The siege Of The North

Azira watched proudly as Katara knocked another boy to the ground, a grin on her face. Now that Pakku had somewhat..apologized and considered Katara and Sokka grandchildren/family, life had become a bit easier here in the North Pole.

"Yes girl! That's what I'm talking about!" Azira cheered, a grin on her face.

She watched intently as Pakku congratulated Katara on her quick learning and mastery of the skill. Azira knew that with the right teacher, Katara would go far. Perhaps be one of the most skilled waterbenders to ever walk the planet.

Aang, on the other hand, had the talent and lacked the skills to refine his work.

As was expected. He was a kid, he

wanted to goof off and have some fun every now and then. Neither Pakku, Katara, or Azira was having any of it After a moment, Pakku approached her with Katara at his side. "You know, you could always join us for a lesson or two Pakku suggested, eyes twinkling slightly.

Azira just shook her head stiffly. "I'm alright, I promise. I had a teacher." "Katara, could you excuse us for just a moment? Perhaps go help Aang with his techniques?" Pakku questioned.

Katara brightened, immediately hurrying off to go help Aang. That just left Master Pakku with Azira. Azra kept her arms crossed and gaze trained on the ground.

"Sometimes, teachers aren't always kind." Pakku started, an abnormally gentle tone accompanying his words. "Katara mentioned that you are the most skilled waterbender she's ever seen. Even still"

"My teacher was ruthless." Azira chose her words carefully. "She went against the very nature of waterbending. l am still trying to...unlearn the anger and aggression that she gifted me."

Pakku gave a nod of understanding.

"Azira, if you ever change your mind, I would be happy to work with you."

For a moment, Azira could only look at the man. He had seemed so sexist, so unkind, so-

But now? He was a changed man. Azira finally gave a nod. Thank you, Master Pakku. That..means a lot"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the ash started falling from the sky, like a blanket of snow, Azira knew. She knew it better than she knew her Own name. Because when she worked with the Fire Nation, this is what they did.

This was a sign of the destruction that was going to come.

The drums were quick to begin beating. Azira turned tail, racing towards the palace. They would have to come up with a plan, they would have to have some sort of failsafe-

If the Northern Water Tribe fell, it would only be a matter of time before the Earth Kingdom did too. And after that- there would be no chance of ever stopping the Fire Nation. Not now, and certainly not in the future.

In a short time, most of the tribe had gathered. Chief Arnook took to the people, a narrowed expression on his face.

"The day that we have feared for so long has arrived. 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. They will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, I call upon the great Spirits! Spirit of the Ocean, Spirit of the Moon, be with us! I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission!"

Sokka was the first to stand, a firm expression on his face. "Count me in!"

Azira's eyes went wide. He wasn't about to do this thing alone. "Me too!"

Others began to stand, volunteering for the post. "Be warned, Chief Arnook continued. "Many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark, if you accept the task.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Men-" Arnook's eyes washed over Azira. "And woman. You will be infiltrating the Fire Nation navy. That means you'll all need one of these uniforms" "Sir, if I may?" Azira spoke up.

Immediately, she felt eyes on her from every man in the room. "Yes Arnook looked confused at the outburst.

"I'was a soldier in the Fire Nation navy.

These uniforms are old and outdated.

They will know it's us within minutes.

What we need is for Aang to retrieve the uniforms from the boat that he took down" Azira said, voice clear and firm against the silence.

"She's right" Sokka added. "The newer uniforms are more streamlined."

The boy in the armor scoffed. "How do we know we can trust these people? I mean, she's a woman who fought for the Fire Nation and he's just some new recruit!"

"Sokka is a capable warrior from our Sister Tribe, Han! I value his input! And Azira is a skilled warrior, who has the experience needed to carry out this mission. We will listen to both of them." Arnook insisted.

Azira could have let out a breath of relief. Far too often in the Fire Nation, she had been discounted for being too young, or for being a girl, or for being loyal to Prince Zuko. The simple fact of the matter was that she was good at her job. And people needed to start recognizing that.

"Our first matter of order is to determine the identity of their commanding oficer." Arnook continued. Azira's hand shot into the air and he just looked tired.

"Yes?"

"it's Admiral Zhao. His ship is instantly recognizable, since I intentionally made sure that there was some damage to his flag." Azira admitted.

"Middle aged, big sideburns. Bigger temper. Kind of a jerk." Sokka added.

Arnook looked between the two of them. "I want you two to tell everything you know to Han. He's leading this mission. Han, show Sokka and Azira your respect. I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The nearly full moon was making Azira's head spin. She had made sure to distance herself from the others every other full moon. But it seemed like this time, she didn't have much of a choice. It was the way that she could feel the buzz beneath her veins. The way that each heart sounded, pounding in her ears with blood rushing. It was sickening and maddening, the way it seemed to have a siren's song to her.

They had kicked her out of the mission after receiving the intel. It honestly made her blood boil. The way that she was a woman. And she was the best there was, but they couldn't even accept that.

Now, she stood, hands clenched tightly into fists as she stared at the moon. Yue was near her, speaking incoherently to Katara and Aang. It was all just background noise to the Bloodbending girl.

"Maybe l can find the Spirits and get their help!" Aang exclaimed.

At that, Azira's attention was drawn solely back to the situation at hand.

"Sorry, what?" She questioned, narrowing her gaze.

"How can you do that?" Yue questioned, confusion on her face. "Well, the Avatar is the bridge between the Spirit world and our world" Katara pointed out. "Aang can talk to them!"

"Maybe they can give you the wisdom needed to win this battle!" Yue exclaimed.

"Or maybe they'll unleash some crazy spirit attack on the Fire Nation!" Aang added.

Azira just winced. "Sure, kid"

"Well, wisdom is good too."

"Last time, you got to the Spirit World by accident. How are you going to get there this time?" Katara questioned, looking at Aang.

"I have an idea!" Yue suggested, eyes lighting up. "Follow me!" In no time at all, they had approached a room towards the back of the palace, with a small wooden door. "What is this place?" Azira asked, feeling a tug in her gut. It was tightening and strange.

"It's the most spiritual place in the North Pole." Yue explained.

Upon entering, Azira could immediately see why. A deep pool of water lay ahead of them, with a small island ahead. A shrine and stone arch was on the island, and just beyond that, a waterfall.

It was beautiful here and the steady pulse let her know that the Spirits were indeed watching.

They crossed along the grass and stone path, coming to a stop on the island, where grass resided. Aang nearly rolled around in it, excitement on his face. "I never thought l'd miss grass so much!" "its so warm here! How is that possible?" Katara asked, eyes wide.

"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land." Yue said in a soft voice.

Azira's eyes landed on a pool of water in the center of the island, where two Koi fish circled each other endlessly.

can feel something here!" Aang said, taking a seat below the arch. "It's so tranquil!" "You do your Avatar thing. We'll guard your body." Azira promised, smiling softly at the boy.

After a moment, Yue whispered. "Why is he sitting like that?" "He's meditating, trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all of his concentration-" Katara started.

"Shh!" Azira hissed.

Aang peeked open eye, shooting the older girl a grateful smile. He went back to closing his eyes. After another moment, his tattoos and eyes began to glow pure white.

"Woah!" Yue exclaimed. "Is he going to be okay?!"

"He'll be fine." Azira insisted. "As long as nothing happens to his body" "He's crossing into the Spirit World.

Well protect him." Katara added, eyes still set on Aang.

"Well, aren't you both all grown up?"

Azira spun, eyes wide as they landed on Zuko. "Seriously?!" She demanded.

"Hand him over, and I won't have to hurt either of you!" Zuko looked worse for the wear, with cuts and bruises all over his face and deathly pale.

Azira just let out a laugh, glancing over at Katara. "I'm sorry, you're-youre being serious?"

Zuko just looked dumbfounded at the reaction. "What-

"You're seriously attacking two master waterbenders when the moon is almost full? You're dumber than I gave you credit for"

They moved at the same time, Katara and Azira's hands whipping forward. In a matter of seconds, Zuko had been encased in a steady pillar of ice. Azira barely broke a sweat, adjusting her hair. "Nice one" She breathed out, grinning at Katara.

"Have fun getting out of that one, Zuko." Katara added.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Azira pressed through the blizzard, biting winds and harsh flakes sharply cutting against her skin. She needed to catch up to Zuko and quickly. Aang was bound to still be in the Spirit World and if she didn't return him to where he had started this entire thing, he could be lost forever.

As she foraged through the snow, determination clear on her face, the ground shifted beneath her feet. She rushed ahead, snow swirling around her and propelling her forward. There was a deep gap in the ice, with grooves and grifts still forming.

Her eyes searched through the icy landscape. Zuko couldn't be out here long. Not in this weather. He would be sure to die. That meant that he had done one of two things. Like the stubbom beast that he was, he would continue on until he dropped. Or he'd look for shelter.

Scanning the landscape, Azira found some rocks up ahead. That was worth a try in her opinion. She slid through the snow, tripping in the deep thick of it.

Scrambling forward, Azira finally reached the cave, where a small fire was going.

"Well, you're a hard man to find."

Zuko's eyes went wide. "Get out of here, Az-

"There's a blizzard and you want to argue with the waterbender?" She narrowed her gaze, eyes going to Aang. "Believe it or not, I don't want you dead either. Use your fire breath, your hands will get warmer faster."

The look on his face remained suspicious as she sat down a safe distance from them. "Why are you helping?

"I'm not. I have full intention of taking Aang back. But when you inevitably pass out from frostbite, I don't want you to die."

"You could have killed me."

"The same could be said for you." Her eyes drifted back to the unconscious Avatar. "Do you really think that bringing him back to your father is going to make him love you?" She asked in a cold tone.

"Shut up!" Zuko barked. "You don't understand! You're just like Azula! Both you and he!" Zuko gestured at Aang.

"Everything comes easy to you!"

"Everything?" Azira choked out. "My entire life has been a lie! I at least know who l am, you don't!"

"Oh yes I do-"

"Who you are is a culmination of all your life choices! From where l'm sitting, you haven't made any good ones!" Azira snapped.

"What are you talking about?"

"The war, Zuko! Innocent people have died! Women and children! Little children, innocent kids! You've seen the bodies! Doesn't that make you feel something? Anything?!" She nearly screamed at him.

The look on his face looked like he was sick to his stomach. "Don't-don't pretend to understand-"

Just then, Aang sat up witha gasp, eyes wide. "Welcome back-"

"Don't talk to him!" Azira said, on her feet in seconds.

Aang assessed the situation in record time. "It's good to be back" the boy scowled.

"Great." Azira and Aang locked eyes and he let out a giant breath.

Aang went flying out of the cave and Azira propelled herself forward, rushing after him. Grabbing Aang by the scruff of the neck, she bent the snow underneath them, turning it to ice as they slid forward.

Fire blasted and she just gave a screech, tripping over Aang and landing in the snow. Azira kicked upwards in an aggressive move and the snow around her turned to ice, knocking Zuko clean out.

Before she could so much as move towards Aang, Appa came crashing down onto the snow. "Oh thank Spirits.I didn't want to have to haul everything by myself." Azira murmured, getting to her feet.

Sokka hurried forward, cutting Aang free. "We need to get to the Oasis!" Aang exclaimed. The Spirits are in trouble!"

"Wait-" Azira said, hauling the unconscious Zuko by herself. Her muscles trembled with exhaustion. "We can't just leave him here to die."

Everyone looked dumbfounded.

Everyone except for Aang. "Azira's right. If we leave him, he'll die."

Aang dropped down from Appa, helping Azra get him into the saddle of the sky bison. "Right, because this makes a lot of sense-" Sokka started.

"You can tie him up?" Azira offered.

"Done."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they were flying through the night sky, the moon suddenly turned blood red and all of the rushing that was going through Azira's ears just came to a stop. For the first time in her life, the full moon did not seem so seductive or power-enticing.

"Woah, are you alright?" Sokka asked, eyes wide at Yue, who was clutching her head.

"I feel faint.." Yue murmured.

"The Moon Spirit is in trouble." Aang said in horror.

Moments later, with the sight of the dead fish, the dead Moon Spirit, and General Iroh by her side, Azira just felt grief.

"It's over.." Yue murmured.

"No" Aang said, voice much deeper than it usually was. His eyes and tattoos glowed and immediately, Azira kneww that he was in the Avatar State. "It's not over."

Stepping into the pool of water, brilliant blue began to flood the ocean.

Luminescence shone and something-a

creature--rose from the depths, Aang at the center of it.

Azira watched as he began to fight the Fire Nation single-handedly, a giant spirit monster amongst men. Her gaze shifted to Iroh. "You know more about the Spirits than anyone I know. What do we do? Balance must be maintained."

Iroh's gaze remained sorrowful, until his eyes landed on Yue. "You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you!"

"Yes! Youre right.it gave me life. Maybe I can give it back-

"No, you don't have to do that!" Sokka said, eyes wide in horror.

"It's my duty, Sokka."

"No! Your father told me to protect you!"

"I have to do this."

Azira watched silently and reverentiy as Yue stepped forward, hands touching the Spirit's body. Light beamed from her hands and then she fell backwards. Azira immediately felt the effects as the moon appeared back in the sky.

"She's gone." Sokka sobbed out, holding onto Yue's body.

"Sokka..I'm sorry." Azira breathed out.

It was over now. And now began the real task.