Polar Opposites *A Prince Zuko Love Story*

Chapter 15 - The Blue Spirit

I sigh as I watch Katara take care of a very sick Sokka. He's been sick for the last 2 days and I suspect that it was from being in the large storm that he was on that fishing boat in. Katara wipes Sokka's forehead with a wet cloth as he coughs yet again. "This should bring your fever down." she says to him. "You know what I love about Appa the most?" Sokka asks feverishly. "His sense of humor." he continues with a smile. "That's nice. I'll tell him." Katara replies. Appa grunts at Sokka in response which makes Sokka laugh. "Haha!" "Classic Appa."

"How's Sokka doing?" Aang asks Katara as he walks over to Sokka and Katara. "Not so good." Katara replies. "Being out in that storm really did a number on him." she continues. "I couldn't find any ginger root for the tea," Aang says. "but I found a map." he continues as he pulls out a scroll and spreads out the scroll on the ground. "There's an herbalist institute on the top of that mountain." Aang says as he looks out into the distance, towards the mountains.

"We could probably find a cure for Sokka there." he continues. "Aang, he's in no condition to travel." Katara says. "Sokka just needs more rest. I'm sure he'll be better by tomorrow." she continues before she begins to cough. Oh no. "Not you too!" Aang says worriedly. "Relax, it was just a little cough." Katara says reassuringly. "I'm fine-" she's cut off by more coughing making Aang shield himself from her violent coughing. "That's how Sokka started yesterday." Aang says. "Now look at him- he thinks he's an earthbender!" he continues. "Take that, you rock!" Sokka exclaims as he swings his arms at something that isn't there. "A few more hours and you'll be talking nonsense too." Aang says getting up and grabbing his staff. "I'm going to find some medicine." he continues. "I'll go with you." I say as I get up from my spot on the floor. Aang nods as he opens his glider and walks to the edge of the temple. I'm about to jump on top of the glider when a huge flash lightning illuminates the valley in front of us. "Uh," Aang says as he twirls his glider shut and leans it against the wall of the temple. "maybe it's safer if we go on foot." he continues to which I nod in reply, since I DO NOT want to get hit by lightning today.

Aang and I then turn to where my siblings sit on Appa. "Keep an eye on'em guys." Aang says to Appa and Momo. Appa grunts and Momo chitters in reply. "Haha!" Sokka laughs deliriously. "You guys are killin' me!" he exclaims. "We should hurry." I say to Aang. He nods in reply before telling me to climb onto his back. I hesitate for a split second before climbing onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck so that I don't fall. Aang wraps his arms around my legs, to keep them in place around his waist, before taking off at high speed, using his airbending to accelerate his running speed, toward the mountain where the herbalist institute is.

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Aang is currently running up the large staircase that climbs up to the top of the mountain leading to the herbalist institute. When we reached the top, he stops to set me down. I look around the many desolate buildings when I spot what looks like a greenhouse. "There." I tell Aang.

We run to the greenhouse and we see an elderly woman standing at a table. "Hello!" Aang says to the woman. "I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I need some medicine for my friends. They have fevers and they've been coughing and-" Aang speaks very fast but the woman cuts him off. "Settle down, young man." the woman says as she mixes something in a bowl on the table in front of her. "Your friends are going to be fine." she states. She walks over to another table where a fluffy white cat is sitting. "I've been up here for over forty years you know, used to be others, but they all left years ago." she explains. She pets the cat who begins to purr. "Now it's just me and Miyuki." she continues. "That's nice." Aang says, his shoulders slouching. "Wounded Earth Kingdom troops still come by now and again, brave boys, and thanks to my remedies they always leave in better shape than when they arrived." "That's nice." Aang repeats again. "Are you almost done?" I ask, kind of getting impatient since I'm really worried about my siblings now that both of them are sick. "Hold on, I just need to add one last ingredient." says the old woman as she starts to walk deeper into the greenhouse that's filled with many different plants. "Oh, sandalwood... oh, er, uh, that won't do, banana leaf? Ah, nope, uh, ginger root, uh uh, oh where is that pesky little plant?" I hear her mutter to herself as she walks away which makes Aang and I groan in exasperation, knowing that this is going to take a while...