Avatar: Book of Hope - Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - Goodbye

Ling was still shaking from the cold atmosphere that the shadow had left, she looked through the door to her friend laying in water now as the ship slowly began to fill. "Kazza!" she shouted to try and wake him but sadly he didn't move. Taking a deep breath she began to center herself focusing on the air around her, moving her wrists as much as the chains would allow it, the air moved with her as it began to form in a mini ball. The ball began to rotating in her palm, the air was spinning violently as she did her best to press the ball against the shackle. Slowly it began to cut through the metal her hand was free as she felt all of her weight pull down on her still trapped wrist, she groaned in pain as she forced the ball of air against the chain still holding her left wrist. Freeing her wrists had her land on the metal of the floor with water up to her ankles already, she removed the shackles from her ankles as she rushed over to Kazza lifting up his head so he wouldn't drown.

"Kazza!" Ling shouted slapping his face lightly trying to get him to wake up. 

He was still not responding but at least he was breathing, getting back up she knew she couldn't waste anymore time  as she lifted him to his feet and began to carry him out of the room. The pair made it outside of the room before two Northern Tribe soldiers rushed them, before they could reach Ling and Kazza an air duct was shot forward a trail of fire close behind it smacking one in the head as Atsuko leaps out throwing a knife into the others chest. Without saying a word she lifted the other side of Kazza up as the three of them ran up the stairs to the main deck. 

---

Above deck Mala was standing on a small bridge with her staff in hand as she watched most of the Northern soldiers leap onto their liferafts fleeing the sinking boat. A few still tried to rush pass the young air bender as she simple dodged and then struck them in the legs knocking them down into the water. She looked relieved as she saw Atsuko and Ling carrying Kazza, Mala smiled as she walked across the bridge and held it as the others carefully crossed it as well. Mala pulled the bridge across as Atsuko rushed below deck giving orders to the men to disengage the hooks and leave. Ling let two Fire Nation soldiers take Kazza down to the med bay as Mala rushed up and embraced her friend.

"Ling I was so worried!" She cried out as she let her go.

Ling nodded, "Yeah...I was lucky thou...thank you guys for saving me."

"What happened in there?" Mala asked as she walked down the stairs as the ship began to turn.

Ling turned back and saw Taso on one of the lifeboats who stared at her with a glaring that told her he would be back, she just turned and followed Mala down the stairs. "I will explain when we get back to Harbor City...everyone should hear this."

Stepping through the corridors they arrived at the wheel house, Atsuko was looking at a map as she plotted a course back to Harbor City. "Atsuko thank you for saving me." 

The raven hair's commander turned back and nodded, "It was the mission plus you need the hand."

Ling frowned, "You wouldn't have had to save me if I wouldn't have gotten kidnapped."

"Ling...things like this are going to happen, we just need to try and make sure it doesn't happen again." Mala said as she placed her hands on Ling's shoulders and smiled.

"You should go rest Avatar, I'm sure the Elder of the South will want to know what happened." Atsuko suggested.

Mala nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I will check on Kazza to see if he is awake." she departed the wheel house.

Atsuko stepped back and looked at the Avatar, brushing the brown hair from her eyes. "I can tell you are worried about Kazza, he is in good hands on this ship they will have him up soon."

Ling was not expecting that as she stepped back she rushed down the stairs her face a little red as she walked through the corridors finding a small room with her name taped to it. She stepped inside to see it was mostly empty except for a small cot attached to the wall. She climbed in and stared at the wall. 'How can I sleep when Kazza got hurt.' She thought to herself.

---

Kazza suddenly shot out of the bed he was laying in his hand gripped tightly around his hand ax as he looked on in fear, the medical officer stood back. "Please...you are safe and back on the Lu Ten."

Kazza's grip loosened sightly as he looked to the bulkhead to see Mala looking at him, as she slowly approached him. "Yup everything is okay now, we got Ling she is safe."

"She is...good." he mumbled as he finally released the ax.

Mala slowly sat down on the bed never breaking eye contact, "What happened in the ship...I mean I haven't known you long but I have seen you fight and I have never seen you look so fearful."

"I...I don't know what I saw down there, my guess...an incarnation of death itself." Kazza said in a tone that sounded like he was scared as he explained the little he was there for during the brief fight with Taso and then the shadow rushing him. "....then I woke up here."

"I've never heard of something like this before we need to go straight to Elder Yuki about this." Mala said as she placed a hand on Kazza's chest, "Now lay back and rest, you still need to heal up, and working yourself up isn't going to help." she spoke softly but was firmly holding Kazza back. He nodded knowing she was correct as he layed back and closed his eyes.

--- 

A few hours had passed before the Lu Ten returned to Harbor City's port, the loading ramp was loaded as Ling, Mala, and Atsuko were met on the docks by Commander Yuan, Elder Yuki and Master Ryou. Ling explain all that had happen on the ship, her capture, Tsao and Junki's plans, the fight, and then Junki's death. Yuki looked pale as if spirits were coming before her, "Something like this should not exist in our world."

Yuan shook his head, "No doubt the North will use this to push for a war."

Ryou stepped forward, "I have an idea...we may not know about this spirit but we can keep both the Avatar safe until she is ready to stand before this thing, and also prevent the North from having any claim to attacking. First...Avatar Ling you will need to leave the South, we will need to put off you learning water bending...at least for now."

Mala looks on is disbelief, "If we run what is to stop the North Water Tribe or that Spirit from attacking us?"

"Because you will be with us." Atsuko interjected, "The Fire Nation maybe a little split at the moment but the North alone can not stand up against both our Naval fleet and our army, besides doesn't the Avatar still need to learn Fire bending?"

Ling looked down, 'I must be the worst Avatar ever...twenty two and I still can't do half of the basic bendings.'

Mala was quick to put her arm around her friend as Yuki spoke up, "But once things die down we can welcome you back and you can get back to your training with Master Ryou."

Ryou smiled and gave a nod, "It is for the best if both you and Kazza were away from here."

Yuan stepped forward, "Commander Atsuko, could you lead me to Kazza. I need to speak with him."

Atsuko nodded as the two departed up the ramp as Yuki placed a hand on Ling's shoulder, "Ling I want you to hold on to something for me." the older women had a smile as she presented a box to the Avatar. "Inside is something that is passed on to someone you deeply care for." 

Ling cracked open the box and inside was the box was the same necklace the guards had thought she stole, the necklace that allowed her to meet Kazza. "Elder Yuki! I can't take this."

Yuki smiled as she keep the box against Ling's hands until she took it, "Take good care of it, this is yours now, you never know when something like this could come in handy."

---

Kazza was resting peacefully with a Fire Nation medic giving him a check over, Yuan was slow to enter he had to give the young man the bad news but he didn't have the heart to wake him. The older man sat down next to the bed, "Commander." Kazza spoke in whisper knowing he was there.

"Kazza....we need to talk, Ling explained to us what happened...but that still leaves what happened. Junki is dead and Taso will blame you, he will try to goat the North into attack us for revenge. So..." Yuan was explaining the situation before Kazza spoke up.

"You need me to leave, for the good of the Tribe." he replied.

Yuan hated that it came to this but until things calmed down it was safer and better if both Ling and Kazza were in the Fire Nation, "Yes Kazza but not just you, Ling as well. We should look at this with some optimism, this is the perfect time for her to focus on Fire Bending."

Kazza could only nod, "As long as Ling is safe then I have done my job."

Yuan slapped the back of Kazza's head, "Don't just focus on that aspect Kazza, be a person and live your life! That is my last order as your Commander and if you don't follow it so help me I will hunt you down myself." the older man laughed.

A knock at the bulkhead caught both of the men's attention, at the opening was Ling the box still in hand. "Commander Yuan we are departing soon."

Yuan smiled, "Thank you Avatar." he replied as he stood up, walking past her gave her nod before leaving.

Ling sat down on the bed as she looked at Kazza, "I never got to thank you."

"Thank me? I should be the one thanking you." he stated as he sat up with a smile.

Ling's face was confused as she puzzled over his words, "What do you mean? You saved me."

"Wrong...I charged in got in a few punches and then got taken out, you drag me out of a sinking ship after freeing yourself from chains." Kazza spoke softly. "So thank you Ling."

Ling smiled and looked away no matter who it was from she still gets red over being treated like this, "We should head up to the deck, we can see the city off together." She was up in one motion as she stuck her hand out for Kazza to take. He laughed and nodded as their hands connected and the pair walked up to the deck together. As they lean on the railings Mala finds them and walks towards them.

"Nice to see you up and about Kazza, did Ling so you the awesome gift from Yuki?" Mala asked.

Kazza shook his head as Ling opened the box, Mala's eyes looked like stars as she watch it, "Look at it isn't it one of the most beautiful necklaces you've ever seen?"

Kazza couldn't help but burst into laughter as he looked at Ling, "So the Avatar-Thief strikes again."

Ling blushed and shook her head, "What no?!"

Mala laughed as well hearing from Yuan about what happened when they had arrived, "Ling I can't believe you....a thief I thought Mistress Wu taught you better." she teased as well.

Ling's face was fully red now as the ship cleared the port and was almost out in open waters, "Mala you were there! You saw her give it to me!"

"I don't know what you are talking about, I can't believe my best friend is a thief." Mala had her hand over her forehead fainting like she was upset. 

Kazza keep it up as well, "Looks like I will have to take you in Ling."