#bitterspoons

Zuko had placed a plate of food by her quite some time ago, being told by his uncle to do so. It went untouched, and he had made several snarky comments about it earlier. 

Satori was too exhausted to be bothered by his snark, it had been very clear that he was having a bad day, in fact yesterday was the warning sign of his temperament as he was very withdrawn and quiet the day before. 

Petals landed around her, coating themselves in her hair. 

Her mind was spinning, and moving and pulsing. It was too quiet, and too calm. She wanted to scream and cry but also to melt and become invisible. 

Too many things were talking to her, too many voices, too many opinions. Her own thoughts were too loud and too quiet and just as she was about to be sucked back into the black hole of maximalism of emotion, his sharp voice cut through again. 

“So get up, my uncle won’t start his massage until you get over there.” He commanded. 

Satori gently got up, swaying a bit before walking towards the masseur spot, not bothering to brush the petals off of her. The petals fell off regardless, gently untangling themselves from her hair and clothes and gently leaving her be. 

She prayed the massage would clear her mind, but the other teenager going through it caught her attention. 

His Uncle, retired General Iroh crouched by him. Zuko kept his head down, leaning against the wall. 

Satori valued privacy, but she couldn’t help but overhear them. 

“It’s the anniversary, isn’t it?” Iroh prompted as he sat next to his nephew. 

Zuko looked up. “Three years ago today, I was banished. I lost it all.” He said, before taking off his hat. “I want it back.”

“I want the Avatar, I want my honor, my throne.” He continued. “I want my father not to think I’m worthless.” 

Satori bristled. 

“I’m sure he doesn't!” Iroh comforted cheerfully. “Why would he banish you if he didn’t care?” 

Even the masseuses gave him an odd look. 

Zuko stood up, going on a walk around the building. 

“That came out wrong, didn’t it?” Iroh sighed. 

Giving him a small look of assurance, Satori nodded before getting up and thanking the masseuse before getting up and following the scarred boy. 

She walked beside him for a while, as the two awkwardly walked around the forest. Satori picked flowers while keeping pace with him.

“Why are you following me?” He asked pointedly. 

Satori shrugged, but continued. “I’d hate for you to be alone.” 

“I want to be alone.”

“Do you? You seem to dislike it if you want your old life back.” She tilted her head, gently petting the flower petals she plucked. 

“Can you just go away?” He snapped, fire blazing at his fingertips before he clenched his fists. “You don’t even know me!” 

Satori shrugged, keeping a calm, levelled head. She wasn’t one to get angry or escalate a situation, nor did she have the energy to. “I sailed with you on a boat for 2 weeks, I’ve heard a lot of things.” 

“That’s not the same as knowing me.” 

“I suppose not. So tell me about yourself.” 

Zuko glared at her. ‘I don’t want you to know me.”

She picked more flowers, adding them to her bouquet, moving thorns and branches out of the way as she picked roses. “You said it was an anniversary, what’s that about?” 

She listened, picking flowers as he went on a brooding rant about how he wants everything back, and how he wants everything to go back to normal. Or rather, how they never were. He wants his father and sister to respect him, to make his mother proud. 

“How do you want something you’ve never experienced?” Satori asked after he was finished speaking. 

“Excuse me?” 

Satori wrapped her bouquet in a ribbon. “You said your father has never respected you and want him to now. You’ve never had your fathers respect. How do you know you’ll like it?” 

“I just will.” 

“What if you hate it?” 

“I won’t.” 

She tied the flowers in a tight bow. “How do you know?” 

“Can you just be quiet?” 

She nodded, handing him the bouquet. “Happy Anniversary.” She smiled, before walking back and helping Iroh collect shells. 

Zuko watched her, staring at the handpicked flowers. He sat by a nearby river, gently placing the bouquet into the stream of water and watching as it was taken away, laying down against the riverbed and dreaming of his mother. 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

Gently placing shells in a sack, she followed as the retired fire nation general admired the shiny mollusks, admiring the unique designs. 

‘I cannot thank you enough for letting my nephew and I on that raft back at the Water Tribe.” The old man said, dusting off seashells and handing it to the young girl. ‘But I can’t seem to understand why, after all we certainly are not allies to the Avatar.” 

Moving her hair, she took the seashell and dropped the shell into the sack she replied. “I’m not too sure, and as silly as it might sound, the spirits told me to say yes.” 

“It’s not silly at all my dear.” Iroh said, smiling at her before his expression took a gentler, more remorseful turn. “My condolences for your loss, you and the princess seemed close.” 

She returned the smile, eyes a bit far off. “Thank you. We were.” She swallowed, picking up another shell. “She was my friend. But I understand what she had to do, and I can only hope she’s pointing me in the right direction.” 

Iroh gently touched her shoulder. “I doubt she would steer you wrongly. Feel free to travel with my nephew and I for as long as you please. I’d be honored to have a girl as kind and intune with the spirits travelling with us.” His eyes gleamed as he spotted something on Satori’s neck. “The White Lotus…do you play?” 

“Oh no,” Satori touched one of her many necklaces, a Pai Sho tile on a string. “A kind master gave this to me during my early days of travel, as a token of thanks. Something about how if I ever needed help, this would help me one day.” 

Iroh nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Well, if you would ever like to learn, I’m a big fan of playing.” 

Smiling, Satori nodded as the two headed back to the cabin they were staying at. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

“Look at these magnificent shells!” Iroh showed off to his nephew. “I’ll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come.” 

“We don’t need anymore useless things!” Zuko protested. “You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now.” 

“Hello Brother…Uncle.” A sharp voice came from the chair across from the bickering duo. 

Zuko’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister. “What are you doing here?” 

Glancing around, Satori gently excused herself from the unexpected family reunion. 

“Back in my country, we exchange pleasant hello before asking questions.” Azula commented pointedly, standing up and wading her way towards her brother. “Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?” 

“Don’t call me that!” 

Iroh bowed down gently. “To what do we owe this honor?”

Azula snapped a sea shell in her nails. “Must be a family trait. Both of you are so quick to get to the point.” She rolled her eyes. “I came with a message from home. Father’s changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him.” She told them. “He has heard rumors of plans to overthrow him. Treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust.”

 She looked to the side, at the setting sun. “Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home.” She looked back when her announcement was met with silence. “Did you hear me? You should be happy, excited, and grateful.  I just gave you great news.” 

Iroh tried diffusing. “I’m sure your brother simply needs–”

“Don’t interrupt, Uncle!” Azula barked. “I still haven’t heard a thank you. I’m not a messenger. I didn’t have to come all this way-”

“Father regrets?” Zuko looked back at his sister. “He…wants me back?”

Azula scrutinized him with a look. “I can see you need time to take this in. I’ll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening.” She excused herself. 

Satori re-entered the home, having stood outside, listening before coming back and beginning to cook dinner for them. “Well… How about a meal to think the lovely news over?” 

They sat down, eating rice and salmon Satori had prepared with some mushrooms. Iroh made tea. It was a simple meal, but Satori hardly worried about the simplicity of the food while the argument happened around her. 

“We’re going home! After three long years. It’s unbelievable.” Zuko celebrated, eating his food quickly before pacing around. 

Satori sipped her tea and Iroh spoke. “It is unbelievable.” The man agreed. “I have never known my brother to regret anything.” 

Zuko looked at his uncle. “Did you listen to Azula? Father realized how important family is. He cares about me!” 

“I care about you!” Iroh stood up. “And if Ozai wants you back, well I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine.” 

“You don’t know how my father feels about me. You don’t know anything!”

“Zuko…” Iroh lowered his tone. “I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem.” 

Whipping around the teenaged boy looked at his uncle. “I think you are exactly as you seem. A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who’s always been jealous of his brother.” After that spat, Zuko walked off. 

Satori started to clean up dinner. 

“Would you mind helping me pack, dear?” Iroh asked, gently taking out a bag. 

“You’re going with him?” She asked, gently placing the bowls on a table, jewelry swishing as she walked around to help him. 

“Family sticks together.” He said to her, and it’s also what he said to Zuko as he ran down the mountain after him, ready to board the docks with him and onto the Fire Nation ship. 

“We’re finally going home!” He said happily, continuing down the fleet of stairs. Iroh glared, vision laced with suspicion as he looked at the Fire Nation Ship. 

Satori laid in a tree, directly across from the ship. Iroh had placed her there in case something were to happen. He had told her his suspicions. 

So she sat in the treetops, fingers itching to release the arrow stretched into the bow’s string. She watched as the two boarded the ship, Azula waiting for them. 

But even Satori could hear the booming voice of the Ship Captain from her spot. 

“You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We’re taking the prisoners home!” 

Azula’s glare could kill as she narrowed her eyes at the Captain for spoiling the mission to catch and capture the travelling royals. 

An arrow shot through the air, knocking the captain unconscious and into the ocean as Iroh attacked, starting to defend themselves from the soldiers. 

“You lied to me!” Zuko yelled. 

Azula rolled her eyes. “Like I’ve never done that before.” She quipped. 

A battle. Redirected lightning and a nicely aimed arrow sent Azula overboard as Iroh and Zuko made a run for it. 

Satori, with her satchel, dropped down from the tree tops and ran with them. 

They ran and they ran and they ran. 

When they were a sizable distance away, Satori helped them cut off their royal ponytails as nicely as she could before urging them to keep walking. 

“Don’t you ever get tired of this? I mean, it seems great and all but…” Brushing Princess Yue’s hair, the Crystal Spirit had arrived at the Northern Water Tribe 3 days prior, while she enjoyed the culture that surrounded her—all the rules and traditions seemed excessive. 

Princess Yue gave a meek smile. “It is but…more than anything, I love my people—even if it means getting betrothed tomorrow.” 

“You’re a braver girl than I, Yue.” Satori said earnestly. “I can hardly stay in one place for more than a couple days—I couldn’t imagine my whole life being tied to the rules of tradition.” She tied Yue’s hair in a braided bun, putting a string of crystal beads lacing through her hair. 

Yue did her makeup, using dehydrated flowers and berries. “I am anything but brave, Satori. Not like you…and I still don’t understand how you’re not absolutely freezing!” 

Satori shrugged, the only clothing she had on was her flowy small top and an asymmetrical skirt, beads flowing down from her waist to drape around the skirt—and it’s hardly like the abundance of bracelets and jewelry counted as clothes. 

She offered her arm out for Yue to touch—being surprised when her skin felt warm. “I can manipulate the air around me to be warmer,” She explained, having told the princess about her airbending abilities in confidence. “Survival tactic really,”

The two bonded like fire and ice, seemingly complete opposites due to lifestyle and yet the girl’s have insisted on having sleepovers since Satori came to the Northern Water Tribe. 

Bells sounded throughout the castle, Yue and Satori stood up. “I suppose our guests have arrived!” Satori looked out the window. 

“Is it really them?” Yue asked, putting an earring in and trying to look out the window as well. 

Satori laughed, stepping aside. “Who else would make their grand entrance on a flying bison?” 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

After Satori was introduced to Katara and Sokka, she wandered around the oasis Yue had shown her. Yue had turned 16 three nights prior. 

Satori had made 3 new friends which was a groundbreaking record, as well as taking proper care of Momo and Appa, the Avatar’s close animal companions. 

Katara, one of the Avatar’s friends, had quickly become one of the best water bending students. Satori heard all about her brother Sokka from Yue, who tried her best to ignore her fatuation for him due to her engagement. 

Aang and Satori got to know each other better, as Aang reminisced and shared what he remembered of his airbending culture. 

Satori retreated back to the oasis, watching the Koi fish swirl around each other in their internal dance. 

Satori was a common guest at the northern water tribe, and by that, it means that this has been her fourth time visiting Princess Yue. The first time, she had gone with her father and she has tried to go every year since. 

Everytime she came, she slept and stayed in the oasis. She felt so connected to the spirits and nature. She felt serene, laying on the grass of the oasis. 

But when she looked up, dark piles of snow began to rain down softly. Offering her hand out, the pieces floated down into her hand. Swiping her hand into the mush, the snow mixed with soot smeared on her hand. 

She got up, jewelry jangling as she ran out of the oasis, and began to join the panicked yet organised forces to fight back. 

Satori had a lot of feelings about battle, fighting, war. The adrenaline that washed over her, the understanding and calculated force of it all, the style, the brutality. 

But fighting thieves, bigots and vengeful loiterers in small corners and forests felt a lot different than a whole community coming together to try and survive what could become a genocide. 

“The day we have feared for so long, has arrived.” The king announced to the people. “The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness, I call my family here before me knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe.” 

He continued his announcement, praying to the spirit, recruiting people for dangerous missions and readying troops for their defences. 

Satori helped rescue soldiers from the rubble during the first Fire Nation attack, while keeping a prayer to the spirits recited in her head. 

She tried keeping a calm and determined state of mind as she looked out to the sea, watching the fleets of fire nation ships continue to approach. 

The Water Tribe tried their best at defence with Satori and Aang. Sitting down on a pedestal, Satori used her airbending to snuff out the firebombs before they could touch Water Tribe soil, with Aang destroying the many ships on board. 

Water Tribe Benders snuffed out the flames with ice as the castles and sculptures slowly came down. 

The Fire Nation soldiers finally stopped firing and their ships did not dock closer. Aang and Satori came back to the palace. The Fire Nation had stopped for daybreak the second the moon rose. 

Aang nearly collapsed the second he floated off of Appa, muttering to himself. “I can’t do it. I can’t do it.” 

And for a moment, Satori remembered that he was a child. She was a child. 

The corners of her mind dampened and fell in on themself as it all came rushing back to her. 

She excused herself politely as Katara comforted Aang and she paced her way back to the understanding atmosphere of the oasis. 

She laid on her side, halfway watching the small pond. Two koi fish danced around each other. Yin and Yang. Light and Dark. 

Trying to gather her thoughts, she tried thinking of something productive. The emptiness filled her with the sound of the waterfall behind her. Oh she was lonely, constantly surrounded by people, she gave and she gave and gave. But nobody knew her, how she was, and how empty she felt. 

But she had no time to dwell, as she heard Aang’s giggles of joy and he bounced around the oasis, followed by Yue and Katara. 

“Apologies Satori!” Yue called, smiling as she made her way towards her. “The Avatar must figure out how to get to the spirit world and well, this is the most spiritual place there is here.”

“Only issue is, I’ve only gotten to the spirit world by accident,” Aang said sheepishly as he sat down on the grass. 

Smiling, Satori sat down across from him. “You’re in luck. Just do as I do, and let your mind find the rest.” She said, crossing her legs and straightening her back. 

Softly, voice just over a whisper she quietly explained her process. 

“Why are they sitting like that?” Yue had asked. 

“He’s meditating, trying to cross over to the spirit world, it takes all his concentration” Came Katara’s reply

“If it’s quiet enough-” Satori said pointedly. “The feeling of your mind opening up, being aware of every sensation, and then looking beyond it.” She explained, jewelry clinking in the wind as the two airbenders sat around the pond. 

They sat there for a while, breathing and letting their mind think before Aang started to glow. 

Opening her eyes, Satori smiled softly. “He’s crossing over, it might be a while until he comes back.” 

“As long as we don’t move his body, we’ll be okay. He’s perfectly okay, but his body is his way back into the physical world.” Katara explained, relaxing. “He’s my friend, I’m perfectly capable of protecting him.” 

Satori bristled, feeling a presence and perking her head up. “Someone’s here” She whispered, glancing around before a wave of fire washed in front of her. She rolled out of the way, jumping to her feet. 

“No…” Katara jumped alert, clearly recognising the guy who stalked across the bridge. 

“Yes, hand him over, and I won’t have to hurt you.” His voice projected. 

Satori stood in front of Princess Yue, ushering her out of the oasis as Katar dealt with the guy. Once she was safely escaped, adrenaline washed over her as she ran up to fight beside Katara. 

Katara fought with her more advanced water bending, and Satori distracted with her hand to hand combat. Katara’s waterbending was stronger due to the moons placement in the sky, despite that she had pinned him twice, dawn was coming rapidly. 

“You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun” The male firebender said, as he knocked Katara to the ground. 

Evaluating the situation and her skillset, she was well aware she could not risk revealing her airbending or defeat with him hand-to-hand. So she sat down by the pond, and followed the guy spiritually. 

As she sat, crystals glowing, a blurry glowing silhouette followed the body of Aang and the strange firebender into an icy cave before waiting back at the oasis for Aang to return from his spiritual meeting. 

Aang reappeared, following the strange glowing silhouette of his fellow airbender. He followed her giggles and metallic jangles to the cave and regained his body. 

And as Satori felt herself ground back into her body, she felt herself being thrown into the pond. 

Her eyes flashed open, swallowing water through her nose. The water was red, everything was red and the world was blurry. She felt spirits screaming, her lungs were screaming. People were talking, arguing but all she saw was red and water. 

She pulled herself out of the water, to see the Fire Nation Admiral, holding a cloth of a wiggling, struggling, begging fish. Behind her, Aang’s friends and in front of her, Zhao and his soldiers. 

To her left, Retired General Iroh from the Fire Nation warned Admiral Zhao of the dangers of killing the moon spirit. 

That’s when Satori’s eyes flashed to the pond, where one fish swam sadly alone.

“Whatever you do to that spirit! I will unleash on you, tenfold!” Retired General Iroh declared. “Let it go! Now!” 

And Zhao gently knelt down. He put the fish back into the pond. 

For a moment, the fish swam happily together and everything returned to the serene, peaceful blue. 

But in a flash of flame, Satori felt her heart twist and the world went dark again. 

The moon spirit floated to the top of the pond. 

Retired General Iroh fought all of the Fire Nation soldiers. The ocean spirit desperately swam around the dead body, but the moon stayed dark. 

They all sat down gently, looking at the moon spirit that lay on its side, unmoving, unbreathing. 

Aang stepped into the pond, as the ocean spirit and him fed off of each other's grief and anger. The pool lit up, and their eyes gleamed. Aang was dunked underwater, and the waters of the tribe glowed a dark blue as they gathered into a monster. 

The Water Tribe bowed down to the Avatar and the Moon Spirit combined, as the Fire Nation ran. The Avatar spirit ran across the tribe, banishing all Fire Nation and swallowing Admiral Zhao into the ocean, ultimately drowning. 

The rest knelt to the pond, still mourning the moon spirit. Yue’s quiet voice echoed. “It gave me life” She told them. “Maybe I can give it back.” 

Satori felt dizzy. 

“No!” Sokka held her hand, “You don’t have to do that!” 

Yue sighed, shoulders relaxed with acceptance. “It’s my duty, Sokka.” 

“I won’t let you!” 

The Princess turned to Satori, who gently shedded one of her bracelets. Satori wrapped the small beads on the Princess’s wrist. “I’ll be there.” Yue told Satori, who blinked quickly. 

Squeezing Yue’s hand, Satori gave her a smile. “And you say you aren’t brave.” 

Yue gently rested her hands on the fish. As the fish leaped back into the water, Yue fell back softly into Sokka’s arms. 

From the glowing pond, her spirit arose. Visible, and ethereal, a beaded pearl bracelet hung from her wrist. 

She gave Sokka a kiss, before she began to disappear into the clouds. 

Satori, who had lost another person she considered family, ran out of the oasis, no longer comforted by the spirits who resided there. 

She slid down the icy sculptures, needing to leave. She felt the urge to run. She had been here for too long.

As she arrived near where the ice met water, wooden planks formed together for her to create a raft, she weaved the pieces together quickly.

Wiping her eyes, she heard a soft and understanding voice behind her. “I have a sail” 

Turning around, she saw the retired general Iroh, and with not enough energy in her heart and mind to make a coherent decision, the spirits told her to say yes. She nodded, beckoning him on board. 

She set up the sail as more wood pieces gathered around them to form a proper boat. The man talked soothingly to Satori, the voice calming to her although she could not process what he was saying. Somehow, she agreed to let his nephew on board too, the young fire bender who had tried taking Aang. 

She took the dried foods from her pockets and gave them to the two fire benders, as an olive branch. She laid down on the raft, on her stomach and facing the back of the raft, letting one of her hands gently dip into the waters behind them to gently push the raft. 

She rested her eyes, the only sounds in her ears were the water, and the voice of her friend she already missed so dearly soothing her to sleep. 

Zuko watched the oceans and the girl they had boarded with carefully, but tiredly as Iroh made with the sail. 

“I am surprised that at this very moment you are not trying to catch the Avatar” Iroh commented quietly. 

“I’m tired.” His nephew said simply. 

Iroh put a hand on his shoulder. “Then you should rest.” 

This was the closest thing to a family reunion she was gonna get—she had one chance. 

She kneaded the bread gently, pretending she wasn’t interested. “Oh, he’s been captured? That’s a shame.” She said nonchalantly. 

The baker shook his head in agreement. “Truly, I thought the Avatar could save us but I suppose people in this town have lost hope for a reason.” 

The baker folded some fruits into a small basket. “Are you sure this is all you want? You’ve truly been such a help.”

It was a quaint little town she was visiting. Bushels of leafy green plants laced themselves around buildings and covered rooftops

. Run down signs with letters peeling off yellowed and scratchy wood that practically beckoned splinters painted a rustic and abandoned appearance to the town. 

Since the war, it wasn’t uncommon to come across villages with similar aesthetics. 

Smiling, she took the fruit basket from him—waist chains swishing around, the crystals chiming.  “This is more than enough, thank you.” She gave a little bow. “Out of curiosity, have you heard who the Avatar was captured by?”

The bakerman shrugged. “I’ve heard rumors about Yuyan archers but beyond that, I’ve heard nothing.” 

“Yuyan archers huh…” She shrugged and subconsciously touched her tile necklace. “If that’s the case, he’s surely a goner.” 

“Surely.” The bakerman repeated, opening the front door for her. “Thank you, truly. The entire town thanks you for your assistance.” 

“It was my pleasure.” 

“Hey, what’s your name anyways?” The bakerman turned to ask but with a swish of her crystal jewelry, she was gone. 

The baker shook his head, smiling. “So that’s the crystal spirit…” 

Her eyes narrowed as she swiftly left the town, basket of fruit in hand as she ran. “Yuyan archers…” She mumbled, over and over again. 

“How does it feel to be the last airbender left?” Admiral Zhao taunted. A hurt expression fell over the Avatar’s face. “Don’t worry, you won’t be killed like they were.” 

Two faces watched from the rafters, unaware of each other’s presence. One masked in black and white, while the other in blue. 

“You see, if you die then you’ll just be reincarnated, and the Fire Nation will have to start it’s search for the Avatar all over again.” Zhao explained. “So I’ll keep you alive.” 

He turned his back to the avatar. “But just barely.” 

The Avatar sent a gust of air his way, knocking the Admiral to the floor. “Blow all the wind you want.” Zhao hissed, annoyed. “Your situation is futile.” 

“And nobody is coming to rescue you.” Admiral Zhao slammed the door on his way out. 

A figure dropped from the ceiling, a split mask covered her face. “Hi there, I’m here to rescue you!” 

She shrieked as unthawed frogs started jumping out of the Avatar’s pockets. “Ew! Gross!” 

“Hey!” The Avatar complained. “Go back to being frozen!” He demanded the frogs to no avail. After a quick beat of silence, the Avatar spoke up again. “Wait, who are you?” 

Suddenly the door to the chamber opened, a figure masked in blue entered with two swords. 

“Well that was my dramatic entrance ruined.” She huffed, lifting her hands up—ready to fight the unwanted visitor. 

The blue masked figure raised his swords before throwing them—cutting the Avatar loose from his shackles. 

She rolled her eyes, unimpressed as she unlocked the remaining cuffs with a key. “That was unnecessarily dramatic.” 

“Thank you,” The Avatar smiled. “Who are you guys?” 

The two masked figures seemed to be in a stare off, trying to decipher each other's intentions before the girl stuck out her hand. 

“Nice to meet you, stranger.” She shook his hand. “Thanks for stealing my thunder.” 

If she could see his eyes, they were probably rolling as he sighed. In a gruff voice that she doubted was real he asked “Do you have a plan out of here?” 

She furrowed her eyebrows. “I barely had a plan to get in here.” 

The blue mask sighed again, before leading them out through the door to the chamber. 

Piles of Fire Nation soldiers littered the floors along with frogs. 

The monochromed girl shrugged. “That’s certainly one way to get in.” She suddenly grabbed the Avatar’s hands. “Ew—no— stop that—“ She scolded as the Avatar tried grabbing the frogs. 

“My friend’s need to suck on those frogs!” He called as they dragged him to an exit. 

They crawled underneath floorboards, peeking out from loose ones. 

The blue masked rescuer boosted the Avatar up to a rope—probably how he got in. 

When the Avatar tried climbing it—sirens started ringing from inside the facility. “The Avatar has escaped!” Someone yelled. “Close all the gates immediately!” 

The trio started running, the Avatar taking a lead. The Avatar blasted people out of the way of the closing gate and made a run for it. 

The blue and black masked individuals also bolted towards it but had slight issues with the soldiers. 

“Ugh!” The girl said disgustedly as they shoved spears in her face. She rolled her eyes and started breaking their weapons with her hands. 

The blue spirit also got held up by the soldiers, slashing around to stop the spears. 

The Avatar looked back at his saviors, making the split second decision to run back and help them. 

The three battled their way across until they got up to a rooftop. The Avatar clutched onto a broken spear and started twirling it—becoming a human helicopter for the other two. 

Spears came flying in their direction, the two at the bottom tried their best to kick and dodge them but they soon came tumbling down. 

She tucked and rolled to the ground as they fell—quickly catching the falling boys and helping them back on their feet. 

The three began their battle again—fighting off the hundreds of soldiers that came after them. 

She took them down with the flick of her wrist—soldiers falling to the floor in seizures or passing out. 

The Avatar flung people off their pedestals as they tried to climb up onto the rooftop they fell off of. He grabbed their bamboo ladders and handed them to the blue spirit. 

“Take this!” The three start maneuvering them together—creating the world’s largest pair of stilts. 

A fire begins to build at the end of their last stilt set by one of the soldiers. The girl attempted to snuff them out but they were soon forced to leap off from their makeshift stilts. 

But it was all in vain as they slid down the wall once more, still stuck in the base. 

The Blue Spirit took his swords and threatened them at the surrounding soldiers as the Avatar created a circle of wind around them—snuffing out the flames the soldiers were throwing at them. 

“Hold your fire!” Admiral Zhao demanded. “The Avatar must be captured alive!” He announced. 

Her head perked up with an idea, she stuck out her hand and the Blue Spirit tossed her his swords instantly. 

She quickly gripped the swords and laced them around the Avatar’s throat, staring Zhao in the eyes through her mask. 

Zhao stared back, gritting his teeth. “Open. The Gate.” He commanded. 

“Admiral—what are you doing?” 

“Let them out,” Zhao repeated. “Now!” 

The gates behind them opened and the girl inched backwards, holding the swords to the Avatar’s throat. The Blue Spirit helped guide her backwards. 

The trio slowly backed away, and the Blue and Crystal Spirits traded places after the girl promptly tripped over a rock—speedily switching roles and continuing to hold the Avatar at knife point. 

A sleek arrow pierced through the air with a small THUNK—the Blue Spirit was out cold. 

 He fell back, his head slamming against the floor and his swords drawn. 

A horn sounded back where the Soldier Base was and the girl panicked. 

She lifted up her arms and clouds of dust engulfed the area in front of them—creating a thick cover for them to hide under. 

The Avatar carefully lifted up the mask of the Blue Spirit—a gasp startled the girl as the Avatar raced back. 

“What’s wrong?” She hissed, grabbing the pass out Spirit and hurling him over her shoulder. 

“That's—he’s—” The Avatar stammered before quickly seeing the immense amount of soldiers coming right at them and the Avatar helped her carry the Blue Spirit. 

They ran into the forest before ducking behind a corner. “I think air travel seems a bit more efficient, yeah?” She said, creating a spinning ball of air and jumping on it. 

“You’re an airbender?” The Avatar had wide eyes as he created his own air ball.

“I’m Satori! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Avatar.” She smiled as they raced into the depths of the forest. 

The two airbenders waited in the forest until —who Satori discovered was the banished Prince of the Fire nation—woke up. 

“Aren’t you precious?” She squealed as she crouched down near a baby turtleduck. “Where’s your mama?” 

The two airbenders ran around the forest for an hour, searching for the turtle duck's mother with no luck. 

“Well…” Satori cradled the baby turtleduck. “I guess I’m your mama now, I guess I should give you a name huh?” 

Satori used her airbending to lift a cherry blossom, placing it on the turtleduck’s shell. “Your name is Sakura now, we’ll be best friends.” She told the little critter. “Satori and Sakura, the unstoppable duo…”

“I still can’t believe you’re an airbender!” The Avatar—or rather Aang said. “How did you survive the—”

“The genocide?” Satori asked, weaving a small purse out of leaves. “My family left the temples years before the fire nation invaded, it’s just luck that we were never caught or killed by nature.” She shrugged. 

“Why did you leave the temples, it was so peaceful there!” Aang replied. 

Collecting some small berries, she put the little turtleduck in the leafy purse. “My family has always had a lust for travel. We never stay in one place for too long.” 

“Are all your family airbenders?” Aang asked curiously. 

She smiled, shrugging again. “I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen any of them in a long while. We all go our separate ways.” 

“That must be lonely.” 

“Hopefully not for much longer.” Satori gave him a cheeky smile. “I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.” 

Aang brightened. “You can come with me to meet my friends!” 

“All in good time, I have things to take care of first.” Satori pet her new turtleduck. 

“Like what?”

“I saw a burned village on my way to rescue you, I want to help them first.” Satori grabbed a few extra leaves and tucked them in her bag. 

“I can help—”

“Your friends are sick Aang, you should help them first. I promise I can find you.” Satori took off one of her many bracelets. 

“How can you be so sure?” He asked, worried. 

Satori handed him the bracelet. “I’m the Crystal Spirit, I’m amazing and it’s honestly not that difficult—both me and scar-boy over there found you pretty easily.” 

Aang put the bracelet on. “I’m gonna wait until he wakes up, see you again Satori.” 

“See you soon, Avatar Aang!” Satori gave a wave but when Aang blinked, she was gone—just the chimes of her jewelry remained, lingering in the air.