The Avatar State

Azira thought that being on a boat in the middle of nowhere should have been more peaceful. Instead, she just felt anxious and like a pit in her stomach was beginning to grow and darken.

Aang's stunt and heroics back in the North Pole were bound to get back to Ozai, if they hadn't already. She wouldn't be surprised if they had assassins coming after them and all manner of crazy people working for him.

He was a sociopath, after all.

And she was just one girl, doing her best to protect the young Avatar.

It wasn't that she wasn't grateful. She was, in fact, very grateful for hirm. It's just that that sort of thing didn't go unnoticed. No good deed went without its darkness accompanying it.

Most days, she slept. It was during the night that she'd take watch. Gaze carefully trained on the horizon. On any incoming threats that were coming their way.

She was used to boats, after all.

She just didn't think she'd miss flying with Appa so much.

Most days were spent in the quiet solitude of pondering. Aang was always a chatty one, but he was now concerned about what was to come.

About the journey that he had ahead of him.

Katara always found things to talk about too. Sometimes it was the weather, sometimes it was the past, sometimes she'd ask questions. But she made a point to talk to Azira.

But Sokka?

There was an unspoken understanding between the two of them.

One night, early on in their travels, she had been on watch. He had come up to the deck, nearly gasping for air. She had seen it in soldiers coming back from war. When they'd seen something traumatic. Something that just wouldn't leave them alone.

She supposed, that in a way, Sokka had seen that. He had held Yue as she died.

And that wasn't something that just

goes away lightly.

So when Sokka broke down crying, she just let him cry. She held him. And then in the morning, they carried on as normal.

Sometimes he'd talk to her about it. About how he was feeling.

But the understanding that they were there for one another. That they understood. That she wasn't going anywhere.

That he wasn't going anywhere. That was the part that mattered.

The ocean was calm as day when they prepared to part ways from the rest of the Northern Water Tribes people.

Master Pakku stood in front of them, bag in hand. His icy blue gaze fixed on Katara and he held something up "Katara, I want you to have this. This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties.

Don't lose it"

A quiet reverence spread across Katara's features as she reverently took the amulet from him. "Thank you, Master."

He smiled, with just a hint of stiffness left, then turned his attention to Aang.

"Aang, these scrolls will help you master waterbending. But remember, they are no substitute for a real master. And with two traveling with you, you should have no problem learning and progressing." Pakku handed him the scrolls and Aang beamed.

Pakku's attention turned onto Azira. He very quietly handed her something, hand enclosed over hers. "This is something that might help you on your way. For the moon's light is something we can follow. Use it only in the most dire of circumstances"

Azira's hand closed around the small object, finding a gemstone sitting in her hand. "Master Pakku-" But he had already turned his attention onto Sokka.

Letting out a slight sigh, Azira followed after Aang and Katara, climbing atop Appa's saddle. "Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom based just east of here" Pakku commanded. "General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu.

There you'll be safe to begin your Earthbending training with King Bumi."

She almost let out a huff at that. She'd believe it when she saw it. Safety was something only that she could guarantee at this point. She wasn't sure she trusted anyone else with that particular aspect of her life Still, it was exciting that Aang had progressed quickly enough to be looking for an Earthbending teacher.

She had heard things about King Bumi.

That he had lost his mind, that some tragic event had taken place and he had become the Mad King. That was what they called him in the Fire Nation.

Azira wondered how much of it was true.

Finding it best not to say anything, Azira just got comfortable for the ride there.

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

Azira had been all over the known world. In all fairness, it had been a long time since she had been in Earth Nation territory. And even then, it had been run by the Fire Nation in their colonies on the outskirts.

But here, hidden away in the mountains and in a domed city, she thought that it was beautiful. Untouched and unblemished by the Fire Nation.

It didn't dissipate the nervousness. She had fought Earth Nation soldiers before.

She wasn't one of them. Not like Aang, Katara, and Sokka were. She was an outsider. So she hung back as General

Fong approached them. He was a tall man, with intimidating stature and a bushy beard.

"Welcome Avatar Aang!" Fong exclaimed loudly. " l am General Fong the man gave a bow, and his soldiers did suit.

"And welcome to all of you great heroes! Appa, Momo, brave Sokka, mighty Katara, and fierce Azira!"

"Well l could get used to a welcome like this" Katara whispered.

Before Azira could even manage a grin, fireworks were going off overhead. Azira honestly could have screamed. So much for subtlety.

"Not bad." Sokka said, a grin on his face.

"Sure." Azira let out a breath.

Once inside and Fong was seated, he began to speak to them more in depth. "Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out a whole entire Fire Navy Fleet at the North Pole. I can't imagine how it feels to wield such devastating power."

Azira couldn't help but glance to the side at Aang. He was still just a kid. It made her sick, how they had all been thrust into this position. Into these roles.

"It's an awesome responsibility." Fong continued.

Aang looked uncomfortable as he replied. "I try not to think about it too much, he admitted slowly.

"Avatar, you're ready to face the Firelord now-*

"What-" Aang burst out

Azira was on her feet in seconds.

"Excuse me?" She demanded, voice biting against the loud silence of the chamber.

"Aang still has to master the four elements and-

Katara and Aang tugged her back down as Fong's gaze narrowed at the 17 year old. "Why?" Fong questioned.

"With the power that he possesses-power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes. He could defeat the Fire Lord now."

Azira's gaze tore away from Fong and she locked eyes with Sokka. The message was clear. Sokka could handle this one or she could physically fight Fong.

Sokka wisely chose to speak up. "But sir, the thing is, Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar State."

"It's a special state where" Aang started.

"I m well aware!" Fong barked.

Azira's gaze turned dark. Demanding things of the Avatar was one thing, but being rude to her-she wasn't sure when she had claimed Aang as her baby brother-she had never had one anyway-but he was hers.

"Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power.

Without you, we'd be slaughtered before we even reached their shores. But with you leading the way, as the ultimate weapon, we can cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation*

"Right..." Aang murmured, gaze flickering back to Azira.

Steady on. You can do this.

Aang let out a breath and focused. "But I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar State, much less what to do once I'm there."

Fong considered his words for a moment. "Then it's decided. "I'l help you figure out how to get in and out of the Avatar State and then you'll face your destiny"

"No " Azira and Katara said at the same time.

Azira was startled at the sight of someone standing by her. She wasn't used to the support. But Katara wasn't backing down either. "Nothing's been decided. We already have a plan. Aang is pursuing his destiny his way!"

"Well while you take your time to learn the elements, the war goes on." Fong stated in an icy tone.

"The war's been going on for 100 years. I don't think it's going anywhere." Azira said in an equally dangerous tone.

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

Aang walked into the shared room space, a dejected look on his face. "I told the General that we'd help him."

Azira sat up, eyes wide at the boy.

"What? Why?!" She demanded.

"This is not the right way!" Katara agreed.

"Why not?" Sokka questioned.

"Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? It was incredible!"

"Incredible for you." Azira said in a tight tone. "Power like that needs to be controlled carefully. Aang can't control it yet. We can't push something like that"

"Az is right" Katara said gently. "There's a right way to do things. Practice, study, discipline, it will bring the results

you want"

"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord" Sokka said, gesturing emphatically with his hands.

He was met with a pillow to the face from Azira. "You're seriously stupid."

"Az-

"No! When you hold the power of someone's life in your hands, you can't be careless with it. You need to be able to control it! There is a right way to do things." Azira snapped.

"Fine, go ahead and glow it up!" Katara added in frustration.

"Katara, Azira!" Aang exclaimed. "I'm just being realistic. I don't have time to do this the right way!"

Azira let out a deep huff. You're really going to do this?"

"Yes."

"Then I'l be there. But I'm still mad at you."

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

After trying herbal teas to focus and induce the Avatar State, which failed, and Sokka's attempts to shock Aang into the Avatar State, Azira was getting fed up with the entire situation. They should have already left to go see King Bumi.

Then there was the attempt with ceremonial robes-also a failure.

And now there was her personal favorite. She had been walking with Katara to the War Room when it had happened.

Earth swallowing Katara up from below her feet. Azira didn't hesitate in moving.

Water whipped outwards, blasting through a row of soldiers. Something loud crashed from outside and she had a feeling that she knew what had happened.

Forcing Aang's hand wasn't a part of the deal.

Azira did something out of character. She turned tail and she sprinted towards the nearest ledge. Using the waterskin at her hip, she created a whip of water, then swung the water forward.

A harsh tug in her gut forced her forward and suddenly, she was free-falling through the air. The water whip dissipated in her hands and created a light landing of ice for her to slide on as she hit the ground.

Hair flipping wildly, her gaze finally landed on Aang at the center of the courtyard. A whole group of Earthbenders had surrounded him, each flinging large boulders and stones at him-trying to actually harm him.

Suddenly, Katara appeared on the ground in front of everyone, halfway sunk into the ground. "Katara!" Azira gave a yell.

Aang's eyes widened as the graveness of the situation hit him. He blasted air at Fong, but he just deflected it with a boulder. Sokka moved at the same time Azira did. He was sent flying backwards, hitting the ground harshly.

Anticipating his moves, Azira flipped forward, finally landing Iightly on the ground and avoiding his current hit.

"Stop this! You have to let her go!" Aang begged.

lce crept up Azira's arm and she placed her icy sharp hand at Fong's throat.

"Let her go, now" She commanded.

"Only if he goes into the Avatar State!" Fong bellowed.

"I'm trying!" Aang begged.

Katara sunk below the Earth and Fong just gave a laugh. "I don't see glowing!"

Then all at once, it happened. Azira swung her hand forward and Fong blasted her with a rock. And then Aang's eyes were glowing. Azira hit the wall harshly, stars and dark spots decorating her vision.

For a moment, it was all she could do to just stare at the sky and listen to the screams. Then came the winds.

Despite the ache in her shoulder, Azira pulled herself to her feet.

"It was just a trick! AND IT WORKED!" Fong shouted in glee.

This man needed to be stopped.

She stumbled forward through the wind and that's when all hell broke loose.

The earth cracked all around the

courtyard and smoke and debris filled the air. Azira moved forward as the wind stopped-eyes landing on an unconscious Aang.

"That was perfect!" Fong exclaimed.

"We just need a way to control you-

It seemed that both Sokka and Azira had the same thought process. Sokka hit him in the head with his boomerang at the same time that Azira roundhouse kicked Fong in the face, bringing his head slamming into the ground.

"Would anyone else care to test me today?" Azira piqued an eyebrow at the courtyard full of soldiers, all of whom were avoiding eye contact with her. "Good"'

"Uh-Ma'am- One soldier spoke up nervously. "Do you still want an escort to Omashu?"

One look from everyone was enough.

"No, well be fine." Katara said firmly.

"That guy was not whelmed. Not whelmed at all" Azira said, shaking her head. "Let's get outta here."