Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Those Bound By Fate II; Journey to Ba Sing Se part 1(The Swamp
Hey there everyone, it's RoseSaiyan2 here again! Hopefully you all enjoyed the last chapter! Since the episode following the Omashu episode was short, I think I'll extend this chapter to include 2 episodes. I did receive a suggestion for Aang to remain single so he could live the true life of a monk, what do you guys think?
Should Aang stay single?
A. Yes
B. No
If yes, should Katara end up with Zuko?
A. Yes
B. No, keep Zuko with Mai
That's pretty much it for now. Be sure to leave a review or comment for the polls.
Disclaimer: RoseSaiyan2 (Novablade 67) does not own the characters belonging to Dbz/ DB super/ ATLA, or Black Clover... He merely owns the plot of this story and the Oc's (original characters).
Opening theme:
Black Summoner op 1: DEAD END by Retbear
Visuals: flashes and introductions of the main cast of this story. Flashes of characters from both sides: team avatar (aang, katara, sokka, odyn, asura, and goku) and Azula's side: (Azula, Ty Lee, Mai, Zuko, and Iroh) shadowed characters are those yet to be introduced (Toph, Khanna).
Chapter 4: Those Bound By Fate II: Journey to Ba Sing Se part 1
A view of a town within the earth kingdom is seen during the day, people going about their own business. The camera then falls upon Iroh and Zuko, two Fire Benders who are disguised in earth kingdom clothing trying to blend in. They were in this particular situation because they were wanted fugitives by the fire nation. This was their attempt at iroh's suggestion to lie low for a bit. Zuko growled silently in disgust.
"Would you spare some coin for some weary travelers?," Iroh asked lofting his hat for a person passing by.
The man put a few coins into the hat and moved on, walking away.
"Much appreciated.," Iroh said thinking the man.
"I can't believe we're having to do this.... This is humilating! We're royalty, people should be giving us whatever we want.," Zuko thought bitterly.
"They will, if you ask nicely.," Iroh said.
Iroh, of course went with the whole beggar trope. He was willing to do anything for the himself and his nephew to get by.
"Please, won't you spare some coin for a hungry old man?," Iroh said lifting his hat out to receive.
A young woman with long black hair and familiar flame colored eyes watched another woman with black hair and a colorful outfit throw a coin into the old man's hat.
"Alright, here you go.," The woman said giggling.
"The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile.," Iroh said with a wink.
Zuko was seen palming his forehead in annoyance and slight disgust of his uncle flirting with a younger woman.
The woman laughed before walking away. The other black haired woman walked by and dropped a handful of coins into iroh's hat as she walked by. This young woman was out on an errand for a certain influentual family within the earth kingdom. As she walked past, Iroh got a glimpse of her unusual eye color. And.. were those pointed... ears he saw? Before he or Zuko could say much, she'd already vanished from sight.
A young man with two swords came walking up to them with a devious smirk on his face.
"How about some entertainment, for... a gold piece?," The man asked flashing the coin.
Zuko was seen crossing his arms and glaring at the man.
"We're not performers.," Zuko said.
"At least we're not professionally. Ahem!," Iroh said as he then began to sing.
"🎶 It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se.. But the girls in the city, they look so pretty! 🎶," Iroh sang.
The young swordsman was not impressed and unsheathed his swords.
"Come on! We're talking about a gold piece here, let's see some action! Dance, Old man!," The man said.
He began swinging his swords at Iroh's feet, making him dance to avoid being cut as he sang.
"🎶 They kiss so sweet, that you're really glad to meet. The girls from Ba Sing Se 🎶!," Iroh said as he finished his song.
Zuko was seen to be frustrated as he tightened his grip upon his knees in anger. He was upset his uncle had to humiliate himself just to entertain this man.
The swordsman finished making Iroh dance and laughed.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha, nothing like watching a fat man dance for his dinner! Here you go.," The man said tossing a gold coin into the large hat Iroh had with him.
He then walked off as Iroh sat down. He smiled as he remarked on the experience.
"Such a kind man..," Iroh said smiling pensively.
Zuko said nothing, he simply glared at the man.
The young woman from earlier simply turned around and headed back to where she came from. Iroh stared at her retreating form.
"Those eyes... where have I seen them before?," Iroh wondered while continuing his begging for him and his nephew.
With the gaang...
The group flew on top of Appa with Aang looking at the swamp below. Odyn raised an eyebrow at this, he was curious as to why Aang was taking them into the swamp.
Asura and Goku wondered that to, but they didn't want to be the one to say it to him. Odyn sighed and decided to be the one to ask.
"So... Aang... Is there a reason you're taking us down to the swamp?," Odyn asked.
"Aang!," Sokka said.
"Huh?," Aang asked snapping out of the trance he was in.
"Is there a reason you're having us go down?," Sokka asked.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't even notice.," Aang answered.
"Did you notice it now?," the teen asked.
Odyn then spoke up as he and the others just wanted to know what Aang was thinking.
"Aang there's no wrong answer. What's on your mind?," Odyn asked.
Aang said before he decided to just tell them.
"Okay. Well, this may sound kinda weird but.. it felt like the swamp was.. calling to me.," Aang answered.
"It.. was calling to you?," Goku asked.
"Yeah. Almost like... it wants me to land there.," Aang said.
Sokka looked around.
"Well, I don't see any land to land on.," Sokka said.
"I dunno.. Bumi said to wait and listen. And I can hear the earth, do you want me to just ignore it?," Aang asked.
Sokka, Momo, and Katara peered over Appa's saddle.
"Yes.," Sokka answered.
Appa roared, a sign Sokka took as an agreement.
"See? Even Appa and Momo don't like it here.," Sokka said.
"Well... if you feel that strongly about it, okay. Bye, Swamp. Appa, yip yip.," Aang said.
The sky bison then ascended away from the swamp. Odyn then heard something from behind them. Sokka turned and his eyes widened, there was a tornado coming directly towards them.
"Aang! You might need another Yip! Look behind us!," Sokka warned.
Aang saw the twister heading towards them and tried steering Appa away from the twister. Unfortunately, the winds to the twister were too strong and they were being pulled into it. Sokka almost flew away if not for his sister grabbing him. She pulled him back in as Odyn, Goku, and Asura all attempted to help Aang keep a protective wind barrier around them as they were sucked into the center of the twister.
Unfortunately, the winds were too strong as Aang couldn't keep his barrier of Air bending around them due to the strain. The group was swung around in different directions and flung violently to the ground and into the swamp. Appa and Momo were blown away into a different direction than the group of teens, and became separated from them. After then teens got up, Odyn was seen to be offering a hand towards Katara. The water bender smiled at him and took the offered hand.
"Are you okay, Katara?," He asked.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Geez, that hurt...," She said rubbing her sore back.
"Need some help getting up there?,"He asked offering the girl a hand.
"Oh, you're so kind. Thank you, Odyn.," She said as she allowed him to help her stand.
Aang stood up, not seeing Appa and began to wonder where they went.
"Where's Appa and Momo?," the avatar asked.
Odyn also raised an eyebrow at this upon not seeing their furry companions.
"Good question, Aang. If they're not here, it can only mean they were flung off somewhere different than we were.," Odyn replied.
Asura spoke up.
"Let's go find them.," Asura said.
"Right.," Goku said with a determined look on his face.
While Aang ascended the trees, the other 5 teens looked at ground level to see if they could find the sky bison and flying lemur.
"Appa! Momo!," Aang called out for them.
Katara then pointed at her brother as she noticed something on his arm.
"Sokka, you've got an elbow leech.," Katara said.
Sokka of course started to freak out, trying to find the leech attached to him. The girl deadpanned as she watched her brother freak out over nothing.
"Where?! Where?!," The teens asked in a panic.
"Where do you think?," she said with a deadpan look.
Sokka pulled the leech off of his elbow in frstration.
"Gah! why do things keep on attaching themselves to me?!," Sokka said as tossed away the swamp creature.
Odyn, Goku, and Asura all returned at the same time Aang did.
"No luck?," Katara asked.
Odyn shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no.," Odyn replied.
Aang swung back down to them, causing Katara to look up.
"You couldn't find them?," Katara asked.
Aang landed as he responded.
"No. And the tornado from earlier, it.. just disappeared.," Aang replied.
This caused the teens to look further ahead in the swamp they now found themselves in.
The scene then transitions to a view of Appa tangled up in vines, unable to move anywhere. He tries moving, but unfortunately cannot as he's entangled with the vines. Momo, who sat on top of the bison in his saddle then gets the brilliant idea to chew through the vines.
Eventually Appa is freed, but he plummets to the water with a splash amidst momo's animal screams. Appa briefly shakes himself off before attempting to fly, only to end up tangled again by more vines. The bison grunts again as if he's telling momo to chew through the vines again. Not wasting any time, Momo flies towards the bison and gets to work on freeing the furry bison from the vines again.
Back with the Gaang...
Sokka is seen to be chopping away at the vines on the swamp to clear a path for them. Odyn and Asura were in the middle, with Goku watching their backs.
"We need to hurry up and find a way out of here.," Sokka said.
"Um.. sokka. The longer we're here, the more I think you really shouldn't be doing that.," Aang said trying to warn his friend.
Sokka just brushed it off.
"Ah, don't worry about it Aang, it's fine.," Sokka said confidently.
Odyn and the two saiyans just continued to watch their backs silently. The blue haired dark teen then spoke up.
"I'm with Aang on this one, sokka. Something about this places feels almost... alive in a sense.," the flame eyed dark teen said.
"I'm sure there are lots of things alive in here. If we don't want to end up getting eaten by them, we need to find Appa as fast as we can.," Sokka said.
The others shrugged as they continued forward. While they weren't looking, the camera pans to the view of something within the swamp watching the group, namely watching Sokka chop through the vines with his machete.
"Appa? Momo?," Katara called.
"There's no way they can hear us and no way we can see them. We have to make camp for the night.," Sokka said.
Katara deadpanned because of her brother's idiocy.
"Did you forget who else is with us, Sokka?," She said gesturing to Odyn, Asura, and Goku.
"Oh. Heh heh, my bad.," Sokka said in apology.
"Not to worry, Sokka. We're all tired, so it's understandable.," Goku said.
"Anything, Odyn?," Asura asked.
Odyn had his eyes closed as he listened for anything sounding like Appa and Momo. He stretched out his senses as far as he could, given the fog. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear or sense their furry friends.
"No, nothing.," Odyn said shaking his head.
Something hit sokka in the face, but it was revealed to just be bugs. That didn't stop sokka from swinging his machete at them to scatter the swarm of them. A small cloud of gas came into view, that slightly spooked Katara.
"W-What was that?!," she asked on edge.
"Nothing, just swamp gas. There's nothing supernatural going on here.," Sokka said waving away the gas before the group covered their noses due to the stench from the gas.
Their teens then were put on edge by what sounded like a horror scream, only for it to be revealed that it was a bird making that noise. The bird made the noise again with Katara, Aang and Sokka huddling up before nervously looking around.
"I think we sould build a fire.,"Sokka said before dashing away to do just that.
The group then follows Sokka who is seen to be chopping wood from a nearby swamp tree.
"Sokka, the longer we're here, the more I think you shouldn't be doing that.," Aang said.
"No, I asked the swamp. It said this was fine.," Sokka said before grabbing a nearby branch and imitating a high pitched voice.
"No problem, Sokka.," the teen said in the imitated voice.
The rest of the group just stared blankly at him as he kept chopping limps to make firewood. Aang had his eyebrow raised and alomst twitching in annoyance, while the rest of the group just looked on in pity.
Short time skip
After making a fire, the group sat around in a small circle. Odyn sat on one knee, looking, while the others were huddled together around the small fire.
"Does anyone else get the feeling that we're being watched?," Katara asked.
Sokka wasn't amused and just brushed off the thought.
"Please, we're all alone out here.," Sokka said indifferent.
He then tried swatting away more bugs before a bright light shined in the middle of their group, it flew away. But not before revealing hundreds of other eyes watching them.
"Except for them...," Aang said a little scared.
The saiyans and Odyn set their jaws in a firm line as if they were ready to fight, while Aang, Katara, and Sokka all huddled together in fright.
"Right, except for them.," Sokka said spooked.
[A/N: I'm going to skip Appa and Momo for now because while funny their scenes aren't really necessary to the plot of this chapter lol 😂]
Timeskip: Later...
The fire had died down and the group of teens was seen to be sleeping. The camera goes to a view of something within the swamp watching the teens sleep. Vines spread towards the trio of Aang, Katara, and Sokka and wrap around them. Odyn, Goku, and Asura noticed the vines and jumped to escape them. Unfortunately, their ither friends weren't so lucky and were jolted awake by being yanked away from their friends by the vines.
Aang and Katara were pulled off somewhere with Sokka sticking his machete into the ground and cutting through the vines wrapped around him. He tumbled down the tree limp into the water as vines pursued him.
Odyn was seen to be fighting off vines that came right at him using his hand to hand combat as he really didn't want to be using his fire bending while they were in the swamp. But the rate at which the vines were coming at him was making it extremely difficult for him not to rely on said fire bending. He was still careful, because he didn't want to anger whatever was dwelling in the swamp.
Goku and Asura were also fighting off vines that attacked them, the former using his ki to blast the vines off of him in short bursts. This was to conserve his energy. No sense in wasting ut when he may need it later to defend himself and his friends.
Asura used mostly his raw strength to break off the vines that wrapped around him before he continued to fight them off. A few of the vines got dangerously close to squeezing his tail when he noticed and made a ki blade to quickly sever the vines. He spat off to the side in annoyance.
"No one touches my tail.," Asura said angered.
It then cuts to Katara fighting off the vines using her water bending to create a water whip. Using this, she broke herself free while defending against the vines trying to ensnare her.
Aang is seen to be trapped by the vines as well, qnd struggling to free himself. He then spreads his arms using his airbending to trick the vines as he temporarily escapes them. They wrap around his ankle before he used his air bending again to launch himself out of harm's way.
He then looks around, but hears nothing.
"Guys?," He asks wondering where his friends went.
It then transitions to Katara as she looks for her friends. She calls out for them.
"Aang? Sokka? Goku? Asura? Odyn? Anyone?," She calls out.
She continues to search until she spots something... or someone in the distance.
"Hello? Hello? Can you help me? I'm looking for my friends and it seems we were separated.," Katara asked as she walked forward.
She squints her eyes to see better as she walks forward more. She thought maybe she saw her mother and begins sprinting towards the figure.
"Mom?... Mom!," She said sprinting toward the figure.
She's seen smiling with tears in her eyes as she reaches the figure. Reaching out to get a better look at the face of the figure her smile then disappeared.
"I can't believe..," she stops and then plops to the ground weeping as she mistook a rock for her deceased mother.
However.. something strange then occurred, a ghostly figure spoke to her.
"Dear girl, what's wrong?," A woman spoke.
Katara didn't turn, but answered.
"I.. I miss my mother.," Katara answered.
The figure smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry dear... Her death still weighs on you, doesn't it?," The woman asked.
"Y.. Yeah. I know she died when I was young but.. I just..," Katara said still sobbing.
"Grief is never something easy to overcome. It all depends on what you do with such feelings.," Tye woman said.
Katara looked up and saw the woman. What she saw surprised her. The woman had long purple hair and dark skin. She wore a water tribe themed dress with a sash or jacket over top. She had beautiful long ears, but tye most striking feature were her eyes. They were like fire. Now where had she seen that eye color before?
"Who... are you?," Katara asked.
The woman chuckled beforegiving Katara a short hug to calm her down.
"I am.. someone you will know, but do not know yet. Please, I ask that you continue to help Odyn, he is someone very dear to me.," Tge woman said.
"How do you know Odyn?," Katara asked wary.
"You will find out, in time. He will need your help in the future, I ask that you please provide him your aid and understanding.," The woman replied.
Katara nodded.
"I.. understand. Odyn's my friend, so of course I'll help him.," Tge water bender responded.
The woman chuckled before becoming serious.
"You will be forced to make a choice in the future, should you choose to help Odyn.. all will become clear to you.," The lavender haired woman said.
Katara nodded in response.
"I.. understand. I'll keep your words in mind.," Katara replied.
The woman then smiled before her figure gave way to rays of sunlight shining where the water bender ended up within the swamp.
With Sokka...
Sokka cut through vines as he continued to search for his friends. He called out for them.
"Dumb stupid.. vines! Aang! Katara! Goku! Asura! Odyn! Anyone?," He called out.
He then saw a figure in the distance, but rubbed his eyes, thinking he was just seeing things.
"What the... Yue? I'm seeing things.. must be the fog.," Sokka told himself.
He continued forward when the figure suddenly was in front of him.
"Yue?," Sokka asked confused.
"You failed to protect me.," The figure said.
Sokka jumped back in fright only to notice the figure not there anymore. Just when he thought he was done seeing things, another figure appeared before him. This one was a young woman with long and silky black hair down to her mid back. She also had dark skin and pointed.... ears? Sokka shook his head quickly to find out if he was just seeing things. Nope, they were still there. But, the one feature that stood out about this young woman were her eyes. Her eyes were the same color as Odyn's were... that piercing fiery orange color, almost like she was looking through to your soul.
She also had emerald green armor on with yellows and browns mixed in to be her boots and skirt that was like a cape. Sokka was shocked, surpised, but also.. drawn to her somehow? That was odd. He'd never even met this girl before! But for some reason... he was still drawn towards her.
"Hooh? You seem lost, human.," The woman said.
Sokka nodded his head.
"Uh y-yeah... I was separated from my sister and friends and I'm not sure where I am right now. You think you could help me?," Sokka asked.
The girl chuckled.
"You don't need me to find them, human. You're already where you need to be. I've simply assisted in guiding you.", She said.
Sokka was of course more than a little confused by this. He'd never seen this girl before and now she was claiming to have led him towards his friends? It was a little hard to believe, so of course he was skeptical.
"Who.. are you? And how do I know this isn't a trick?," Sokka asked skeptical.
The girl chuckled before responding.
"Believe me, don't believe me, do whatever you want. The choice is up to you to decide what to do with the info I've provided you.," The girl said.
Sokka stared at her and... for some reason.. he had the feeling to trust her. He didn't know why, but for some inexplicable reason, something inside of him told him he could trust this girl.
He sighs.
"Alright, I'll believe you. I hope this doesn't get me killed.," Sokka said as he walked in the direction this girl motioned towards.
She smiled at him and looked over her shoulder before saying one last thing to the water tribe teen.
"Remember, Sokka, never let your past haunt you. It does not define who you are. Instead of looking at your mistakes as failures, use them as motivation to be stronger, better the next time you are put into a similar situation. You are more than your past defines you as.," The girl said.
Sokka thought upon her words. She was right, he couldn't let his failure to protect Yue, define who he was going forward. He was appreciative of the encouragement this strange girl gave to him in the middle of a swamp. However when he turned around to thank her, the girl was gone.
"Did.. I just imagine that?," Sokka wondered in confusion.
As he thought about it, he shook his head. There was no way that wasn't real. Whoever that girl was... he had a feeling that he would see her again soon. He turned and walked off. The figure of the girl smiled at his retreating form.
"Yes... We will meet again, Sokka. And this time.. We'll meet for real.," The girl thought as the figure then disappeared with the fog.
With Aang...
In another part of the swamp, Aang was seen searching for his friends. He was even calling out for them to see if they'd answer at all.
"Katara! Appa!", He called before jumping to another branch of a tree to search.
He called out for his friends again.
"Odyn! Goku? Asura? Sokka! Momo?"
No answer, so he tried again.
"Anyone?," He called out.
He continued walking forward, looking left and right. After a bit of walking, he came to a clearing where he saw what looked to be a winged boar and... a black haired girl with a green and yellow dress on? Okay, that was a bit strange.
"Hello? Who are you?," Aang asked.
The girl just laughed and leapt away from him. Aang was wide eyed as he chased after the girl.
"Hey! Come back!," He said reaching his hand out and jumping after her.
He leapt up onto a ledge with his air bending as he looked around for the girl in the dress. He heard the sound of laughter behind him in a tree as he turned and saw the girl run away again. He chased after her, leaping up and swinging on some vines to catch up to her.
As he swung in the direction he thought the girl ran in, she's seen running on the ground and behind a tree. Aang eyes widen as he hears laughter from... behind him now? He reverses course and swung back in the direction that he heard laughter from, landing on the ground. Once on the ground, he ran towards the treeline that he heard the laughter come from.
He runs on the ground before crossing under some branches that the girl is seen running across as she laughs. Aang hears this and redirects to where the laughter was heard, jumping towards a tree and making his way towards the girl's direction.
Meanwhile....
Odyn also called out for his friends as he made his way through the swamp. He even tried sensing for their energy signatures. Sadly, that proved to be a fruitless endeavor as he continued searching.
"Aang? Katara? Sokka? Goku? Asura?," He called out for his friends.
No answer.
Odyn continued making his way forward as he looked left and right.
As the dark teen moved forward, he came across some rather thick fog. The teen tried dispursing it with a burst of his ki, only for the fog to get thicker. He waded through the swamp waters before he saw a certain figure... one he never thought he'd ever see again. It.. was... his father, Berethon.
Odyn rubbed his eyes, just to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Sure enough, he was still there. The figure turned and smiled at the boy. Odyn couldn't take it, he rushed towards his dad.
"Dad? Dad!,"Odyn said rushing up to the man.
He tackled his father with a hug as tears streamed down his face.
"Dad! I thought you were..," Odyn began before the figure spoke.
"I know, son. I'm sorry that I had to leave you so soon... My, look at how you've grown. I'm proud of you my boy.," Berethon said.
"D-Dad... I.. *hic* *sniffles* If only.. I were stronger at the time, I could've..," Odyn said in tears.
The man spoke again as he took his son by the shoulders.
"Don't Odyn. It is a parent's duty to protect their child. I was simply doing what any Father would do for their own son. Your mother knows that and... I believe you know that too.., don't you?," Berethon told him.
Odyn wiped away the tears, still sniffling and nodded.
"Yeah...," Odyn said subdued.
Berethon smiled again as he spoke once more.
"I see you've found someone you care for then. That's good. That was always something your mother worried about, even in the midst of her grieving my death. But listen to me son... I don't have much time left to talk, so listen carefully. What I have to tell you is important.," He said.
Odyn listened intently.
Berethon continued.
"You.. are not the only one of your kind who still live... There are others. They're scattered, but they still yet live.," Berethon told him.
Odyn was surprised by this news.
"Dad.. what.. do you mean by that? I'm human, aren't I? What do you mean by others of my kind?," Odyn asked thoroughly confused.
Berethon grimly smiled as he spoke again.
"All I can tell you is this: You're far more than you've been told. What you are exactly... That is something you will have to discover for yourself, my son.," Berethon answered.
Odyn was still confused by this cryptic answer.
"How? How do I find out what I am?," Odyn asked.
Berethon sighed before smiling at his son and answering him.
"It may not be for a bit, but when the opportunity presents itself... Go to the library hidden in the desert. The answers to all of your questions lie there.," He said.
Odyn nodded.
"I'll do that, dad. ," Odyn said.
Berethon appeared to look behind him as another figure with same colored eyes appeared. He had deep crimson hair, dark skin, pointed ears just like Odyn did, and wore a black hooded tunic with blue boots and green camoflage colored pants. Odyn was confused by this and asked who this other figure was.
"What the... Who are you.. no.. I.. know you somehow, but.. how?," Odyn said perplexed.
The second figure grinned as he spoke.
"I'm certain that you'll discover that soon.," The figure said.
The sun began to break through as the two figures began to fade.
"Dad, wait!," Odyn said reaching out towards him.
"Be well, my son. And don't worry, we will talk again soon. For now, your friends wait for you. Go Odyn.," Berethon said before adding one last thing.
"I love you, my son. And I will always be watching over you.," Berethon said as he and the other figure faded into the rays of sunlight.
Odyn looked up towards the treeline with a sad smile.
"I know, Dad. Thank you... I'm glad I was able to talk to you again.. if only for a few moments.," Odyn said sadly smiling.
He turned and dashed off towards where he felt that his friends were near.
With Goku...
Goku had been separated from Asura somehow and was fumbling around in the swamp. That was until he stopped, suddenly bumping in to...
"Ow geez! What'd I hit?," Goku said before looking and seeing his.. brother?
"What the... "
"Goku/Asura!," They both said at the same time.
The darker skinned teen then got up and offered Goku a hand.
"Need a hand, bro?," Asura asked.
Goku gladed accepted the hand as he stood up to his feet.
"Where.. are we exactly?," Asura asked.
The two looked around, deciding to see if they could locate the others. As they searched, the heard what appeared to be rushing water coming from behind them. When they looked, it was Appa and Momo running away from a few boats with men that appeared to be benders chasing them.
"You see that?," Goku asked.
Asura nodded.
"That was Appa and Momo!," He replied.
"Well? Come on then! Let's go after them!," Goku suggested.
Asura nodded as the two saiyan brothers then ignited their ki around them before rocketing after their furry friends. They didn't fully understand why Appa and Momo were being chased, but they'd help them if at all possible.
Back with Aang...
Aang continued chasing after the girl in the dress. He didn't know where he was going, but he wanted to see where this girl was taking him. Jumping down, he ran after her as he continued to try and find where this mystery girl was leading him.
He finally came to a clearing, pulling back some foliage from the swamp as the girl had apparently stopped running.
"Who are you?," Aang asked pulling back the foliage and walking into the clearing.
As Aang ran after the girl in the white dress and reaching out his hand towards her, it suddenly morphed into Katara as he neared her.
"AHH!," Aang screamed as he unfortunately could not slow down in time.
"AHH!," Katara also screamed in fright.
Aang bumped into Katara as the two careened off the edge unable to stop their momentum. Sokka was nearby as he readied his machete in case anything popped out in front of him. Aang and Katara crashed into his back, sending the trio sliding down a large root before stopping.
After all three sat back up, Sokka screamed in annoyance.
"What do you guys think you're doing?! I've been looking all over for you two!," Sokka said raising his hand in the air while doing other random gestures before placing his hands on his hips.
Katara turned her head to look at her brother as she spoke up in response.
"Well I've been looking for you, sokka!," Katara replied.
Aang looked down as he joined the conversation.
"I was chasing some girl.," Aang added.
He used his air bending to stand to his feet.
"What girl?," Katara asked looking up at him.
"I dunno. I heard laughing and saw some girl in a fancy dress.," Aang said as he helped Katara to her feet.
Katara looked around confused.
"Has... anyone seen Odyn, Goku, or Asura yet?," Katara asked.
No sooner had the words left her mouth then the dark teen had spoken to direct their attention to him.
"You mean me, Katara?," a familiar voiced asked.
The trio of teens looked up and smiled at their friend.
"Odyn!," They all said before the blue haired teen floated to the ground.
"Where have you been? We looked all over for you.," Katara asked.
"I.. got lost and then... I spoke to..my birth father.," Odyn said.
Aang had a look of concern for their friend.
"Your birth dad?," Sokka asked.
Odyn nodded.
"Yeah... my real Dad... from... nearly a decade ago.," Odyn answered.
"You.. spoke to him?,"Aang asked.
Odyn nodded again.
"Yeah. I don't know how, but i did.," Odyn said.
That was a little strange to them because from what they heard, Odyn's birth father had been dead for a really long time. So.. how was it even possible for Odyn to speak to him when he was dead?
Katara then looked down and closed her eyes.
"I.. thought I saw mom.," Katara said somberly.
Aang and Odyn had sympathetic looks on their faces when Katara said this. Sokka then spoke his he looked down in thought for a moment.
"Look, we were all just scared and hungry and tired and our minds were playing tricks on us. That's why we saw things out here.," Sokka said.
Katara turned towards him.
"You saw something too?," Katara asked.
Sokka then turned away as he responded.
"I thought I saw Yue, but that doesn't prove anything. Look, I think about her all the time too. And you saw Mom, someone you miss alot.," Sokka explained.
Odyn decided to speak up concerning something that had been bothering him about this whole thing.
"Sokka and you too, Katara. Both of you also saw someone that you didn't know immediately after your lived ones, didn't you?," Odyn asked.
Both water tribe siblings looked at Odyn surprised.
"Now that you mention it...," Katara said aloud in thought.
"Yeah, come to think of it...," Sokka said replying similarly.
Aang looked towards Odyn.
"Did you also see someone you didn't know, Odyn?," Aang asked.
Odyn nodded.
"I did. Though... it was weird. I had the feeling that I did know him, though I've certainly never seen him before.," Odyn answered.
"What about me? I didn't know the girl I saw.," Aang said.
No one had an answer for that.
"And yet.. all of our visions led us here..," Aang said.
"Okay.. so where's here? The middle of the swamp?," Katara asked shrugging before gesturing towards the swamp below them.
Aang turned and looked above them.
"Yeah... The Center. It's the heart of the swamp. It's been calling to us, I knew it!," Aang said smiling.
"It's just a tree. It can't call anyone! For the last time, there's nothing after us. And there's nothing magical happening here.," Sokka said.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss it, Sokka. There's definitely something about this swamp that isn't.. normal.," Odyn said.
As soon as the words leave his mouth , water splashes near them revealing a giant monster made out of vines.
The teens scream in fright (with the exception of Odyn, who just stares at the creature before jumping away from it. He eyed it, feeling something was definitely off about it.
The creature grabbed sokka as he tried running from it, attempting to drown him a minute later. Aang sees this and Air bends a blade of wind at the creature, cutting its viney arm off and making it drop Sokka. The monster sends some vines back at Aang knocking him away. Sokka is seen cutting through vines that ensnared him before looking up.
The creature regrows its arm back and is about to grab Sokka again, only to kicked in the stomach by Odyn. This sent the monster flying backwards before skidding to a halt in the waters. Katara bends water, surfing towards it before slicing through its shoulder, causing it to back away slightly. It staggered for a brief moment, healing its damaged shoulder. The vine creature recovered and attacked both Katara and Odyn again. Katara used her water bending to force it back against a raised tree root.
The girl approached the vine creature, parting the water and rushing at it. She was then hit by another pair of Vines and forced back, just as Aang came back to help.
The girl was sent flying, catching the attention of Aang, who was promptly sent flying by vines as well. Odyn rushed at the creature as it tried to attack him, missing him several times. As he got close though, another pillar of vines shot at him from the body of the creature. The teen managed to block the oncoming attack before burning through the vines with his fire bending.
Sokka who had escaped briefly was captured again by the creature. It was attempting to absorb him after Aang and Katara were knocked away, only for Odyn to free him with a fire blade he had conjured up. It slightly burned the monster as the duo skidded back on the water, prepared to fight the creature again.
"Oh, thank you!," Sokka cried out in relief.
Odyn looked forward.
"Don't thank me yet, here it comes again Sokka!," Odyn replied.
Sokka pulled out his machete, as he and Odyn prepared to engage the monster once more.
With Goku and Asura....
The pair of Saiyan brothers flew after the benders in boats chasing Appa and Momo. They saw the benders closing in on their two furry friends before the lemu started throwing stuff at the benders.
They raised their eyebrows at the curious spectacle. Momo took a rolled up shirt and tossed it at one of the other benders, blocking his vision.
"Now what would a lemu need a shirt for?," The man in the boat chasing the animals asked aloud.
The other bender in the boat next to them had fallen out of the boat and bounced on the water before falling in. Appa managed to slip underneath a raised tree root, Momo wasn't so fortunate as he was caught and put inside of a bag. Goku and Asura slightly increased their speed to close in on the benders chasing Appa.
The lead boats didn't notice, but the trailing boat did.
The benders turned around surprised, but before they could say anything, Goku and Asura hit them with fists to the face causing the screen to flash for a moment.
Back with Odyn, Katara, Aang, and Sokka....
Odyn and Sokka charged at the monster again. Sokka was swinging his machete at the vines as they came towards him. Unfortunately, ut wasn't fast enough as he was captured yet again by the monster. Odyn saw this and worked with Aang and Katara to free Sokka.
Aang used his air bending ti create a small twister to tangle up the monster, while Katara used her water bending abilities to freeze the spot her brother was in before removing the block of ice from the creature's chest. She then shot water through the chest of the beast, while Odyn amplified its impact using his ki to imitate Aang's air bending.
When the water tribe sibling came through the other side and away from the monster, it healed itself quickly. The monster then proceeded to chase after them again.
Aang used his air bending to push the monster into the water, face first. As he stood in front of it, he was quickly batted away again. Katara saw this this and bent the water to resemble blades as it cut through the vines, Odyn joined her using his fire bending to mimic the attacks of his friend.
The monster tried defending itself by crossing its arms. As the limbs fell it was revealed that there was someone inside the viny creature controlling it, something Sokka noticed.
"There's someone in there! He's bending the vines!," Sokka said.
Katara then turned using her water bending to create a blade of water that sliced the top half of the monster off. They thought it was over, before vines shot up again, capturing Katara this time.
Aang came back, using his air bending to push the creature back with Odyn mimicing his friend.
The older bender's face was shown as he tried bending the vines to attack again.
"Oh no you don't!," Odyn said using his fire bending to burn up the vines approaching them.
"Why did you call me here if you just wanted to kill us?," Aang asked with a serious look.
The older bender spoke making the vines fall.
"Wait! I didn't call you here.," The man said fell, revealing him.
The other teens looked at each other in confusion.
"We were flying over when I heard something calling to me, telling me to land.," Aang said as the other looked on still in defensive stances.
"He's the avatar, stuff like that happens alot.," Sokka said.
"The Avatar.. Well, come with me then.," The man said.
The teens looked prnsively at each other before Odyn spoke up.
"It's alright guys. I... have a feeling we can trust this guy. It's weird but.. I can tell he wants to help us.," Odyn said.
The others looked at each other again before shrugging.
"If you say so, Odyn. We trust you.," Aang said.
Odyn nodded and smiled at his friend.
"Thanks, Aang, guys.," Odyn said.
The group of teens then decided to follow the older man as the screen faded to the giant tree in the swamp. Katara spoke as they wanted to know who this man was.
"So... who are you then?," Katara asked.
The man bent a vine out of their path as he answered her question.
"I protect the swamp from people that want to hurt it, like this fellow with his big knife.," The man said as the others walked ahead.
Sokka stopped as he spoke up.
"See? Completely reasonable. Not a monster, just a regular guy defending his home. Nothing "mystical" about it.," Sokka said as he sheathed his machete.
The group continued to climb as their conversation continued.
"Oh the swamp is a mystical place alright. It's sacred. I reached enlightenment right here under the Banyon Grove tree. I heard it calling to me, just like you did.," The man said as he then sat down.
The group stopped and looked up at the tree.
"Sure you did... It seems real chatty.," Sokka replied still a bit skeptical.
"See this whole swamp is really just one big tree spread out over miles. Branches spread, then sink and take root, then spread some more. One big living organism. Just like the entire world.," the man said as the camera pans out from them to the tree.
From there it pans out more to an overhead view of the entire swamp. The camera then comes back as Aang us seen looking up at the tree before looking back at the older bender who guided them to the tree.
"I get how the tree is one big thing... but, the whole world?," Aang asked.
Odyn just listened, saying nothing.
"Sure. You think you're any different from me, or your friends, or even this tree for that matter?"
The group of teens continued to listen.
"If you listen hard enough, you can hear every living thing breathing together. You can feel everything growing. We're all living together, even if most folks don't act like it. We all have the same roots and we are all branches of the same tree.," The man explained.
"But what did our visions mean?," Katara asked.
"In the swamp we see visions of people we've lost, people we love. Folks we think are gone, but the swamp tell us they're not. We're still coonected to them.," He said as the camera flashes to the people Katara, Sokka, and Odyn all had visions of.
It then returns to the man as he continued to answer Katara's question.
"Time is an illusion and so is death.," the man said.
"But what about my vision? It was someone I had never met.," Aang asked.
" Well, you're the Avatar. You tell me.," the man answered.
This got Aang to think on his words.
"Time is an illusion... So.. it's someone I will meet?," Aang answered.
The man nodded and smiled.
Sokka then got up, stretching.
"Sorry to interrupt the lesson, but we still need to find Appa and Momo.. as well as Goku and Asura.," Sokka said standing to his feet.
Odyn looked towards Aang.
"You have an idea of hiw to find them, don't you Aang?," Odyn asked.
This caused Katara and Sokka to look towards Aang.
"Wait, you do?," Katara asked.
Aang nodded as he stood to his feet.
"Yeah....," Aang said as he closed hus eyes.
"Everything is... connected.," Aang said kneeling as he closed his eyes and put his hand on the tree root.
His tattoo's lit up as a light then began to race down the roots of the tree as he searched for their friends.
Roots were shown before coming to a white void and a clearing, where Appa was shown being caught by some people in a boat. Asura and Goku were then seen nearby fighting off some benders in boats while the benders who caught Appa sailed down the waterway.
Aang then stood as he opened his eyes.
"Did you find them, Aang?," Odyn asked.
Aang nodded.
"Come on, we gotta hurry! They're in trouble.," Aang said.
The camera then transitions to boats floating down the waterway as boats haul Appa behind them. Goku and Asura are seen to be silently trailing the group.
They're minding their own business before they stop and a wave of water knocks over a boat, sending the benders flying into the water. Aang then lands on a branch, seeing his sky bison caught inside of a net.
"Appa!," Aang said before blasting the one who held the bag with Momo inside of it into the water with his air bending.
Katara, Sokka, and Odyn all show up beside Aang. This was the signal Goku and Asura needed as they sprung out from their hiding spot to join their friends.
"We're under attack!," the skinnier bender said bending water.
He sent the wave towards Katara and Aang with each fighting for dominance of the water wave.
"Hey... you guys are water benders.," Katara said in realization.
"You too? That means we're kin.," The other bender said.
The other group with Odyn, Goku, and Asura momentarily stopped fighting to look at the spectacle they were seeing in confusion.
"Uh... did I.. hear that right?," Goku asked aloud.
Sokka and the old man then ran up to join Aang and Katara. The green clad bender recognized the old man.
"Hey Yu, how you been?," The bender asked.
The man spoke.
"Oh you know, scared some folks and flung some vines. The usual.," The man known as Yu replied.
It then panned to the group of teens who had looks ranging from curious, to puzzled, to slightly annoyed in the case of Sokka and Katara.
Later...
Evening came and the group built a camp fire as they sat in a circle, eating dinner.
"So how do like that possum chicken?," The bender from earlier asked.
Sokka looked down at it.
"It's good. It tastes just like arc de ken.," Sokka said.
Odyn spoke up.
"Maybe you can answer something for us.. uh bo, right?," Goku asked.
Bo nodded.
"Sure.," he said with a grin.
"Why exactly were you guys so interested in eating Appa?," Odyn asked.
"You guys got plenty of those big things wandering around.," Sokka added pointingbto the gator behind them.
"You want me to eat ol' slim? He's like a member of the family.," Bo replied feeding the gator like creature a fish.
"Nice slim...," Sokka said throwing food towards the creature.
This only made the creature growl and hiss at him, spooking the poor boy. Bo laugged at this reaction.
"He don't eat no bugs. That's people food.," Bo said.
"Where'd you say you people was from?," the other bender asked.
"The South Pole."
"We're uh... from the Fire Nation. Fugitives though.," Odyn said nervously laughing.
"Didn't know there was water benders anywhere but here. They have a nice swamp up there?," the other bender that was referred to as "jack" asked.
"No, it's all Ice and snow.," Katara replied.
"Hmm.. no wonder you left.," Jack replied.
"Well I hope you realize now that nothing strange is going on here. Just a bunch of greasy people living in the swamp.," Sokka said.
Katara spoke again.
"What about those visions?," Katara asked.
"I told you, we were hungry. And I'm eating a giant bug!," Sokka said before taking a bite of it and swallowing.
He let his tongue hang out in disgust.
"But what about when the tree showed me where Appa, Momo, Goku, and Asura were?," Aang asked.
"That's Avatar stuff, that doesn't count. The only thing I can't figure out is how you made the tornado that sucked us down into the swamp.," Sokka said.
Yu spoke in response to Sokka's claim.
"I can't do anything like that. I just bend the water into plants.," Yu replied.
"Well no accounting for weather. Still there's absolutely nothing mysterious about the swamp.," Sokka said.
The camera pans away from them and onto a branch with the same bird making the horror screech before it's smacked away into the camera by a plants root.
The camera then transitions into the moon and down to the same town Zuko and Iroh were in earlier. A figure walking through an alleyway as he's followed by someone.
The same swordsman from earlier in the episode turns and unsheathes his swords.
"Who's there?," He asked.
Seeing no one, he turns back around.
He starts to walk away, when he's suddenly grabbed by a pair of arms and then tossed into crates. His swords clattering onto the ground.
A figure walked out with a blue and white mask as he picked up the swords and stared at the downed man.
The screen then fades to black.
To be continued....
Ending theme: Twin Star Exorcists ending 1 (Eyes)
Visuals: replace the characters with Odyn (being the boy instead of Rokuro) and Azula( being the girl instead of Benio) Flashes of the other characters in the cast in between (Odyn thinking about team avatar before thinking about Azula at the end. Azula is shown thinking about her friends, Ozai, Iroh, and Zuko before it stops on an image of Odyn). The song ends as Odyn and Azula are then seen staring towards each other, a distance apart.
Hey guys, i hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry for the delay on it as I've been focusing on one of my other stories mainly. I figured the swamp episode was important because of what happens in it so yeah. I may cover the Avatar Day episode and perhaps another one, but we'll see. The mysterious girl that Sokka sees will be introduced pretty soon you'll just have to stay tuned for that. Anyways, that's all for now. Have a great rest of your week guys!
Next time: Chapter 5: Those Bound By Fate III; Journey to Ba Sing Sè II (Avatar Day?)
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