyi yips in agreement.

Aang and Hua can clearly see how their friends won’t take no for an answer, that’s why they tried to leave in secret in the first place.

“This will probably be the most dangerous thing we ever did!”, reminded them Hua.

However, the water tribe siblings just grinned, saying danger was their second name.

This made the Avatar and Daimon laugh.

Well, if their friends were so stubborn, they would probably follow them somehow.

Better they stayed together then.

So Hua earthbended the water tribe siblings and Jaiyi, who finally was in her fox cub form, to Appa's saddle, while Momo made himself cosy on Aang's shoulder.

The Senlin Village leader hands Aang some supplies reminding them how long their trip to Crescent Island was and wishes them good luck in their quest.

Aang wants to thank him for their hospitality and help, but the man just yells for them to go, go, go!

And that’s what they do.

Appa soars up into the sky, next destination: Crescent Island!

***

Daylight has come. 

The flying bison flies over the ocean, while his passengers all watch the ocean fearfully.

“Come on, boy, we've got a long way to go. Faster!”, encourages Aang his bison.

Appa lets out a growl and does as Aang said.

Katara, Hua and Jaiyi huddle together, to comfort each other, but Hua can’t stop herself from letting out her thoughts: “Oh spirits, this is so bad. If a Fire Nations ship sees us we will get roasted nicely!”

“Hey, I’m the pessimist here.”, says Sokka, petting her head to calm her down. “Don’t steal my job.”

A nervous laugh escapes Hua.

Katara kisses her cheek, normally Hua would blush up a storm, but her nerves prevent her from doing so.

“It will be okay. We will manage.”, reassured Katara.

It’s like the universe wants to prove her wrong since Hua sees how a Fire Nation ship is now on their tail.

“What about that?!”, she shouts.

“Aang. We've got trouble!”, calls Katara back to him.

She tried her hardest not to freak out since Hua needed her, yet it was difficult.

“Yeah! And it's gaining, fast!”, adds Sokka.

The next minutes in their lifes were nerve-wracking for Team Avatar-Daimon.

Not only did Prince Zuko shoot stinky fireballs at them, also a barricade was before them and attacking them too.

Aang had trouble manoeuvre Appa around all the flying fireballs.

At one point the passengers had to put out small embers from Appa fur.

It was pure and utter chaos!

Their wild ride ends finally when Aang airbends forward off of Appa's head. He uses a powerful airbending kick, and the flaming boulder, which was coming towards them, explodes in a large smoky blast. 

The Avatar falls back to Appa's head, Katara, Hua and Sokka grabbing him. 

Now Appa soars safely over the blockade, passing them.

“We made it!”, celebrates Aang.

Meanwhile, the Daimon and water tribe siblings look onward in horror.

They were really in the Fire Nation.

Oh Spirits!

At least the rest of their flight was calm.

And boring.

For hours and hours, they flow over the ocean.

Hua was sure if people could die of boredom, they all would be dead right now.

She lays like a starfish on the saddle, Sokka and Katara copy her, while Jaiyi has fallen asleep on her stomach.

Aang and Momo were slouched on Appa's head and the poor bison seemed to get more tired every second.

“Aang, are we there yet?”, calls Hua out to him.

“No, not now.”

A few seconds pass.

“How about now?”

“No, still no Crescent Island in sight.”

Again a few seconds pass.

“Now?”

“No, Hua.”

She lets out a huff and dramatically drapes an arm over her eyes.

“That’s how I’m going to die….from utter boredom. What a way to go.”, mumbled Hua, but everyone heard her. Agreeing groans from all around. That’s when she realizes something important. “Wait if I die now I get reincarnated into the Fire Nation!”

“Yeah, don’t do that.”, deadpans Sokka at her.

“You got it boss.”, she answered jokily back.

At least it made Katara and Aang snort.

Silence again comes over the group.

Somehow she must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew it was sunset and Aang shouted: “There it is! The island where Roku's dragon took me.”

Finally!

Appa lands at the base of a stone bridge leading up to the island's mountain. 

The bridge ends at an elegant, multi-story Fire Temple mixed with Water Tribe decorations. 

Lava is flowing beneath the bridge and the air is thick with steam. 

Aang stands by Appa's head, and Katara and Hua stand at the bison's side. 

Sokka is stretching further away.

Aang praises Appa for getting them all safely there, while Katara and Hua rub his belly.

Katara cooes at Appa how he must be tired, strangely Sokka thinks she was talking to him and tells her he was ready to beat up some firebenders.

When her realizes with whom his sister was talking, Sokka lies and says he was talking to Momo.

The lemur critters in confusion.

Since the temple was way too small for Appa, he would wait for them and Team Avatar-Daimon with Momo and Jaiyi made their way over to it.

Soon they stand before the temple and hide behind a wall. You could never be too careful.

Better look for hostile firebenders.

“I don't see any guards.”, whispered Sokka.

“The Fire Nation must have abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue died.”, was Katara's guess.

“Let’s get inside, it’s almost sundown.”, murmured Hua.

Aang nodded.

“Yes, we better hurry!”

The group leaps over the wall and charges for the front door. After they are inside the temple they tip-toed through an enormous chamber with fire and water-decor columns.

“Wait.”, stops Sokka the group. “I think I heard something.”

Turning around, they see five men standing in the hallway dressed in red, with a blue sash around their waists and tall hats.

“We are the Fire Sages.”, announced the Sage in the middle, the Great Fire Sage. “Guardians of the temple of the Avatar and Daimon.”

“Great! I am the Avatar and she here is the Daimon!”

“We know.”

Without a warning, the sages attack them with fire blasts!

What?!

What was going on?!

Thankful Aang can reflect the fiery attack with his airbending. He yells at his friends to run, he would hold them off.

They didn’t need to be told twice.

So they run around the temple hallways in the hope of losing the Fire Sages, Aang joins back up with them and then they reach a dead-end.

Awesome!

A Fire Sage was coming towards them.

Even better.

“I don't want to fight you! I am a friend.”, promised the Fire Sage.

Angry Sokka tells him that firebenders aren’t their friends.

Jaiyi jumps forward to protect them, growing into an adult fox. Her hackles are raised and her nine tails wander around aggressively.

Aang and Hua stand beside her, getting into bending stances.

The Fire Sages wanted them, not Katara and Sokka, they would protect their friends!

This Fire Sage steps toward the Avatar and Daimon, before dropping to his knees and pressing his palms to the floor in submission. 

This startles the children and Jaiyi.

“I know why you're here, Avatar and Daimon.”

“You do?”, chorus Aang and Hua together in disbelief.

“Yes.” The Fire Sage rises from the floor to stand again. “You wish to speak to Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue. I can take you to them.”

Sceptically Aang asks how.

In answer, the Fire Sage slides back a lamplight on the wall. He places his palm on the wall and focuses firebending into this location to open a secret passage.

“This way.”

That’s when they hear the Great Fire Sage hollering to the others to find them and their ally Fire Sage begs them to hurry inside the secret passage.

Hua and Aang exchange a look with one another, asserting each other's belief to trust this firebender.

Well, they don’t have really a choice, do they?

They enter first, Jaiyi and Momo right behind them, then Katara and Sokka and lastly the Fire Sage who closes the secret passage.

They are now in a cave, lava flowing down under them and follow the Fire Sage who tells him his name, Shyu.

“Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue once called this temple their home. Together they formed these secret passages out of the magma.”, explained Shyu to the group as they made their way through the caverns.

“Did you know them?”, asks Aang curious.

“No. But my grandfather knew them. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this temple long before me. We all have a strong spiritual connection to this place.”

“Is that how you knew we were coming?”

“A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku; its eyes began to glow! Then moments later the eyes of Daimon Lixue.”

Katara reminds them how Roku's eyes had glowed too, when they were in the Southern Air Temple as Aang had entered Avatar State. Then Hua got into Daimon State to calm him down, it was only logical that the Daimon Statues light up just like the Avatar’s.

Shyu agreed and said that’s how they knew how Aang and Hua had returned.

“I just don’t get it.”, began Hua. “If you Sages are devoted to this temple and to the Avatar and Daimon, then why did the others attack us?”

“Things have changed. In the past, the sages were loyal only to the Avatar and Daimon. When Roku and Lixue died, the sages eagerly awaited for the next Avatar and Daimon to return. But they never came.”

Immediately the old feelings of guilt arose in Aang and Hua.

They had let down people again.

Sokka mocked them humorously that they only were 100 years too late.

For that, he got twin scowls and Jaiyi who growled at him.

Shyu continues to explain how the Sage lost hope that the Avatar and Daimon would return. Then when Fire Lord Sozin began the war, they were forced to follow him.

“I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord.”, confessed Shyu. “When I learned you two were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other sages.”

“Thank you for helping us.”, chirps Aang happily, while Hua bows in gratitude. “We won’t forget this.”

The Fire Sage smiles at them, leading the group to a set of stairs. Following them they would reach the sanctuary and when the light reached the statues of Roku and Lixue they could talk to them.

Shyu slides back a secret tile and they climb into the outer sanctuary. 

Massive columns with dragon and phoenix statues atop them line the room. 

An immense door is before them with a device holding five open-mouthed dragons, over them a phoenix with spread wings and waves artfully encircled them.

“No!”, gasped Shyu.

“Shyu, what's wrong?”, asks Aang.

“The sanctuary doors, they're closed!”

“Can't you just open them with firebending?”, wonders Katara. “Like you opened that other door?”

“No. Only a fully realized Avatar or Daimon is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise, the sages must open this door together, with five simultaneous fire blasts.”

Unsure what to do now, they all looked around.

There had to be another way!

That’s when Sokka had an idea.

It’s a trick he had learned from his dad.

They need to seal the lamp oil inside five animal skin casings, Shyu lights the oil-soaked twine and ta-da! 

Fake firebending!

Katara and Hua are impressed with Sokka and Shyu agrees that it might actually work.

The children, Sokka with Jaiyi and Katara with Momo, hide behind the columns, as Shyu gets ready to light the twine.

He reminds the Avatar and Daimon how the other Sage would hear the explosion, so they had to hurry and enter the sanctuary.

“It's almost sunset.”, notes Katara. “Are you two ready?”

“Definitely.”, reassured Aang.

“Ready as I ever will be!”, vowed Hua.

Shyu thrusts his finger forward, sending a small flare racing across the door to light all five bags at once. 

He hurries to take cover. 

There is an intense explosion, producing a lot of smoke. Aang and Hua burst forward and ran for the door. 

The Avatar and Daimon strain to open the door, which has not budged by an inch.

“They're still locked!”, they shout disappointed.

The water tribe teen was right with them, as all stepped from their columns.

Pissed off Aang airbends currents at the door, hollering: “Why, won't, it, open?!”

“Aang, calm down!”, demanded Hua, holding his shoulders. “Airbending at it won’t work. Seems like we came here for nothing.”

A groan leaves the Avatar’s mouth.

“I don't get it. That firebending looked as strong as any firebending I've seen.”, thought Sokka aloud.

Suddenly Katara declared him a genius.

All were more than confused.

Smiling Katara told them it didn’t work but it looked like it!

Now she had a plan.

A few minutes later the other Fire Sages reached the sanctuary where Shyu was waiting for them.

He tells them that somehow the Avatar and Daimon entered it, pointing even at two shadows you can see from the crack in the door.

Immediately the Great Fire Sage commands his fellow Sages to open the door, they couldn’t risk the current Avatar and Daimon contacting Roku and Lixue.

Hua and Aang slide into position behind nearby columns as the five sages firebend the door locks open. 

As the door opens, a sooty Momo and Jaiyi are revealed sitting on the floor. 

Jaiyi shakes herself free from the soot, while Momo sneezes, blowing the soot off himself.

“It's the Avatar's lemur and the Daimon’s Kyuubi. They must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!”, shouts the Great Fire Sage, but too late.

The kyuubi turns big enough to sit on him and Momo leaps atop the Great Fire Sage's head and clings to his hat. Katara charged forward, pulling a nearby sage's tunic over his head to blind him. 

Sokka grabs the lower skirt of a sage's outfit, lifting it completely over his body to cover his face.

Shyu grabs the last free sage and hauls him into his grip, pinning him.

“Now, Aang! Hua!”, shouted Shyu.

A moment of silence.

Now Katara calls for them to hurry.

But to the shook of Aang and Hua's friends and allies, Prince Zuko comes forth from behind a column.

He somehow manages to pin with one arm each of Hua and Aang's arms behind their backs.

“The Avatar and Daimon are coming with me!”

More he can’t say, because Jaiyi turns into her fighting Kyuubi form and knocks with all her tails the enemy sages down.

Then she tackles Zuko to the ground, growling in his face.

So she freed Hua and Aang, who didn’t waste time and raced into the sanctuary.

Everyone looks away as the door seals with a blinding flash of white and orange light. 

Inside, Aang and Hua stand around and look up at the tall statues of Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue. 

A beam of red sunlight enters the room and strikes a glistening red jewel held by the statues.

Both children look confused around.

“And now?”, asked Hua.

“I don’t know.”, admins Aang. “The light hits the statues and we talk to Roku and Lixue.”

“But nothing is happening!”

“Please Avatar Roku and Diamon Lixue talk to us!”, beg Aang and Hua together.

Roku's statue turns red and Lixue’s blue as sunlight engulfs them. 

His eyes glow white and hers orange.

Smoke fills the room. 

When the white smoke dissipated Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue walked up to them arm in arm.

They aren’t any more in the sanctuary but on a mountaintop with clouds around them.

“Welcome Hua and Aang.”, greets them Lixue with a kind smile. “It’s wonderful to meet you finally.”

She is a beautiful aged lady and looks younger than Roku, even if they are the same age. Her clothes are in the classic blue of the Water Tribe with some red accents for the Fire Nation.

“What took you so long?”, adds Roku also with a smile.

He wears typical Fire Nation clothes, but a necklace made out of a shark tooth, clearly Water Tribe, hangs from his throat.

It was nice to see how this married couple integrated the nation of their spouse in their clothing.

Respectfully the current Avatar and Daimon place a fist into a palm, bowing their head to the Avatar and Daimon before them.

“We have something very important to tell you, Aang and Hua.”, begins Roku. “That is why, when you were in the Spirit World, we sent my dragon and Lixue phoenix to find you.”

“Is it about that vision we had? The one of the comet?”, guesses Aang.

“Yes indeed, young Avatar.”, confirmed Lixue.

“What does it mean?”, wanted Hua to know.

Roku explains to the young ones: “One hundred years ago, Fire Lord Sozin used that comet to begin the War. He and his firebending army harnessed its incredible power and dealt a deadly first strike against the other nations.”

“The Air Nomads.”, mumbled Hua and Daimon Lixue nodded.

“So the comet made them stronger?”, summarized Aang.

Avatar Roku confirmed it, even saying it made them stronger than they could imagine.

“But that happened a hundred years ago. What does the comet have to do with the War now?”

Now Lixue took over to explain: “Listen carefully, young ones. Sozin's Comet will return by the end of this summer, and Fire Lord Ozai will use its power to finish the War, once and for all. If he succeeds, even the Avatar and Daimon won't be able to restore balance to the world. Hua and Aang. You must defeat the Fire Lord before the comet arrives.”

That they were shocked was the understatement of the century.

They panic!

“But, but, Lixue I may have started learning airbending, but I don’t make the progress I should, because I should learn fire first! How should I get down water too like this?!”

“Yeah, and I haven't even started learning waterbending! Not to mention earth and fire!”

“Mastering the elements takes years of discipline and practice.”, told them Roku calmly. “But if the world is to survive, you two must do it by summer's end.”

“What if we can't master all the elements in time? What if we fail?”, argues Aang back with Hua rapidly nodding along.

“We have faith in you Hua and Aang because you two mastered it already once and you can do it again.”, reassured Lixue.

This makes the children smile.

“The solstice is ending.”, declares Roku. “We must go our separate ways, for now.”

“But we won't be able to come back to the temple. What if we have questions? How will we talk to you two?”, asked Aang and Hua as one.

Roku and Lixue answer them together: “We are a part of you. When you need to talk to us again, you will find a way.”

The late Avatar and Daimon closed their eyes, showing the current ones what was going on outside the sanctuary.

Firebender, ready to burn them to crisp.

“A great danger awaits you two at the temple. We can help you face the threat. But only if you are ready.”

Hua and Aang who had also closed their eyes open them together.

His a brightly white and his arrows in the same light and hers in a burning orange.

“We are ready!”

The people outside saw how the door glowed bright white-orange once again. 

Smoke streams come through into the room. 

The door unlocks itself, beginning to open. 

As it opens, a blinding white and orange light forces all present to look away.

Admiral Zhao commands his man to attack, while Katara cries out to her friends terrified.

The wall of fire amasses, circling its new hosts as Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue, eyes aglow, are revealed behind the flames, untouched.

In perfect harmony, Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue draw the circling fire together in one motion. 

They send it forward in one powerful wave that sears the room, blasting the offenders off their feet and melting the chains binding Katara, Sokka, Shyu, Jaiyi and Zuko with precision. 

Daimon Lixue and Avatar Roku, turn their glowing glare upon the offending sages. 

The sages panic, all turning to run from their wrath.

“Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue are going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!”, implores Shyu the water tribe siblings.

“Not without Hua and Aang!”, countered Katara.

Never would she leave her friends!

Roku and Lixue kneel into a forward strike, melting the floor with a molten firebending trail. 

They steadily lift a hand each, causing the stream of lava below to erupt into maddened explosions. 

The lava soars through the temple, tearing it apart. 

Katara and Sokka huddle together, arm-in-arm, behind a column. 

The destruction ceases momentarily as Roku and Lixue lower their hands, exhaling soundly. 

The solstice's beam of sunlight leaves their statues; their eyes no longer glow. 

As this happens all smoke in the room draws in upon Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue, their forms disappearing to leaving behind a weary Aang and Hua.

Both fall to their knee, however, Katara catches Aang and Sokka catches Hua before their faces meet the floor.

“We got your backs.”, tells them Sokka.

“Thanks. Where's Shyu?”, wonder the Avatar and Daimon together.

“I don't know.”, admins Katara.

Jaiyi licks Hua's cheek and then Aang’’s before she yips urgently.

They need to leave!

Hua, Aang, Katara and Sokka stare in horror upon seeing the stairwell leading to the exit filled with lava. 

They quickly turn to the only exit; the hole in the wall Roku and Lixue had created. 

There is no escaping, as they are on the top level of the temple.

All four humans gasp and the Kyuubi yips in surprise as they notice Appa and Momo swiftly closing in. 

They run out of the temple, leaping into Appa's saddle.

Time to leave the Fire Nation!

***

The full moon shines down on them, as Aang and Hua, who are sitting side by side on Appa's saddle, look both in desperation at nothing in particular.

What Roku and Lixue told them…

How could they do it?

They were just two dumb kids. 

Two dumb kids who had to save the world before the end of the summer.

At least…they wouldn’t have to do it alone.

Like if they agreed on, their hands find the one of the other and they squeeze.

They needed some reassurance.

That they really weren’t alone in this whole mess.

That their other half would walk the same path as them.

For the first time, both were thankful that they had each other.

How the burden of saving the world in less than a year could change your perspective on things.

Katara and Sokka looked at each other worried for their young friends.

They kneel down behind them and Katara puts a hand on a shoulder each.

Whatever the young Avatar and Daimon had learned, which troubled them so much, the water tribe siblings would support and help them.

Previous

Next

Yin and Yang: Book 1.10

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

Who is Veda? You can read the story, and you will know if you want to see her look at my Deviantart Account. ^^

Book 1.10: Jet and Veda

Water. 

Earth. 

Fire. 

Air. 

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. 

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. 

Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished. 

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua. 

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone. 

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

After a nice breakfast, it was time for team Avatar-Daimon to hit the road again.

Only someone was missing…

“Where's Momo?”, asked Aang his friends, hoping they had seen where the lemur had flown off.

It was like he heard them since Momo’s screeches echoed through the forest.

“Jaiyi, girl, find Momo!”, command Hua her ninetails.

Not wasting time Jaiyi did as she was told, finding Momo's smell and leading the humans.

They found the poor lemur and two hog monkeys in cage traps hanging by rope on tree limbs.

Aang uses his airbending to fly to the top of the tree, jumping from trunk to trunk to get higher. He finds the traps' mechanisms, undoes them, and carefully lowers Momo to the ground where Hua, Katara and Sokka are waiting. They open the trap together and the lemur runs out with one of the lychee nuts in his mouth. 

The watertribe siblings and the Daimon look on as Momo gets on his hind legs and eats it as though nothing has happened. 

Jaiyi sist down beside him and licks his head, which makes Momo purr.

Sokka grunts in frustration and facepalms. 

When Aang lands, he looks up to see the other two animals seemingly crying out to him for help.

So he jumps up to them, but Sokka say how this will take forever and just uses his boomerang to cut the hog monkey free.

While the free animals run off into the forest, Team Avatar-Daimon study the trap together.

“These are Fire Nation traps.”, concludes Sokka. “You can tell from the metalwork. We'd better pack up camp and get moving.”

They return to their camp. Gathering their things they begin to pack them onto Appa's saddle.

Suddenly Sokka proclaims: “Uh-uh! No flying this time.”

The others are confused.

“What? Why wouldn't we fly?”, wonders Aang.

“Think about it: Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa, he's just too noticeable.”

“What? Appa's not too noticeable!”, comes Katara to the bison defense.

“He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him!”

Appa seems offended, which makes Aang coo at him how Sokka was just jealous he doesn’t have an arrow.

“Well, then we can all ride on Jaiyi. Four humans and our supplies are nothing for her.”, offers Hua, as her Kyuubi yips in agreement.

But Sokka shakes his head.

“No, same problem with Appa. When Jaiyi is in her big form you can’t miss her, when she is little you could confuse her for a normal fox cub…I mean till you see the tails.”

This makes everyone deadpan at Sokka. He really doesn’t want to make their journey comfortable for them.

“I know you all wanna fly or ride, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk.”, explains Sokka.

“Instincts?”, mumbles Hua confused, while Katara leans forward to her brother: “Who made you the boss?”

“I'm not the boss, I'm the leader.”

“Since when and where was I when this was decided?”, questions Hua, getting more confused by the second.

What’s up with Sokka all of a sudden?

“I agree with Hua, you're the leader? But your voice still cracks!”, sass Katara her brother.

“I'm the oldest, and I'm a warrior!”, retorts Sokka. “So I'm the leader!”

“If anyone's are our leaders, it's Aang and Hua. I mean, he is the Avatar and she is the Daimon.”

“Are you kidding? He's just a goofy kid! And she is just a little girl.”

“I’m not that little!”, mumbles Hua angrily, while Aang proves Sokka's point hanging upside-down from Appa's right horn with feet sticking out in the air and agreeing.

“Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader?”, ponders Katara. “I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl.”

This makes Hua snort, which in turn makes Sokka blush embarrassed.

Great, even the youngest laughs at him!

“I've kissed a girl, you just haven't met her.”, defends the water tribe boy his manly honour.

“Who? Gran-Gran? I've met Gran-Gran.”, roasts his sister further.

Now Hua has picked up Jaiyi and hides her laughing face in the pelt of her ninetails.

She can’t!

Katara was just too good at dishing out!

Angry Sokka throws his arms into the air. Katara's sass and Hua's laughter go on his nerves and hurt his manly ego.

“No! Besides Gran-Gran. Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot, and a leader has to trust his instincts.”

“Okay, we'll try it your way, oh wise leader.”, says Katara sarcastically.

“Oh guide us, wise leader.”, can’t Hua help herself to add.

The girls laugh together, as Sokka sends them an offended look.

Why were girls such smart-asses?

Now Aang steps over, wearing a backpack. Momo is sitting on the top.

Always the optimist he says that walking might be fun.

Words he would soon regret.

“Walking stinks!”, decides the Avatar. “How do people go anywhere without a flying bison or a kyuubi?”

“Well I don't know, Aang.”, answer him Katara “Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts? They seem to know everything.”

“Yes, our wise leader will lead us to the holy land of the Nothern Water Tribe on foot.”, adds Hua cheeky.

Jaiyi, who walks beside her, laughs her fox laugh.

“Ha ha, very funny, guys.”, deadpans Sokka.

Ungrateful brats! He was just looking out for them and this was the thanks?!

“I'm tired of carrying this pack.”, complains the Avatar.

“You know who you should ask to carry it for a while?”, begins Katara.

“Oh, oh, let me guess!”, calls Hua, raising her hand like in school. “Sokka’s instincts?”

“Right on, Hua!”

“That's a great idea.”, agrees Aang. “Hey, Sokka's instincts, would you mind–”

Annoyed Sokka calls out: “Okay, okay, I get it! Look, guys, I'm tired too. But the important thing is that we're safe from the Fire ... Nation.”

He trails off because they stepped right into a big camp of Fire Nations Soldiers.

“Sokka, your instincts, suck!”, hisses Hua.

The oldest tells them all to run, but a Fire Nation soldier blocks them off by setting the bushes behind them on fire.

The four go into battle positions.

Seems like the only way to get out of this mess was by fighting.

“If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you.”, tells Sokka the soldiers with fake bravado.

His sister asked what he was doing and admitted he was just bluffing. 

A Firebender with an eyepatch laughs at them.

“You, promise not to hurt us?”

A whooshing sound was heard and the soldier was knocked out by an unseen tranquillizer dart on his back.

“Nice work, Sokka!”, praises Aang. “How'd you do that?”

“Uh, instinct?”

That’s when Katara draws their attention to a nearby tree. On it, a young man tosses his blowpipe and unsheathes two hook swords. He jumps and takes down two soldiers on landing. He runs forward and takes down two more using his hook swords.

“Down you go.”

Katara looks amazed, Hua admiring, Aang shocked, and Sokka confused.

Another soldier charges at Jet, but he is defeated. Then a soldier points out how more people are in the tree, but it’s too late.

A young boy lands on top of the soldier and turns his helmet around to blind him, before riding him around while laughing. Another boy launches arrows at the soldiers while more boys and girls come out of the trees. 

Hua, Aang and Katara aid them in fighting the soldiers with their primary bendings. 

Sokka holds up his boomerang and yells as one approaches him, but stops when the young man with the hook swords takes him down first.

The watertribe boy bemoans that he was his, but the young man just says he has to be faster next time.

Sokka looks dismayed and a huge boy falls out of the trees and easily takes down two soldiers as the hook sword boy skilfully takes down one more, causing this soldier's spear to hit another soldier, who was going to battle Sokka, in the head, making that soldier also fall down.

Again no points for Sokka.

Currently, Hua was launching rocks at two soldiers, as she felt that someone was approaching.

Another Soldier!

Before she can react, a pretty girl, not older than herself, attacks the soldier with her whip. She bonds him in it and throws him against a tree, knocking him out cold.

The Daimon's mouth claps open and a hot blush forms on her cheeks.

This was one of the hottest things she had ever seen!

She feels all tingly inside, it only gets worse as the pretty girls walk over to her.

“Hi.”, the pretty girl greets. She has beautiful grey eyes, and mid-length black hair and wears a green kimono-styled top with bandages, brown pants and black boots. 

“Hello.”, croaks Hua nervous out.

“Your earthbending is amazing.”, praises her pretty girl. “I’m Veda and who are you cutie?”

Being called cutie by this beautiful Veda makes Hua's brain short-circuit.

The last time she felt this way was 100 years ago when she had a crush on her neighbor Ai. The one who had also stolen her first kiss.

So she does something, which will make her wish to die on the spot.

Babbling nonsense.

“Me, me, Hua, I mean-I’m Hua. Hua, like, like flower. Only flower, just flower not any specific kind of flower, I don’t know why my parents didn’t specify. Sakura or Sayuri would have been nice, they are specify flowers. You know? Sakura is cherry blossom and Sayuri Lily. But, but, I think you know that…”

Amused Veda wipes away some ash from her cheek and Hua swerves she will melt.

“You are a cutie pie, Hua. Don’t be nervous, I don’t bite…unless you want me to.”

Then Veda winks.

And Hua makes a sound like a dying whale.

Oh Spirits, kill her now!

“Veda, are you done flirting?”, calls over the hook sword boy, who was standing beside an equally besotted Katara. 

“Sure, Jet.”, calls Veda back, but stays beside Hua, winking at her again.

The now-known Jet shakes bemused his head and then starts to introduce himself and his friends: “My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, Veda, The Duke, and Pipsqueak.”

The Daimon has trouble following along with how Aang tells Pipsqueak how his name is funny, only to be revealed that the biggest boy was named so and not the little one. It seems like Aang will get hit, but Pipssqueak laughs and pats him friendly on the back though the hit is hard enough to knock Aang flat on the ground. 

The Duke stops laughing and looks down at Aang sprawled on the ground before his feet, face flat in the dirt, though when Aang raises his head and continues laughing, so does The Duke.

The Freedom Fighters ransack the camp, while Sokka looks on a little uncomfortable.

Katara thanks Jet for his help and Hua and Veda are talking with each other.

Well, Veda talks and Hua babbles nonsense, however, the other girl doesn’t seem to mind.

Aang watches how both his female friends seem cosy with their new friends and…well…he feels strangely strange.

Does it make sense?

Seeing Katara with Jet was not making him feel funny, but Hua and Veda made his stomach twist.

He didn’t get it.

What was up with him?

Why was there a voice in his head, who practically growled mine, stay away.

Aang doesn’t have this kind of feeling for Hua, they were friends, also he liked Katara.

But this strange voice in him or let’s say a thousand voices in him hissed and snarled.

Mine!

Soulmate!

My Yang!

Stay away from them!

To think he shakes fast his head. This was all so confusing.

Were these voices of his past lives, where he and Hua were couples?

It made the most sense.

Nonetheless, he never reacted like that…

Maybe because someone was showing interest in Hua and he saw it?

And his past lives didn’t like that?

Well, he would ignore it!

He liked Katara, he knew she was his forever girl, and his past lives should get used to the Daimon having another partner.

There!

That’s when Aang hears how The Duke tells Jet how they will bring the things from the ransacked camp to their hide-out.

So his little episode was forgotten as he asked excitedly if they had a hideout.

Jet offers them to show it and both Katara and Hua yell how they want to see it.

So they follow the Freedom Fighter for a while through the forest, till they stop.

“We're here.”, proclaims Jet.

Confused Sokka says that nothing is there, so Jet gives him a rope and the watertribe boy pulled up into the branches.

Jet offers one to Aang, but he uses his airbending to climb the tree.

“Now you Hua.”, calls her Jet.

A bit nervous the Daimon steps forward, as she feels a hand on her shoulder.

Veda.

“The first time can be a bit wild, want to travel with me?”, she asked with a pretty smile.

Not trusting her voice, Hua nods.

So Veda wraps an arm around her hips, while Hua wraps her arms around the other girl's shoulder, as the Freedom Fighter girl grips the rope.

They get pulled up and all seems to go in slow motion.

Romantic light shines down on them, making Veda look like a goddess, which turns Hua into a pepperoni.

When she feels Veda's hand and where she is holding on, Hua swerves it burning her.

She never wants to let go of the other girl.

Sadly they land on a wooden platform.

For a second Hua admired the awesome hideout of the Freedom Fighter, which was a couple of treehouses, connected with zip lines as Veda whispered in her air: “Hey, you wanna ditch the other till dinner? I want to show you my favourite place.”

Butterflies are in Hua's stomach and she nods in agreement.

Giving her a pretty smile Veda takes her hand, Hua may or not may make again a dying whale sound, and leads her to her favourite place.

On the way there they talk.

Veda tells her how she came to the Freedom Fighter. She and Jet were neighbour, as one day the Fire Nation burned down the village, killing their parents. She would be dead too, if Jet hadn’t saved her that night.

He was eight and she was six.

“I’m so sorry, Veda.”, tells her Hua, squeezing her hand. “I wish I could do more to help you with your pain.”

“It’s okay Hua. Even if I miss my family I have a new family in Jet and the Freedom Fighter. Jet is like my big brother, I would do anything for him.”

Suddenly Hua Daimon-Radar goes off. How Veda said she would do anything for Jet…it has a dark note in it.

Hua can’t think anymore as Veda leads her to a platform, from where you can see all the forest.

“It’s so beautiful!”, shouts Hua.

“I love it here.”, confesses Veda, sitting down. “You can see anything from her and when the stars are out it's quite romantic.”

This makes Hua blush again, as she sits down beside Veda. The other girl grips her hand caressing it.

“It’s even better when you share it with someone.”, whispered the Freedom Fighter in her ear, making Hua shiver.

Then she feels a little kiss on her cheek.

Surprised she gasp and looks with wide eyes at Veda.

The other girl has a cheeky smile, which makes Hua's stomach do somersaults.

“I know we just met, but you are so sweet Hua, I could eat you up.”

“Then do it.”, whispers Hua back, she feels the attraction too and wants to bathe in it.

With another grin, Veda kisses her on the mouth.

And for a long time, both girls don’t say anything, getting lost in each other.

***

It’s now dinner time in the Freedom Fighter hide-out. 

Hua sits beside Veda and Katara as she enjoys her meal with her friends, new friends and…girlfriend?

She and Veda didn’t really specify what they were after their romantic escape, they just enjoyed each other.

Maybe they didn’t need a label.

Just being together was nice.

For however long it may be.

Jet stands on the table raising his glass and starts his speech: “Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine.”

Everyone cheers. 

Katara, Hua and Aang smile while Sokka cops an attitude and a scowling face.

“I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face when The Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey.”

The Duke, without his helmet, climbs up the table. He marches on the table with his arms in the air.

“Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees. Maybe they're right.”

A very loud and long boo is heard all around. 

“Or maybe ... they're dead wrong.”

Loud and long cheering happens.

“Hey, Jet, nice speech.”, praise Katara with twinkling eyes.

“Thanks.”, says Jet as he sits down beside her. “By the way, I was really impressed with you, Hua and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today.”

“Well, they are great. He's the Avatar and she’s the Daimon. I could use some more training.”, admins Katara blushing.

“Avatar, Daimon huh? Very nice.”

“Thanks, Jet.”, chorus Aang and Hua together.

“So I might know a way that you, Hua and Aang can help in our struggle.”

That’s when Sokka states: “Unfortunately, we have to leave tonight.”

Both Katara and Hua looked devastated, they didn’t want to leave Jet and Veda already and Aang pounts, he liked it here!

Fortunately for them, Jet has a mission for Sokka, which makes him curious.

They will stay another day.

Puh, thank the spirits.

After dinner and dishes were finished, Veda showed the girls of Team Avatar-Daimon where they could get cleaned up.

With a blown kiss to Hua the Freedom Fighter girl left them.

Like a besotted fool, Hua waved at her till she was away.

“Ah is someone in love?”, cooed Katara at her best friend, as she started to undress.

Hua follows her and blushes to her breast.

“Not love, but hard crushing. I love girls who can kick my ass.”, she confesses. “Also what is with you and Jet?”

With a washcloth, Katara starts to clean herself and starts blushing too.

“I like him, alright, but we only talked. That hickey on your breast tells me another story.”, says Katara with a grin.

Shocked Hua looked down and there it was.

A hickey.

Okay, she and Veda got a bit wild.

“We may have gotten carried away.”, she admins to her best friend and starts to clean herself too.

This makes Katara frown a bit.

“Hua, please don’t take this bad, but aren’t you both only twelve? I don’t think you should be doing that already.”

It takes the Daimon a second before she understands what Katara is implying. She turns crimson red.

“No, no, Katara, we didn’t do anything like that, we are just a bit handsy, Nothing more.”

“Oh.”, makes Katara the sound long and then grins cheeky. “So like did you touch her breasts or something?!”

For that Hua throws a towel at her face.

“None of your business.”

“So you did cup a feel!”

“I never knew you could be this pervy!”

“I’m not pervy, just couriers and worried for my best friend.”

Together the girls laugh and change the subject.

After they were done washing, it was time for bed.

***

The next day Katara and Hua made presents for their crushes, while they waited for them to return with Sokka from their mission.

Katara made Jet a hat and Hua made for Veda a necklace.

Aang was somewhere goofing off with The Duke if they understood correctly.

They hear how Aang talks to Sokka and little explosion.

Ah, so they probably returned.

The girls walk up to Sokka and Aang.

“Hey, Sokka.”, greets Katara. “Are Jet and Veda back?”

Her brother was sitting with his back to the trunk and staring at the ground, glaring.

Whatever happened now?

“Yeah, they’re back. But we're leaving.”, decides Sokka.

“What?”, shouts Aang disappointed.

The girls are right with him.

“But I made him this hat.”, whines Katara.

Hua whines too: “I made Veda this necklace.”

“Your boyfriend Jet and your girlfriend Veda are thugs.”, makes Sokka clear.

Of course, Katara and Hua are shocked and won’t believe it.

Sokka insists that the Freedom Fighters are messed up, while Aang takes partei for them and says to Sokka they just have a different kind of life.

“They beat and robbed a harmless old man!”, shouts Sokka angrily.

Why won’t they understand?

Stupid Jet and stupid Veda with their stupid charming personalities.

Katara and Hua felt for it, hook, line and sinker!

His sister crosses her arms and demands that they talk with Jet and Veda about it, she wants to hear their side of the story.

Meanwhile, Hua’s bad feelings about Veda from yesterday's return.

Could she really misunderstand Veda's true self?

Her Daimon-Radar had tried to warn her…but she couldn’t believe how the girl who was so sweet to her, had such a side on her.

Her stomach in a twist she followed the other to Jet cabin.

To their luck, Veda was there too.

Both seemed to talk in secret.

This didn’t help the doubt which was forming in Hua.

Not wasting time Katara asked them about the mission they had with Sokka and what happened. Did they really beat up and robbed an old man?

“Sokka, you told them what happened, but you didn't mention that the guy was Fire Nation?”, asked Jet back.

Veda stood beside him, emotionless, even as Hua tried to look into her grey eyes.

It was like the other girl closed her off.

The Daimon didn’t like it.

“No, he conveniently left that part out.”, huffed Katara at her brother.

He groaned. “Fine! But even if he was Fire Nation, he was a harmless civilian!”

“He was an assassin, Sokka.”, corrected him Jet.

The leader of the Freedom Fighter pulls out a knife and thrusts it into a nearby stump. It is a sinister-looking curved blade. There are four spikes evenly spaced along the grip, with enough space for fingers to go between them. There is a ring on the butt of the knife.

“See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife.”

He pulls on the ring and removes a small glass tube filled with red liquid.

“He was sent to eliminate me. You helped save my life, Sokka.”

Relieved Katara says she knows there was an explanation, but Sokka insists that he didn’t see a knife.

Jet rebukes that the man hid it and Katara agrees.

The watertribe boy makes clear how he was sure there was no knife and they would go now!

Dramatically he leaves Jet cabin.

“Tell me you guys aren't leaving yet.”, turns Jet to the remaining three. “I really need your help.”

Aang asks what they can do.

Jet explains how the Fire Nation plans to burn down the whole forest and them with it, however, if the three use their waterbending to fill the reservoir they could put the fire out.

“Please, you would do us a great favour.”, begs them Veda and bows.

Still, she won’t look at Hua.

She doesn’t like it.

“We will talk with Sokka and then tell you what we decide.”, the Daimon tells Jet and Veda.

She takes Katara and Aang by the hands and walks with them to their cabin.

Sokka was already packing their things.

“We can't leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!”, was the first thing Katara said to her brother.

“I'm sorry, Katara. Jet's very smooth and his lackey like Veda do anything for him, we can't trust them.”, answered Sokka calmly.

“You know what I think? You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!”, accuses him Katara.

“Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet. It's just that my instinct–”

“Well, my instincts tell me we need to stay here a little longer and help Jet. Come on, Aang and Hua.”

The Avatar say sorry and leaves with Katara.

Hua stays a moment longer, unsure and then tells Sokka: “Find evidence.”

Surprised Sokka looks up.

“I don’t want to believe that Veda is so heartless, but my instincts, my Daimon ones are haywire, but without proof, it’s only a feeling. So look for one. I hope you are wrong though, I really like Veda.”

With that, she follows after Katara and Aang.

***

The next day Jet leads the three benders to the damn upriver along its west bank. Geysires are everywhere.

“Jet, I'm sorry about how Sokka's been acting.”, apologies Katara.

“No worries, he already apologized.”, says Jet.

This shocks the other three and they look at each other.

Sokka?

Apologizing?

“Yeah, I was surprised too.”, admins the Freedom Fighter. “I got the sense that maybe you talked to him or something.”

“Yeah, I did.”, confirms the watertribe girl.

“I guess something you said got through to him. Anyhow, he went out on a scouting mission with Pipsqueak, Veda and Smellerbee.”

“I'm glad he cooled off. He's so stubborn sometimes.”

Meanwhile, Hua can’t help but bite her lips nervous. Her Daimon-Radar was going crazy, something was wrong, but she couldn’t pinpoint what.

Also, she said to Sokka he should look for proof, maybe he found nothing and that’s why he said sorry.

Or…she doesn’t want to think about the other possibility.

They are now walking in the gully, beside the 'river'. Aang pauses after noticing something strange and is launched into the air by a blast from the geyser he is standing on.

“All right, we're here. Underground water's trying to escape through these vents. I need you guys to help it along.”, explains Jet.

Unsure Katara tells him she never benden water she can’t see and doesn’t know if she can do it. 

However Jet was right behind her putting his hands on her shoulder and encouraging her.

A bit sad he was left out Aang asks what about him.

“I know the Avatar can do this, just like the Daimon.”

Jet sends Hua a smile and she has trouble copying him.

Her brain tells her to listen to her instincts, but her heart wants to believe that Jet and mostly of course Veda are good people.

With a heavy heart, she joins Aang and Katara at one of many Geysir in the gully. While Jet looks on, they bend the water up. After a few minutes, a stream of water emerges from the hole. They pull it to their height and send it toward the river where it continues to flow like a waterfall. The water quickly joins the river.

Jet congratulated them on a job well done and informed them with another few more Geysir the reservoir would be full.

Excited Aang points at the next Geysier.

The benders walk up to it, as Jet tells them he has some business to attend to and will see them later.

Katara says they would join in at the reservoir, but Jet says it’s better to meet up in the hide-out.

So he leaves them at their bending.

Since they are three waterbenders they finish pretty soon.

“I bet that's enough, and I'm not just saying that to be lazy.”, states Aang, as the three look at all the streaming water fountains.

“Let's catch up with Jet at the reservoir.”, announced Katara.

“Didn’t he say we should meet at the hide-out?”, points Hua out.

“Well, we finished early. I'm sure he'll be happy to see us.”

Well, nothing to say against it.

So they make their way over.

They reach the edge of the cliff. 

At the base of the dam, they see, four of Jet's people unloading barrels from the wagon and arranging them.

“What are they doing?”, wonders Katara.

Surprised Aang notes that these are the blasting jelly barrels the Freedom Fighter got from the Fire Nation.

Before Katara can say anything Hua lets out such a dirty curse, that both she and Aang gasp surprised.

They didn’t know Hua could curse like that.

“They gonna blow up the dam!”, screams Hua, tears springing into her eyes. “Oh, why didn’t I listen to my Daimon Instincts? I felt the darkness in both Jet and Veda, I’m the worst Daimon ever!”

“No, Jet wouldn’t do it, calm down Hua.”, said Katara, wrapping an arm around the distressed girl.

“He would and he is! Katara stop lying to yourself.”

“I've gotta stop him.”, tells them Aang.

The Avatar opens his glider but before he can reach the edge, Jet crosses his path from behind and snatches the glider. Aang is left wobbling precariously on the edge and uses airbending to get himself back on stable footing.

“Yes, I would.”, confessed Jet the true.

Now Hua has to hold Katara by her shoulders.

“Jet, why?”

“Katara, you would too if you just stopped to think. Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother. We can't let them do that to anyone else ever again.”

“This isn't the answer!”

“I want you to understand me, Katara. I thought your brother would understand, but–”

“Where's Sokka?”

Tears fall from her eyes, as Jet reaches out and touches her face.

“Katara.”

She lowers her head, and with an angry shout, sends Jet flying with the water from her waterskin. She draws it back into the skin when she's done.

Faster then he can react, Jet gets enclosed into a coffin of stone plates, only his face free.

Hua looks at him in anger, her eyes switch from her natural green to her bright orange ones in Daimon State.

“You disgust me!”, she shouts with a thousand voices. “You and Veda are terrible people who act like heroes! You would-be murderers!”

A birdcall is heard. 

Katara and Aang are startled, Hua gets out of Daimon State and looks to the valley beyond where it's coming from. 

Jet gives an answering birdcall.

“What are you doing?”, demands Katara to know.

“You're too late.”, the leader of the Freedom Fighter simply states.

Horrified Katara and Hua shout No.

The centre of the dam explodes in a cloud of smoke and fire. 

Katara, Hua and Aang watch a massive wall of water go to the town the water rushes through the open gate, as a cresting wave dwarfs it. The wall and gate are swallowed as the wave strikes the town.

“All those people …”, cries Katara and turns full hatred towards Jet. “Jet, you monster!”

“This was a victory, Katara. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe.”

“It will be safe, without you.”, they hear suddenly Sokka's voice.

He appears on Appa, with Jaiyi and Momo on the saddle.

His sister and friends are so glad to see him.

Sokka explains how he managed to warn the village in time, so no one died.

Of course, Jet was angry.

This was his chance to ride and free the valley from the Fire Nation and Sokka thwarted him.

Hua shakes her head in disgust at Jet's madness and earthbends herself on Appa's saddle. Jaiyi jumps in her arms, licking her cheeks. She hugs her ninetails tight.

“Who would be free?”, asked Sokka rhetoric “Everyone would be dead.”

“You traitor!”

“No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people.”

Jet begs Katara to help him, but she just says goodbye to him.

Hua earthbends her best friend into the saddle and Jaiyi gives now Katara licks.

Both girls smile at the ninetails in thanks.

With a Yip-Yip from Sokka, Appa flies away from Jet.

They are soaring through the sky for a while till Aang says to Sokka: “We hoped you were going to the dam. How come you went to the town instead?”

“Let me guess, your instincts told you.”, speculated Katara.

“Hey, sometimes they're right.”, says Sokka with a shoulder shrug.

“Mmh, you do know we are flying in the wrong direction?”, asks Hua with a little smile.

“And sometimes they're wrong.”, admits Sokka and stears them back on the right course.

***

Late at night while anyone was sleeping Hua looked at the moon and cried silent tears.

She didn’t see Veda, so she couldn’t tell her how disgusted and disappointed she was in her.

Veda seemed so good, so perfect…in the future Hua decided to listen to her instincts more.

For Sokka, it worked as it showed.

That’s when she hears how someone stands up and walks over to her.

Without a word a warm hand grips her and she squeezes back.

The black-haired girl lays her head on Katara's shoulder and the older girl her over the younger.

The two don’t need words to understand each other.

They have both crushed on people who in the end were terrible.

In the future, they will be more careful with their hearts.

But for now, they were happy they had each other.

And this was enough.

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Yin and Yang: Gallery

Here you will find all the pictures of the fanfiction.

I will make them as spoiler-free as possible.

Section: Daimon Hua

Outfit one: Winter

Outfit two: Winter without the jacket

Outfit three: Fire Nation Festival Disguise

Section: Hua's bonds

Hua's Family: From left to right: Haruka (mother, nonbender), Bai (younger brother, earthbender) and Kun (father, earthbender)

Jaiyi the ninetailed fox: Hua's animal guide and companion. Has the power to change sizes. Proabaly the last kyuubi.

Ai of Ba Sing Se: Hua's first kiss and first girlfriend. She was the beauty of the Lower Rings but her heart belonged only to Hua. She was devasted to never see Hua again. Later she married and had two children.

Veda the Freedom Fighter ( 13 years old, nonbender), a fling

Earth Sage De: One of the sages who told Hua her destiny as Daimon. He became her earthbending teacher and moved with her to the Southern Air Tempel. He dies in the Air Nomad Genocide, fighting the invading Fire Benders.

Previous Incarnations of the Daimon:

The Daimon Cyle, Fire-Air-Water-Earth

Daimon Qi, Water Lion Turtle, first Daimon, partner and married Avatar Wan and had a daughter with him.

Daimon Guo, Earth Kingdom/Omashu, creator of the Way of Enlightment, partner and husband of Avatar Yangchan. They had 10 children, 5 earthbenders and 5 airbenders.

Daimon Longmei, Fire Nation Capital, noblewoman, betrothed to Avatar Kuruk and Ummi. Died young in the quest to kill Koh the Facestealer for killing Ummi.

Daimon Tian Kuo, Northern Water Tribe/Northern Air Tempel, Avatar Kyoshi life long best friend and "brother". Never married or had children since he was aro/ace.

Daimon Lixue, Souther Water Tribe, Avatar Roku's partner and wife, grandmother of Ursa and great-grandmother of Zuko and Azula.

Daimon Tai, Hua's next life. Non-binary, goes by they/them, born on Ember Island. Omnisexual and polyamoures.  In a relantenship with Avatar Korra and Asami Sato.

Section Mainship: Huaang

Avatar Aang (18 years) and Daimon Hua (18 years) a moment in Book 4: Air

Coverart of Aang and Hua

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Chapter 16: Hashira

Yua’s heart was beating so fast, that she felt it in her whole body. 

Nervous sweat was forming on her forehead, and her hands felt clammy, as she sat in perfect seiza before Oyakata-Sama.

The head of the Demon Slayer Corps just gave her a gentle smile.

It did calm her down a bit.

“My child.”, began he in his soothing voice. “Since you have become part of the Corps you have been an incredible swordsman. Bringing honour to the corps and your family. I heard what outstanding progress you even made these last months. You may be even stronger than dear Noritaka.”

The young woman bowed in thanks to Oyakata-Sama.

“You honour me, Master. It did what was right. Protect humanity and the people who are dear to me from the Demon Treat.”

“You did outstanding well. I fear we would have lost Kyoujurou if it wasn’t for you. Mochizuki Yua, your strength and determination are admirable. So it’s my great honour to raise you to the Rank of Hashira. The second Moon Hashira we ever had. Do you accept this honour and the duties it comes with?”

For a second Yua closed her eyes. 

This was it.

This is what she had worked on her whole life.

First only to make her Grandfather proud and accept her, however, she had started to think for herself.

Thanks to Tanjiro and all the friends she had made.

There was only one answer.

***

Tired Yua opened the door of the Butterfly Mansion.

The whole Mugen Train Mission had been a whole week ago and she may not have any heavy wounds, but she had still had strained herself.

The neck of an Upper Moon was hard!

She was happy to be back at the Butterfly Mansion to get cures and rehabilitation training. She would need it.

“It’s really quiet.”, she noted out loud.

Normally at dinner time, you would hear Inosuke and Rengoku shouting over each other for food/how delicious the food was and Aoi-San chastising them.

Not even Shinobu-Sama's laughter could be heard.

Confused she took off her white-silvery booths and walked to the Dining Room.

Why was it dark in there?

“Hello anyone there?”, she called into it.

Then suddenly the lights flicked on and you could hear loud shouts of Congratulations from every corner.

Astonished Yua looked at the people inside the dining room.

Ema and her friends were holding up a banner with Welcome New Hashira. Aoi, Kanao and a woman with pink-green hair had sparklers in their hands. Shinobu-Sama and the Water Hashira were applauding, while Tanjiro, Rengoku, Inosuke and Zenitsu were throwing confetti into the air. Nezuko was waving around with two little flags with her face on it.

“What the?!”, Yua couldn’t help but shout and laugh at the same time.

“We already heard the news!”, called Shinobu-Sama over, as Yua was stormed by the little girls and Nezuko in a hug. “This is a little party for our newest Hashira!”

“Oh my Tsukuyomi you guys are crazy!”

“You deserved it, young Mochizuki!”, laughed Rengoku.

The little girls chorused a big yeah.

Yua laughed, hugged them and then Nezuko took her hand.

Her sister-in-law dragged her into the room.

In one instant she found herself in the embrace of the unknown pink-green-haired woman.

“Aww, it’s so great to meet you, Yua-Chan!”, cooed the woman. “I’m Kanroji Mitsuri or just Mitsuri the Love Hashira! I heard only good things from Shinobu-Chan and Kyoujurou-Senpai about you! I hope we can be good friends!”

Kanroji Mitsuri made her title Love Hashira all honour, Yua could see it in her pink and red Aura how sincere and loving she was.

She hugged her back.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mitsuri-Chan. I would love to be your friend.”

A little happy Kyaah came out of Mitsuri and she hugged her tighter.

After they let go of each other Shinobu with the Water Hashira stood before her.

The Water Hashira made a little bow in her direction.

He introduced himself as Tomioka Giyuu and gave her his congratulations.

She returned the bow, hoping they would work well together as Hashira.

Then Aoi with Kanao hugged her, Kanao managed even to congratulate her all alone without throwing her coin, which made Yua proud of her.

Rengoku, with his now eyepatch, ruffled her hair and told her he couldn't wait to work with her.

Finally, she reached Tanjiro and the guys.

In the loving arms of her boyfriend, Yua felt at home.

Tanjiro chastely kissed her cheek, telling her how proud of her was and he knew she would become a Hashira.

Nearly anyone in the room awed at them.

Zenitsu and Inosuke gave their congratulations too and finally, they all could sit down to celebrate.

Shinobu-Sama told her to drop the Sama. The Insect Hashira told her the other Hashira couldn’t come, but they sent their congratulations too and would surely meet her in the next few days.

Yua accepted it, what else could she do, Aoi served the food.

The dinner party was filled with laughter and joy. Yua couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such wonderful friends and colleagues. 

She had always been a bit of a loner, but since meeting Tanjiro and his friends, she had found a sense of belonging that she had never experienced before. 

As they ate and talked, the grey-eyed girl felt herself relaxing for the first time in a week. 

The mission on the Mugen Train had been incredibly intense, and she had pushed herself to her limits to protect her friends. But now, surrounded by people who cared about her, she could finally let go of some of that tension.

After dinner, they all gathered in the courtyard to watch fireworks. 

Mitsuri had brought them as a surprise for Yua's promotion, and they were absolutely beautiful. 

As they exploded overhead, Yua felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. 

She was so grateful for everything that had led her to this moment - for her family’s teachings (Besides her Grandfather with his toxins), for Tanjiro's kindness and support, and for all the friends she had made along the way.

As the night wore on and everyone started to drift off to home and/or to bed, Yua found herself walking hand-in-hand with Tanjiro through the gardens behind the mansion. They stopped by a koi pond and watched as the fish swam lazily through the water.

"I'm so proud of you," Tanjiro said softly, breaking their comfortable silence.

Yua smiled down at him. "Thank you."

"You know," he continued after a moment. "I never really believed in fate or destiny or anything like that before I met you."

The girl raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"But now," he went on, "I can't help but feel like we were meant to find each other. Like our paths were always leading us here."

“You know what made me accept being a Hashira? It was the dream I had on the Mugen Train.”, she confessed.

Surprised Tanjiro looked up at her, leaning his head on her shoulder.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“I dreamed of a world where no one in my family had to be a Demon Slayer anymore. All were so happy living their dreams. You and Nezuko were there too, your family also living the best life. I wasn’t sure what I would do, but I know I wanted to be at your side and find out who I am.” 

“You were in my dream too.”, he confessed also. “You and your father had left the Mochizuki to live a simple life. You seemed so happy just to live normal.”

Grinning she kissed his temple.

“This sounds nice, but what I wanted to say is this. All my life I was told I had to become a Hashira to clean the Mochizuki name from the sins of our ancestors. I didn’t believe in the Demon Slayer Cause, because for me it just was a task I had to finish. Now after I saw what a world without demons could be...Now that’s my dream. To kill every last demon so that my family can be free and live their life how they want. To be free myself and choose the path I want to walk in life. That we all are free from them and can live simple but good lives!”

She felt how Tanjiro lay a hand on her cheek, so he could turn her head down to kiss her lips.

They shared a soft, tender kiss.

“This sounds wonderful, dearest.”, told her Tanjiro. “Besides making Nezuko human again, I want this too.”

“So we walk this way together?”

 “Of course!”

Laughing their lips found each other again.

The star twinkled and the moon shone softly down on them.

They continued to walk, hand-in-hand, through the gardens, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. 

As they strolled along, Yua couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. She had achieved her dream of becoming a Hashira, and she was surrounded by people who loved and cared for her. 

It was a feeling she never wanted to let go of. 

As they neared the end of the garden path, Tanjiro stopped and turned to face her. "Yua," he said softly, taking both her hands in his. "I know we've been through a lot together already, but I want you to know that I'm here for you no matter what happens." 

She looked down at him with a pretty smile on her red lips. 

"I know," she whispered. "And I'm here for you too." 

He smiled at her and leaned in for another kiss, this one more passionate than the last. They stayed like that for a few moments before breaking apart and continuing on their way.

As they walked back towards the mansion, Yua felt more confident than ever before. She knew that there would be challenges ahead as a Hashira, but she also knew that with Tanjiro by her side, anything was possible.

Together they would fight to rid the world of demons and create a better future for all those they held dear.

As they walked into the warm glow of the Butterfly Mansion's lights, Yua knew that this was where she belonged - among friends and family who loved and supported her every step of the way.

***

Dear Father,

I’m terribly sorry that I couldn’t write sooner or come home.

The family probably heard how I was raised in Hashira four months ago.

I bet grandfather is gleeful, but I took the position not for him, but for us all.

That one day no Mochizuki has to take a Katana in his hand and fight demons.

With the help of my love and friends, we will rid this world of demons!

I promise you this.

Since I’m a Hashira now, I get the toughest missions in the Corps.

Sometimes alone, sometimes with other Hashira’s.

I found good friends in them like the Love Hashira Kanroji Mitsuri and others who are a special breed like Shinazugawa Sanemi. That guy has no eyebrows, it freaks me a bit out.

But mostly I get along with my Hashira colleagues.

I always return back to the Butterfly Mansion for cures and rehabilitation training, before going back out on missions.

Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke are also back in action.

When we all are back together we train like crazy.

The boys are getting stronger with every day.

I’m proud of them.

Kyoujurou-Senpai has returned home to be with his brother and teach himself swordsmanship with one eye.

It will take a while before he can fight demons again, however, I’m sure he will manage.

The day Tanjiro visited him to search for more clues about the Hinokami Kagura Dance had been something.

Your future son-in-law headbutted the ex-Flame Hashira, Kyoujurou-Senpai's father because he had talked bad about his children.

At least we learned a little more about the Hinokami Kagura, who apparently is Sun-Breathing the first-ever breathing technique from which all others come.

Did you know this?

It’s so crazy to think about it.

Anyway, I hope at home all is good.

When I can manage I will come back with Tanjiro to visit you all.

I miss you all so much.

Besides Grandfather, but you know this.

I will wait for an answer with a hopeful heart.

With Love, your daughter 

***

Frowning Yua stared at the letter she had written. 

It seemed so little, however, she couldn’t tell more about her missions.

Being a Hashira include also being secretive.

Kaguya beside her on the desk cawed.

“You are right my princess.”, mussed Yua, giving the bird pats. “More I can’t do, it’s a wonder that I’m able to write finally a letter. So, off you go.”

She gave her trusted crow the letter and Kaguya flew towards the Mochizuki Estate.

Signing Yua leaned on the chair she was sitting on.

She was as only one from their little group back in the Butterfly Mansion.

The midnight blue-haired beauty hadn’t seen her boyfriend in a good three days, she formally ached for him.

Blushing she scratched a cheek of her.

They were now together for a good six months...Yua felt that she was ready to go the next big step with Tanjiro...they already started to get more handsy with each other...should she talk with him about this matter when he returned?

That’s when she heard a loud ruckus coming from outside the Mansion.

“What the?”, she grasped her Katana and ran out of the room.

As she came nearer the ruckus, she felt familiar Aura’s.

“Tengen?”, she mumbled confused. “What is he doing here, where are his wives?”

Also, she noted happily that Tanjiro and Nezuko were back, as Zenitsu and Inosuke.

“What is going on!”, she shouted as she finally was outside.

The picture before her was priceless.

Ema and her friends hissed at Tengen's pervert. Aoi seemed ready to murder someone, Kanao was unsure but standing protective before the other Butterfly Mansion girls.

Her boyfriend and her two male friends had drawn their Katana at Tengen, while the former Shinobi just deadpanned at them.

“Oh Yua, it’s you.”, greeted her Tengen. “I actually want to have you with me on this mission with these three unflashy guys.”

“What mission and where are you wives?”, she asked back confused.

“The number one spot in Japan that’s dripping with lust and desire, a super-flashy place… the Entertainment District where demons reside.”

Why did Yua get the feeling that it would be a really hard mission?

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Yin and Yang: Book 1.07

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

Book 1.07: Winter Solstice, Part 1

I used Bing AI Creator to show you how Hua and Lixue could look in the Avatar-style.

Check out my DeviantArt, Wattpad Or Tumblr to see them. ^^

Hua

Lixue

Water. 

Earth. 

Fire. 

Air. 

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. 

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. 

Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished. 

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua. 

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone. 

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

Serenly Appa was flying over a forest, while his passengers enjoyed the warm rays of the sun on their skin.

Aang was sitting lazily atop his bisons heads a little twig in his mouth, Katara and Hua lay on their stomaches, looking at the clouds and Sokka was carving something out of wood.

Jaiyi and Momo were snuggled up together, enjoying a nice nap.

Yes, this was travelling at its finest.

No, grumpy Fire Nation Prince after them.

Just them and the endless sky.

"Those clouds look so soft, don't they?", mussed Katra dreamly. "Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft, cottony heap?"

Hua let out an agreeing hmm, trying to find forms in the clouds.

"Maybe you should give it a try.", joked Sokka sarcastic to his sister.

Both girls looked annoyed at Sokka, and Katara answered back also sarcastic: "You're hilarious."

 "I'll try it!", yelled Aang excitedly.

Surprised and curious his friends looked at how the Avatar with his staff jumped down from Appa's head towards the clouds. 

Katara, Hua and Sokka popped their heads over the rim of the saddle, looking down in the direction Aang went.

The Avatar vanishes in a cloud.

Katara looks somewhat worried, Hua has an eyebrow raised, while Sokka gazes wide-eyed at the point where Aang vanished. 

When he leans over to search the sky, Aang comes back up from behind them on his glider. 

The siblings and Hua turn around as they hear the snapping noise of Aang's glider being closed, and they watch how the airbender plops down on the saddle, his legs spread apart and a big smile on his face. 

He was dripping wet.

"Turns out, clouds are made of water.", tells them Aang happily, before he breaths in deeply and slams his balled, right fist against his stretched left hand, creating an expanding air ball around him in the process, drying himself off. 

As Aang leans back to rest on both his hands, he contently looks at Momo and Jaiyi, whose furs got all fluffed by Aang's airbending.

"Cute.", chirps Hua to the two animals.

The Kyuubi yips offended, she wasn't cute, she was a force of nature, while Momo chitters away shy.

It's then that Katara calls for their attention, all look where she is pointing.

The Daimon feels sick to her stomach as she sees the black land before them.

It was like a huge ugly scar in the forest.

They let Appa land so they could examine it better.

Aang and Hua look devasted at the destruction before them, neither hearing Katara and Sokka talk.

The Avatar and Daimon have to fight tears.

Who would do this?

Why would they do this?

What was the reason for this senseless act of violence against nature?

How many trees and animals died?

Hua is the first who falls to her knees, gripping the burned earth between her palms.

It's like she hears the earth scream, the cries of the trees, the pleas of the animals.

Tears fall from her green eyes, wetting the ground before her.

Aang was right beside her on his knees.

He knows that as Daimon, she feels the negative emotions of this place more strongly than he does. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't feel and understands. 

Carefully, he puts his hand beside her to comfort her and himself, letting her know that he understands what she feels and that he is there for her.

This little skin contact was like a balm for Hua's anguished soul. Aang was the only one who truly understood what was going through her head because the same thoughts were in his.

"Why would anyone do this?", speaks Hua their thoughts aloud. "How could we let this happen?"

"Hua, you didn't let this happen. Neither Aang. It has nothing to do with you.", tries Katara to comfort them.

However, Aang and Hua shake their heads.

"Yes, it does. It's the Avatar's and Daimon's job to protect nature. But neither of us knows how to do our job.", tells Aang.

The Daimon wipes away her tears, nodding in agreement.

"That's why we're going to the North Pole.", reminded them Katara. "To find you guys a teacher."

"Yes, a waterbending teacher.", huffed Hua. "But there's no one who can teach me how to be the Daimon and Aang to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Daimon Lixue and Avatar Roku would help us."

"The Avatar and Daimon before you? They died over a hundred years ago; how are you supposed to talk to them?", wonders Sokka.

"We don't know.", chorused the current Avatar and Daimon together.

This was more than a big mess, it was a complicated chaos!

Momo snuggled up on Aang's lap, while Jaiyi licked Hua's cheek, they felt that their master's needed comfort.

They pet their animal companions in thanks, but it doesn't help them from feeling bad.

If they hadn't run away so long ago, maybe all this didn't need to happen?

They are at fault for what the world is going through.

Katara notes how the two children were sinking and sinking deeper into their desperation.

She needed something to help them.

So she looked around, till she found something.

The waterbender calls out to them asking if they are ready to get cheered up.

They disagree and get for that each an acorn smacked against their heads.

Naturally, Hua asks her best friend offended how this should cheer them up?! This was the opposite of it.

Of course, Sokka finds it funny, but he gets an acorn to the head too. He admits he deserved it.

With a smile, Katara kneels down beside Hua and Aang and shows them her hand full of acorns.

She tells them how any acorn here will one day be a big tree, so the forest will return to its former glory. Making all animals return.

The waterbend gives each child an acorn.

Thoughtful the Avatar and Daimon look at the acorns in their hands. 

Katara was right. 

One day it would be again a forest full of life.

They shouldn't lose hope.

The Avatar and Daimon thank their friend, who gives them a smile. Her smile fell as she saw a man approaching.

"Hey, who are you?", ask him Sokka distrustful.

"When I saw the flying bison and the Kyuubi, I thought it was impossible! But, those markings ... are you the Avatar and the Daimon, children?", ask the man in a desperate tone.

Aang and Hua look to Katara, who nods. 

They nod.

"My village desperately needs your help!"

The man's name was Kay-fon and he led them urgently to Senlin Village. They arrived at sunset and saw that the village had suffered some damage. 

It was clear that the village had been partially destroyed, but who was responsible for it? 

Kay-fon led them to the central building where the villagers had gathered, and the village elder stepped forward to greet them.

"So, the rumours of your return are true! It is the greatest honour of a lifetime to be in your presences."

Hua and Aang bowed in greeting.

"Nice to meet you too!", says Aang.

"How can we be of assistance?", adds Hua.

The village elder seemed unsure, but Kay-fon reminded him that the Avatar and Daimon were their only hope. He explains to them how for a few days by sunset a spirit monster attacked the village.

It was Hei Bai, the black and white spirit.

Sokka wants to know if they have an idea, why Hei Bai is attacking them.

"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own.", explains the village elder. "We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near."

"What happens then?", wonders Katara.

It's Kay-fon who answers: "As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely."

"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen.", tells the village elder fearful.

Rightfully Aang and Hua want to know what they should do. They never have handle spirits.

Kay-fon just says since Avatar and Daimon are together the great bridge between man and spirits they can surely handle the problem.

Side-eyeing each other Aang and Hua wonder how to explain they have no idea what to do..

Thankfully Katara grasped them by the hands to talk with them over a window.

"Hua, Aang, you seem a little unsure about all of this."

"We have zero ideas what to do, Katara.", admins Hua, while Aang nods along. "There was and is none who could us teach this Spirit World Mambo-Jumbo!"

"What do you plan on doing?", ask Katara her best friend.

"I don't know, something. Aang help me here!"

"Erm...Maybe whatever we have to do will just ... come to us?"

"Really reassuring.", sasses Sokka.

Katara hits his side with her elbow for that. Her brother whines a bit and looks at her in betrayal.

"I think you can do it, Hua and Aang.", gives them Katara a kind and reassuring smile.

Sokka has the same face and agrees.

A short pause and then he declared: "We're all going to get eaten by a spirit monster."

Again Katara elbow meets his side.

***

Sunset approaches fast.

Unsure Aang and Hua walk out of the central building, looking around the small village.

"Hello, Spirit? Can you hear me?", calls Aang out. "This is the Avatar speaking and the Daimon is here too. We're here to try to help stuff."

"Yes, would you like to tell us your problem with this village? I'm sure we can resolve this without violence.", adds Hua, scratching her head.

They feel both so clueless.

Were they doing the right thing?

The sun sets and night falls.

"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei Bai?", wonders Aang.

He looks at Hua, who shrugs.

They mumbled to each other what they should now do and say, till they agreed on something.

"Spirit Hei Bai, as Daimon and Avatar, we hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace.", calls Hua out in the night.

No answer.

Aang spins his staff and sticks it down, in apparent authority, while Hua stands as straight as she can, trying to look authority.

They wait a few seconds, then look at each other.

"Think it worked?", mumbles Aang.

"Seems like it.", mumbles Hua back. "Let's go back to the central building."

Together they walk away. 

Behind them, however, the Hei Bai fades into the real world. 

He walks right behind Aang and Hua, who sense him and turn around.

Damn, the spirit looks like something out of a nightmare!

Hua has to gulp down in fear, while Aang tries to speak to Hei Bai.

The spirit doesn't even let him finish and releases a burst of energy at them.

Hai Bai moves past them, starting to wreak havoc, smashing buildings and destroying a tower with energy.

Dumbfound the Avatar and Daimon look at this before they move towards Hei Bai.

"Mister Hei Bai, spirit, please let's talk!", begs Hua. "I'm sure we can resolve this without property destruction!"

"Please, would you stop destroying things and listen? We are trying to do our job as a spirit bridge! Excuse me, would you please turn around?", ask him Aang.

They get ignored by the spirit, who just happily destroys another building.

"Okay that's it!", growls Hua. With the help of her earthbending, she positions herself between Hei Bai and the next house on his must-destroy-anything list.

"Stop!", shouts Hua loud as Aang joins her on her platform.

He raises his staff and she gets into a bending stance.

"We command you to stop!", yell the Avatar and Daimon together.

For a second Hua swerves Hei Bai just deadpans at them in utter boredom, before he hits them and sends them flying to the roof of another building.

They land in a heap.

Autsch this hurts!

That's when Sokka joins them, attacking Hei Bai with his boomerang.

It doesn't even scratch the spirit.

Hua and Aang call out to Sokka to leave, but the older boy tells them they will fight together against the spirit.

Before anyone can say anything Hei Bai grips Sokka in one of his hands and races out of the village.

"Sokka!", shout Aang and Hua together in fear and worry for their friend.

Fast Aang opens his glider, holding a hand out to Hua. She understands and wraps her amr around his shoulder, while his goes around her hips. Their free hands grip each a side of the glider.

Together they push the glider off the ground and fly after Hei Bai and his prisoner.

Flying together on a glider wasn't new to Aang and Hua. 

When Aang was little Monk Gyatsu took him with him and Gyatsu took Hua often on a flight too.

Just, they two together have never done it.

It was way too much physical contact for them since they couldn't stand each other.

However now that they had a sort of truce and also a friend to rescue they flawlessly flow the glider together.

Strangely it was like they had done this a 1000 times. They needed no words from the other to know what do to.

Maybe they have done this kind of partner flight in a lot of their former lives.

It was an explanation.

Whatever, they had more important things do to than wonder, how they could fly together without problems.

They needed to rescue Sokka!

"Aang! Hua! Over here! Help!", shouted the older boy for them.

"Hang on, Sokka!", called Aang back.

"We are here!", added Hua.

Hua pulls out one of her hands, trying to free Sokka. 

Sokka grunts, trying to reach her. 

However, before she can grab him, the spirit fades away, taking Sokka with it. 

Suprised Hua and Aang shout and fall in front of a bear-like statue, getting knocked out.

A while later Avatar and Daimon awake with a groan.

They look around for Hei Bai and Sokka, but sadly they are nowhere to be seen.

"We failed.", states Aang disappointed in them.

Hua signs loudly and rubs her face.

She can't cry right now.

"Aang, let's go back. Staying here will not help anyone.", reminds the Daimon.

Well, he can't disagree with that.

Defeat the two children and try to fly the glider together, but nothing.

Huh?

What was going on?

That's when the sun finally rises behind them and they see they have turned blue!

Astonished Hua looks at her blue ghostly hands, while Aang shouts they are in the spirit world.

Yeah, this does make sense.

"What are we supposed to do?", wonders Aang. "Avatar Roku and Daimon Lixue, how can we talk to you?"

Hua stops looking at her hands and shouts to the sky too: "Please if you hear us, help us Lixue and Roku!"

Out of nowhere, they hear the cry of a bird followed by a loud huff.

Surprised they turned in that direction and saw a phoenix and dragon flying towards them!

If they weren't in the spirit world they would wonder how this was possible.

Phoenixes and dragons were extinct!

"That's definitely not Sokka.", says Aang and tries to get Hua to run away with him, but she shakes his hand off. "Hua, what?"

"Aang, they seem familiar.", she tells him. "Don't you feel it too?"

The phoenix and dragon land before them.

When she was little her mother told her that once phoenixes came in all sizes, this one was big enough to carry at least two people on his back.

"You two don't know where Sokka is, do you?", ask them Hua.

She knows she can trust these two sacred animals.

The phoenix touches his forehead with hers, while the dragon reaches out with a whisker to Aang's forehead.

Both see different but similar things. A beautiful elderly water tribe woman flying on the back of the phoenix and an elder fire nation man on the back of the dragon.

They know these people!

"You're Avatar Roku's animal guide!"

"And you are Daimon Lixue one!"

"Just like Appa and Jaiyi are for us!", the humans choruse together.

"We need to save our friend and we don't know how!", explains Aang. "Is there some way for us to talk to Roku and Lixue?" 

Fang, the dragon and Qinyan, the phoenix understand them and lower themselves so they can be riding.

Hua gets on Qinyan and Aang on Fang.

Together with their passengers, they fly to the only place, where the current Avatar and Daimon can talk to their predecessors.

Qinyan and Fang take them to a temple on an unknown crescent-shaped island. 

They fly into the temple and toward the roof.

"Hey, what are you doing?", screams Aang worried at Fang.

"Aang calm down, we are spirits, I highly doubt walls are a problem now!", reminds Hua.

And she was right as they flew right through the roof and into a mysterious room.

The interior was a beautiful mix of Fire Nation and Water Tribe, reflecting the perfect harmony which could exist between the two elements and nations.

Within is a celestial calendar and there are statues of Roku and Lixue holding hands.

Confused Aang and Hua dismount the sacred animals.

"I don't understand, this is just a statue of Roku and Lixue.", tells Aang Fang and Qinyan.

Both animals again reach for the children showing them a vision of a coment.

"Is that what Lixue and Roku want to talk to us about? A comet? When can we talk to them?", asks Hua.

She has a bad feeling about this comet.

Fang moves his head, allowing a light beam to appear. This is just to the right of Roku and Lixue's statue. 

With another feeler press and a forehead touch, the current Avatar and Daimon see a vision of the sun setting and rising repeatedly, and the light closing in on Roku and Lixue.

"It's a calendar, and the light will reach Roku and Lixue on the solstice! So, that's when we'll be able to speak them?", wants Aang to know if they understood right.

The dragon breathes an apparent yes, while the phoenix chirps in agreement.

Aang and Hua tell the mythical beings that they can't wait that long and need to save Sokka now.

Understanding this the sacred beasts let the kids mount them again and fly with them away from the temple.

They bring them to the bear statue from before.

Aang and Hua see their bodies in meditation on top of the bear statue, as Fang and Qinyan fly through the statue and the Avatar and Daimon are back in their bodies.

"Okay, now that was some trip.", groans Hua, holding her head.

She feels a bit dizzy.

The Avatar agrees with her and both decide to fly back to Senlin Village.

It's nearly night, so that means Hei Bai will appear soon.

Maybe now they can stop him and get somehow Sokka back.

Katara stands outside the center building and notices their return. They land and Katara runs up to them.

"You're back!", relieved she hugs the younger ones. "Where's Sokka?"

"I'm not sure ...", admins Aang.

***

The evening gives way to night.

Hua and Aang await at the entrance for the Hei Bai. 

After some time, they give up and return to the center building. 

Just as they exit, however, the spirit appears to their left. 

Aang throws up an air shield and Hua an earth wall to stop its attack.

Worried Katara shouts for them to run away, but calm Aang and Hua touch Hei Bai's head, seeing a panda lurking behind the nightmarish form.

Now they understand.

Hei Bai is the spirit of this forest and is angry because of its distraction. They tell him, they understand, and they feel the same, but Katara has given them hope again that the forest will regrow.

Aang shows Hei Bai an acorn and leaves it at his feet. 

The spirit picks it up and reverts to the panda form. 

He walks away peacefully. 

As Hei Bai exits, a series of bamboo branches grow, and three villagers and Sokka emerge from it.

Katara runs to her brother and embraces him, while other villagers embrace their loved ones.

"What happened?", wonders Sokka confused.

"You were trapped in the Spirit World for 24 hours!", explains his sister. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom!"

Sokka waddles away, displaying a nauseated look. She gives him an unsure gaze.

The village elder thanked Aang and Hua for their assistance and asked how they could repay them. 

Upon returning from his bathroom break, Sokka suggested that they could use more supplies and money. 

Katara scolded him, but Sokka reminded her that they really needed these resources. 

The village elder had no issue with their request and felt honoured to help them on their journey.

"I'm so proud of you, Hua and Aang.", smiles Katara at them like a proud mom. "You figured out what to do, all on your own."

"We had actually some help.", corrects Hua.

Aang nods in agreement.

"And there's something else."

"What is it?", asks Sokka.

"We need to talk to Roku and Lixue and I think we found a way to contact their spirits."

"That's great!", states Katara happy.

Her best friend and Aang had really struggled to find a way to talk to their predecessors.

"Creepy, but great.", can't Sokka help himself but add.

He may have been in the Spirit World or whatever, however this whole Avatar-Daimon Mambo-Jumbo was not his thing.

"There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island and if we go there on the solstice, Hua and I will be able to speak with them.", explains Aang.

"But the solstice is tomorrow!", reminds Katara.

"That's right, but there is a bigger problem. The island is in the Fire Nation!", tells them Hua.

The siblings grow fearful, while the Avatar and Daimon just seem determined.

Whatever may be, they needed to go there by any means!

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