Evolution

- Just keep breathing. - Katara said as she helped Suki into the pond. - You can't go back to training while you're like this.

- I know that... I just feel useless in this state. - Suki said, grunting a little in pain.

The days of the Kyoshi warrior were not pleasant. Getting injured in battle was common for any warrior, but when the injury affects your physical abilities, it becomes a hindrance.

Katara and Suki were bathing in a pond, or rather, it was Katara who was helping Suki to bathe. Since the Kyoshi Warrior had suffered internal damage to her body, she needed help with everyday activities like this.

- Katara, thank you for your help. - Suki whispered, seeing that part of her chest was purple, a clear sign of damage from the last battle.

- We're friends, it's the least I can do. - Katara said as she washed Suki's back. - If you need my help with anything else, just call me.

- You're the only one who can help me, I'm not going to ask Sokka for help. - Suki couldn't help but laugh sarcastically, but quickly returned to her serious mood. - How are you doing? After Haru's death?

Katara's expression became depressed, her eyes watering for a moment, but no tears came to her face.

- I've already cried too much for him, I just hope I'll be lucky enough to meet him again in a future reincarnation. - Katara confessed dejectedly.

- He was a bit stubborn, but that doesn't mean he was a bad person, he just had bad luck. - Suki sighed, feeling the pain in her broken rib. - We are at a big disadvantage.

- Suki... do you think we can win? Do you think we can beat the Fire Nation? - Katara couldn't help but ask, since Suki was the most responsible person in the group. - Can we make a difference?

- I believe in victory, but I have to admit that our enemies have much more firepower than we do, much more... if we want to win, we have to fight smart. - Suki returned to her warrior role. - If the Northern Tribe and the Earth Kingdom join forces, I think we can take on the Fire Nation. The real problem is people like Kai, the Fire Nation has gathered too many powerful people on their side and I don't see Aang competing with them right now.

- That woman... - Katara remembered the woman who had killed Haru. - She came back to life somehow, or at least I think she did.

- That woman is a demon, a monster. - Suki whispered. - A powerful demon.

Katara watched Suki, she looked into the water and saw her reflection, for a moment she saw her mother who had died a long time ago, but her mother's reflection was accompanied by her father and brother.

- I've been having nightmares... I saw my brother and father burned to death in a fire while our village was set on fire. - Katara vented, clenching her fists. - I don't want to lose my family, but I feel like if I don't get stronger, I'll end up losing everything.

Suki looked at Katara, feeling and understanding the weight of her words. Katara was trying to figure out how far she should go to protect those she loved.

- Katara, you are a kind and determined girl, you don't have to become a monster to be powerful. - Suki comforted her friend as best she could. - Sometimes you have to know how to forgive and sometimes how to punish, but when you cross the line like I did, there's no going back.

Suki turned around carefully, looking at her friend through her eyes, seeing how Katara was going through an internal and moral conflict, and placed her hands on her shoulders.

- Katara, killing a human is something you can't take back, but it doesn't make you a monster. - Suki sighs heavily. - Fighting to survive is a human instinct. Killing to protect people from evil people is a moral duty. But if you kill for pleasure, you become a monster.

- But if this is the only way? How many people would I have to kill to make sure we could survive another day? - Katara let a tear fall from her face. - I wanted to make a difference... I never thought this would happen.

Suki gently held Katara's hand, only able to give her friend silent support.

- Once on Kyoshi Island, I enjoyed the view of the ocean from the cliffs, wondering what the world beyond the ocean held. One night, we were all preparing for battle when a Fire Nation naval fleet came closer than usual to the island's route; we stayed all night waiting to be attacked, but nothing happened. - Suki sank into melancholy, a part of her tired and resentful. - We spent two weeks waiting for the worst, my friends and my mother, waiting for the fire to fall from the sky and consume our homes in flames. During this time, I immersed myself in training to become as strong as I could. I know my limitations because I have no powers, but that's no excuse for not trying my best.

Katara looked up and saw Suki's determined eyes, a fighting spirit that infects and moves people with its determination.

- Katara, I envy you because you have the potential to do anything, I believe you are capable of wonderful things. - Suki smiled in admiration. - You are an incredible and powerful person who allows herself to care and put herself in other people's shoes. I'm willing to always see the bad side of people, but I can say that you are the most incredible person I have ever seen.

Katara was stunned by Suki's sincerity and couldn't believe she had such a positive view of her. A feeling of guilt surfaced in her heart, guilt for not being able to protect her and for not being able to fight when Haru died.

- I'm not as strong as you. - Katara said, lowering her head. - But I want to be strong.

- You are stronger than you think. - Suki supported Katara, knowing that she could help her friend recover a little from the guilt she felt. - Now help me finish the bath.

Katara gave a small smile, the first real one since Haru's death, feeling less weight on her back and able to reflect on the events of the past few days. Katara's determination was renewed, Suki's words having an effect on her heart, giving her a little more hope for the future.

Katara's eyes took on a gleam of determination, though guilt and fear hung over her eyes, something deep inside had changed. As Katara helped finish Suki's bath, the water around the girls took on a momentary, but subtle, glow from the water's reflection in the sunlight, a glow Katara had unconsciously provoked, a healing glow.

An hour later, Katara went to observe the progress of Aang's training with Jeong Jeong, seeing how he was very focused on bending the fire. She was a little surprised at how quickly Aang had progressed in just a few hours of training, noting that he was clearly more focused than usual and seemed to be taking his role as Avatar more seriously.

Seeing how hard Aang was working motivated Katara to practice her powers, trying to take it one step at a time to improve her abilities. She entered the river that ran through a city guarded by the Fire Nation, a few kilometers from where everyone was.

Katara practiced her powers, defying the current of the water, trying to manipulate the water against the force of the river itself, trying to manipulate the water into greater quantity and pressure. If she hadn't been soaked by the water, her sweat would have been much more obvious, she was trying her best, but her thoughts often returned to the traumatic events in her life, causing her to lose concentration.

- This isn't working. - Katara was breathless, resting on the riverbank after nearly two hours of training. - I still haven't managed to reverse the direction of the river. - Katara looked at the river and felt frustration in her heart. - I have to find a way to be as powerful as her.

Every time Katara trained, she instinctively remembered Yoshie, a waterbender who gave her power to the Fire Nation, an extremely powerful woman in her eyes from the first time she saw her.

- How did she manage to gain so much power? What sacrifices did she have to make to be so powerful? - Katara looked at her hand, manipulating the water between her fingers until it formed ice in the shape of claws. - Is this the only way?

***

In a city in the northwest of the Earth Kingdom...

- Are you sure you saw a flying bison three nights ago? - June asked, bribing a city guard.

- Sure, it was very fast, but you could see it. - The guard spoke truthfully, so much so that June's investigative skills couldn't detect any lies.

- All right, you can keep the bonus. - June tossed a silver coin to the guard, who grabbed it in surprise.

June was in the next town after the events of the battle on the beach, Jefh, who accompanied her, was looking after Nyla out of town, and since they both had nothing else to do, they decided to take a few days off. Meanwhile, the rumor of a flying creature was making its way around the city, and June couldn't contain her curiosity.

She was happy because it meant she could keep her honor as a mercenary and finish her work in capturing the Avatar. Still, the feeling she felt when she was simply incapacitated by a thought in battle was frightening, she had never imagined that someone could be as powerful as Jefh's friend or aunt.

Jefh practiced his wind cuts with his legs, always making movements that could easily cause muscle pain for people who had never practiced. The trees around him had cuts that were millimeters deep, but depending on concentration and precision, they could make cuts of 1 to 2 centimeters, something very dangerous for a human to be hit by.

Jefh was frustrated that he hadn't reached his goal, so he had spent hours practicing his powers the last few days, as he had a lot of stamina and physical conditioning, so he could continue his training much further whenever he wanted.

- If you mess up my hair, I'll kill you. - June said, not wanting her hair to be messed up by the wind generated by Jefh's powers.

- June? I thought you were going to be in town longer. - Jefh wiped the sweat from his head and took the opportunity to stretch his shoulder and neck. - Do you have any news?

- Hot news my friend, the Avatar is not dead. - June folded her arms, a triumphant smile on her face. - We can continue our business.

- Really? - Jefh raised an eyebrow, surprised by the news. - That's great, but I'm surprised Yoshie didn't kill them all, she never fails in her mission.

- Maybe her target was the guy she was torturing. - June walked over to her giant pet and saw how it was resting. - Even if we go after the Avatar again, we don't have any objects that we can use to track it precisely.

Jefh walked over to a tree and climbed it to pick a piece of fruit he'd been eyeing since the beginning of the training, practically looking forward to lunch.

- Don't worry, the Avatar has only two possible routes. - Jefh took the fruit and sat down on the branch. - The northern tribe is the Avatar's final route, that's a fact, because he has to master the water to the level of a master. But we can't go after him without a boat, so the safest thing to do is to intercept their path.

- I see you already have a plan, but where are we going to find them? - June looked at the fruit Jefh was eating, feeling a little hungry herself.

- Luckily, if we're lucky, we can reach the northern Air Temple, a place he and his friends could probably use to rest for the last time in the earth realm. - Jefh grabbed another fruit and threw it to June, who easily caught it and quickly bit into it, savoring the sweet taste. - I think Nyla can climb these mountains without any problems.

- Then we'd better start the journey. - June pointed sternly at the river. - You're going to take a shower first, I'm not going to travel for hours with you stinking!

Jefh grimaced in indignation, but out of curiosity he sniffed under his arm and grimaced immediately, quickly deciding to take an urgent shower.

- Boys. - June sighed, crossing her arms.

***

Suki rested next to Appa, just resting her body and hoping that the damage she had suffered would magically heal. Her ears heard footsteps approaching, but it didn't alarm her since she had a large bison weighing over 10 tons as her bodyguard.

- Suki, how are you? - Sokka asked as he returned from a hunt in the forest. He had two rabbits tied around his waist, ready to be turned into dinner.

- Like a person with broken ribs. - Suki said. - I see you've become better at hunting.

- That's because I had a good teacher. - Sokka took Suki's hand and kissed it, making Suki smile and blush. - Where's my sister? I'm going to ask her to help me skin these rabbits.

- She's in the river, probably training. - Suki replied.

- I'd like her to rest, but maybe I can distract her mind from that. - Sokka couldn't help but remember his deceased friend and let out a sigh before coming back to reality. - Would you like any special fruit tonight?

- No... it would be better if you stand guard when you finish preparing dinner, Jeong Jeong is very busy teaching Aang, so he won't be able to protect this area. - When Suki said Aang's name, she noticed that Sokka's expression became more serious. She knew that Sokka didn't like Aang's naivete, but it was noticeable that the dislike had turned into something more personal. - Do you want to talk? You can be honest with me, you know that.

- Every day that we stay with Aang, we get closer to death. You and I can even go up against Fire Nation benders and other people, but it's pretty obvious that at the rate we're going, we don't have a chance in hell of winning. - Sokka sighed, sitting on the ground. - I really want to beat the Fire Nation, but I don't want to follow or depend on Aang. I have no home to go back to, no friends to go back to, all I have left are you and Katara. I don't even know if I'll be reunited with my father before something worse happens.

Suki was used to the arrogant and confident Sokka, maybe his angry personality was also his main characteristic, but he never expressed it like this, as if something had changed in his heart.

She understood what Sokka meant, not that he hated Aang, but that he hated him for being the Avatar, the supreme warrior who could move mountains at will.

Sokka had little faith in Aang, even though he had witnessed the destructive power he wielded. Their personalities were very opposite, which led to arguments at several points during the journey. They both had a certain naivety, like Sokka always underestimating the world, or like Aang always trying to see the good in people, sometimes ignoring the harsh reality, but the fact is that Sokka saw the world as it is, cruel and bloodthirsty.

Sokka agreed to go on the journey for the sake of his sister and to see his father again, but his desire to venture out cost him the lives of everyone in his village and at the South Pole. He could only imagine that everyone was dead, he feared that his grandmother had died slowly or that she had been tortured beforehand, he had no way of knowing, only imagining, and that was the worst.

Sokka thought a lot about the last few days after Haru's death, was it his fault for leaving home to go on an adventure or was it Aang's fault for being the Avatar who only slept for 100 years only to wake up and bring chaos to his village on the first day of his return? The fact was, he felt guilty.

- Sokka, you saw it yourself. - Suki struggled to her feet and walked over to Sokka, placing her hand on his cheek. - You and I are just ordinary people, we have no way to fight people with powers greater than Aang's.

- There should be another way, I don't feel comfortable depending on him. - Sokka sighed and closed his eyes to feel the touch of Suki's hand. - I don't know what I would do if I had never met you.

- You'd be an idiot, but you're my idiot. - Suki kissed Sokka which was immediately returned. - The road is dark, but that doesn't mean there's no hope. 

- I hope so. - Sokka said.

After a few minutes of talking, Sokka went to find his sister to help him cook the rabbits he had killed. When he arrived at the river where she was training, he was surprised to see Katara surrounded by bubbles of water, seemingly immersed in her training.

The water, which floated in defiance of the air, froze like a cannonball, each ball hurled at high speed against the trees with a force that could shake the trees and cause their leaves and fruit to fall to the ground.

- Not bad, you've improved. - Sokka couldn't help but pat his sister on the back, realizing how much better her control of her powers had become since they'd left home.

- I haven't improved enough, not like I wanted to. - Katara was completely soaked by the river water, her breathing altered by the exertion.

- You're not going to improve exponentially overnight. - Sokka saw a towel on the ground and picked it up to give to his sister. - Will you help me skin the rabbits? We can cook together like we used to.

- You hate cooking. - Katara raised an eyebrow.

- I just want to spend time with my sister, nothing fancy. - Sokka smiled and held out his hand to help Katara out of the river.

While both brothers were enjoying some family time alone, Aang was having one of his worst days, not like the others, but a bad one.

The element of air was something that Aang had mastered at a young age, in record time. However, Aang underestimated how difficult it would be to master the other elements, because they were established outside of his culture, especially fire, which was the complete opposite of his element.

Aang could even bend water sometimes, but in a completely rustic and unrefined way, unlike Katara. Now Jeong Jeong, an extremely strict teacher, would not accept the slightest mistake, each mistake a punishment more painful than the last.

- YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG! - Jeong Jeong shouted with his arms behind his back. - You're letting your relaxed nature take over, fire is a living element, you can't let it control you or it will control you.

- I'm doing my best! - Aang replied, worried and angry.

- A small spark has the power to ignite an entire forest. If you lose control, you could set your friends on fire! - Jeong Jeong said coldly, making Aang more serious. - Come on again, keep your footing.

Aang took a deep breath, firmed his base, something he wouldn't do with the Airbend, tensed his arms and threw a punch with his closed right fist, sending a blast of fire into the water.

- Well done, this time it was more decent than the last 100 attempts. - Jeong Jeong sighed, impressed by his rapid progress in just one day of training. - One must have a calm and serene mind when controlling fire, few people can bend fire as an extension of their will and mind.

- Jeong Jeong, you were a military man, right? - Aang maintained his fighting stance, not wanting to irritate his teacher.

- Why do you want to know that? - Jeong Jeong frowned, carefully observing his new student's stance.

- I have heard of a powerful person named Kai. - Aang noticed that his teacher seemed to tense up for a moment. - I've heard that he's very powerful, rumored to be the most powerful firebender.

- If you think you have a chance against him, you are mistaken, Kai is in a league of power far above yours, not even I can compare to him. - Jeong Jeong clenched his fists. - He has superhuman elemental control, his flames are so powerful that no fire master can manipulate against them, it's as if his flames and he are a single coexisting existence.

- This is amazing... - said Aang, who couldn't help but be surprised.

-It's not amazing, it's scary. - Jeong Jeong said with a colder voice. - I heard that Kai has developed a new sub-bending that can use people's internal energy as fuel for its own flames.

-Wait... you mean... -Aang took a moment to process his teacher's words.

- Kai created a way to control the fire inside a person, an ultimate technique without any weaknesses. - Jeong Jeong said coldly. - If you meet Kai, run as far away as you can, never get into a direct confrontation with him. I don't see anything that can counter a technique that works inside a person. That's one of the reasons why he is your biggest challenge.

***

Kingdom of Dawn....

- Remind me of the rules. - Kai said, stretching out his arms as he watched the dragons of the spirit world gather for the duel.

- We can't use techniques that involve supernovas, lightning and embers of light, only the raw power of our flames. - Haruki said in his human form. - I hate this form. - He whispered to himself.

The news that Kai and Haruki were going to have a duel made many dragons curious to see what it would be like, since it was rare for celestial dragons to meet in battle. It was supposed to be a private practice between family members, but it turned out to be a rare event in the spirit world, so Haruki decided to announce it as a duel.

Chieko was in her true form only to protect Azula and Katsu in case the fight reached a more serious level. Aki was on the other side of the rustic coliseum, in her true form, to protect Tizo and the young dragons who wanted to witness something epic for their childish minds, every child likes action.

Ava, Aki's best friend, was there to help, even though Aki alone had the ability to protect the entire audience, it was also her job to help, even if only a little.

- Who do you think will win? - Ava asked Aki as she watched her friend take Tizo under her wing.

- Normally, I would bet on Haruki, but he's committed to fight the first round in human form, so for now, I'm betting on Kai to win. - Aki said, not looking at the protagonists of the duel, just concentrating on Tizo. - Who are you betting on?

- 500 tons of fish on Kai's defeat! - Ava said maniacally, overcome by a competitive spirit.

- I thought you'd given up betting! - Aki scolded her friend. - You're 6000 years old, not 1800!

- It's just a small bet! - Ava replied, turning her face away in indignation.

- 500 tons is what I eat in a week! - Aki cursed, almost wanting to set her on fire.

- It's not my fault you're a glutton! - Ava Bravelhou, revealing the rebellious personality she rarely showed. - Your family has a black hole in its stomach!

While Aki and Ava argued like teenagers, Katsu just covered his mouth with his hand so as not to show that he was laughing at his own mother, something Azula noticed and couldn't help but smile at the gesture.

- Are they always like this? - Azula asked, seeing Aki making a mess on the other side of the coliseum.

- Age has matured them over time, but sometimes it happens. - Katsu said nostalgically. - Are you worried about Kai?

- No, Kai has Haruki and Aki to finally use his true power, it was a bit frustrating to see him always taking it easy on me in our training sessions. - Azula crossed her arms, looking forward to the upcoming battle.

- I have to admit, I'm curious to see how strong he has become with my own eyes. - Katsu smiled with pride as he saw Kai ready to begin. - How I wish you were here Jun. - Katsu whispered and remembered his eldest son.

Kai and Haruki were only a few steps away from each other, the silence taking over the place because of the tension hanging over everyone. A light breeze made Kai's long hair sway in the wind and he gave an arrogant grin of defiance.

Both dragons in their human forms launched a blow at the same time, but it was Haruki who was hit first, his teenage body thrown against the wall without any resistance. A shocked silence fell over everyone, but a second later, the crowd went wild.

- You really don't know how to fight in human form, do you? - Kai asked mockingly and crossed his arms.

Before Kai could react, Haruki was behind him and threw a kick, which Kai luckily blocked with his forearm, but that didn't stop physics from acting on his body and he was thrown against the wall in retaliation for the first blow.

- I learn fast. - Haruki said with a wicked smile and waited for the smoke to clear.

- Not fast enough. - Kai kicked Haruki in the back, practically slamming his face into the floor and causing several cracks to appear in the center of the coliseum. - Do you want me to slow down so that you can keep up?

Haruki looked at Kai with his scarlet eyes glowing brightly and a glint of menacing orange on the inside of his mouth. He spat fire from his mouth, a wave of flames capable of engulfing a small village in seconds, but Kai quickly covered his fists with blue fire, scattering the flames of the attack and splitting him in half.

Kai stomped firmly on the ground and threw a punch into the air, causing the blue flames in his right hand to turn white and cross the air furiously towards the White Emperor. Haruki covered his arms in flames and crossed them in an X, receiving the attack, his body was slowly pushed back and the ground slowly began to melt from the high temperature.

The clouds in the sky began to gather like a hurricane, a dragon's roar echoing in the sky, creating a great pressure that crushed the weakest for a moment. A pillar of flame appeared where Haruki was, creating a shockwave that pushed Kai and forced him to stop his attack. A huge hurricane of flames swirled in the middle of the coliseum, making the event visible for miles around. The most powerful dragons spread their wings like a shield to protect the weakest from the heat wave that could boil metal like food.

In the midst of the tornado's flames, scarlet eyes shone prominently, and a roar dispersed the flames, revealing a 50-meter dragon in front of Kai, who looked like an insect by comparison.

- You can only fight in your true form. - Kai grinned and bared his fangs, his draconic eyes flashed in defiance and the flames in his arms exploded with enthusiasm. - Let's go to the second round.

Kai's right arm was completely covered in blue flames, only his fingers were white, but his left arm was covered in black flames, known as the Eternal Flames, that its flames could only be extinguished by a hotter flame.

- Hana's flames! - Aki said, surprised to see those flames that were so unique to her motherly figure.

The scarlet glow in Haruki's eyes wavered for a moment when he saw Kai's eyes shining like his sister's, reminding him of when they played together as children. The White Emperor gave a small, imperceptible smile and roared in defiance, a roar that would make anyone lose their hearing, but Kai was so excited that he ignored the annoyance and smiled as if he had been possessed by someone else for a moment.

- Let's see if this combination works against someone of your caliber. - Kai got into position and waited for the White Emperor's attack.

Both forces of nature unleashed their flames, creating a flash that made everyone but the two opponents look away, but one thing was certain, this battle would be one to remember.

Next Chapter: Ocean and Moon

Author's Note: To be honest, I was so busy that I forgot to do Monday's chapter. As I ended up delaying, I thought it was fair to write a longer chapter.