(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Katara stands with Aang, Sokka and Rana at a nearby window, she looks out and over the village outside, and the damage that's already been done. She lets out a breath and then turns to Aang.

"Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this." She comments.

"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world" Aang admits exasperated. "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!"

"So, can you help these people?" Katara counters, Aang shrugs and then smiles a little.

"I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just... come to me" Momo jumps onto Aang's shoulder and chitters. Aang is surprised, but then smiles a little more.

"I think you can do it, Aang" Katara assures him, Rana hums in agreement and then nods.

"Yeahhh, we're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster" Sokka points out, Rana's tail smacks at him and she gives him a look.

.........

As the sun sets, Rana sits wedged in a window, Vulpix curled up on her lap as they watch Aang head through the village, alone. She'd argued against that whole plan, but agreed to sit aside in case he desperately needs her help. Hence her window perch. Close enough to bolt into action though should she be needed to do so.

"Hello? Spirit, can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm... here to try to help stuff" Aang calls out. Rana closes her eyes and sighs.

"Sweet spirits" She complains a little and rubs the back of her neck.

"Vulpix" Vulpix grumbles in agreement with her. Sokka moves closer to them, standing at Rana's side.
"This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up"

"That's what I said" Rana points out.

"I agreed" Sokka reminds her, she hums and nods.

"If anyone can save us, he can" The old man argues from behind them.

"He still shouldn't have to face this alone" Rana counters. "I'm supposed to help him" She whispers. Sokka touches her shoulder and squeezes trying to reassure her, but her entire body is on edge. She doesn't like leaving Aang out there alone. Outside, the sun sets. The world darkens as Aang stands at the village gate, like a gunslinger.

"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei-Bai? Well, spirit, uh, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" He twirls his staff like a marching baton and then plants it in the ground like a flag. His expression is resolute. "Okay. Well, I guess that's settled then" Aang turns and begins to walk back to the village. Suddenly a massive shape emerges from the forest, its huge feet making large thudding sounds each time they hit the ground. Aang is still walking placidly up the village street, unaware that Hei-Bai is following right behind him. Hei-Bai is as big as a house, with six legs and black and white orca-like markings all over his body. He is vaguely mammalian and has razor-sharp teeth. Aang realizes something is amiss and stops. He turns, looks up at the monster, and smiles.

"You must be the Hei-Bai spirit" Aang bows his head. "My name is.." He is cut off by a blast of air and purple energy from the mouth of the creature. Rana is suddenly stood there, her hands held out in front of her, the purple energy halted, she shifts her hands, bending the energy into a ball that she holds in her hand and looks at Hei-Bai. "Rana" Aang warns as the Hei-Bai turns and makes its way towards her, but she stands resolute. Suddenly, her tails fan out behind her, all nine flickering and moving. From the ball of energy three more erupt and float around her. Purple mist blasts through the village as Hei-Bai presses its face into her outstretched hand. Aang moves closer, slowly approaching the two of them. "My name is Aang. I'm the Avatar..." Hei-Bai turns and growls at him. Aang swallows a little. "I would like to help!" Rana groans, her tails flickering in and out of existence as she falls to her knees. Her energy spent. The Hei-Bai turns on Aang without her there to stop it.

"No, hey, wait up!" She complains as she reaches out for the Hei-Bai before she literally falls flat on her face, soft snores leaving her. Aang stares down at her before he looks at the Hei-Bai and smiles nervously. The spirit then destroys in rapid succession two houses and a watchtower using its brute strength and purple energy, Aang follows it around trying to get its attention.

"Uh..." He tries to think of something to say but this is a huge scary spirit monster who is destroying the village. "Please, would you stop destroying things and listen?" He jumps on top of the building between them. He sees Hei-Bai pounding a building into the ground with his fists. "I'm just trying to do my job as spirit bridge. Excuse me, would you please turn around? I command you to turn around now!" At this the monster does indeed turn around, swatting Aang backwards off the top of the building. Aang flies through the air and hits a nearby roof. He slides off and collapses on the ground.

"That's it! He needs help!" Sokka shouts and then hurries out of the hut.

"Sokka wait!" Katara wards as she goes to follow only to be stopped by the old man.

"It's not safe!" The monster is now standing over Aang as Sokka, hefting his boomerang, runs towards them.

"Hei-Bai! Over here!" Sokka shouts and lets loose the boomerang, it swings around and hits the creature's butt, and then bounces off. It falls on the ground. Sokka runs up to Aang.

"Sokka, go back!" Aang scolds him.

"We'll fight him together, Aang"

"I don't wanna fight him unless I – huh!" Hei-Bai appears in a flash and takes Sokka. Both disappear in an instant, cutting Aang off in mid-sentence. Aang opens his staff into glider mode and takes off. The monster is running back into the forest with Aang gliding in pursuit. Katara runs out of the hut and to Rana, gently pulling her onto her back as she watches Aang disappear after the creature.

"Rana" She pleads and looks down at her friend with worry.

...........

Zuko lowers a tree branch so he can move forward, a Fire Nation soldier behind him. He barges into the clearing where Iroh had been bathing in earlier, but all that is there now is nothing but a ruined hot tub.

"Uncle, where are you?" Zuko asks as he stares at the tub.

"Sir, maybe he thought you left without him?" The soldier offers, Zuko shakes his head.

"Something's not right here" He examines the hot tub, now with stone projectiles embedded in it. "That pile of rocks..."

"It looks like there's been a landslide, sir."

"Land doesn't slide uphill" Zuko points out like the soldier is an idiot, and to be fair, with those sort of statements, Zuko isn't entirely sure he is not one. "Those rocks didn't move naturally. My uncle's been captured by earth-benders!"

...........

Katara sets a damp cloth on Rana's head. She's yet to wake up and seems to be burning up. With Aang and Sokka having run off, Katara could really use Rana's help here. Vulpix lays curled up at the foot of the bed, waiting on Rana to wake too. The old man comes up behind Katara while the noises of the night fill the air.

"Your friend is still not awake?" He asks, Katara shakes her head and touches Rana's hand.

"She's just really tired" Katara offers. "She'll be fine" Katara then turns to look out the window, watching for Sokka and Aang.

"I'm sure they'll be back too" He adds.

"I know" Katara agrees. The Old Man drapes a blanket around Katara's shoulders.

"You should get some rest" He offers and then walks away. Katara clutches to Rana's hand, Sokka's boomerang in her other.

"Everything's gonna be okay," Katara tells Rana as Vulpix nudges her leg, trying to wake her up herself.