Chapter 29: Warrior (5)

Perched on top of a snow-covered branch and his staff set across his chest and shoulder diagonally, Aang brooded with a complicated expression while gazing at the bay where he got a very impressionable greeting by the Unagi.

"This place used to be full of Elephant Koi Fishes and not an Unagi..."

Aang had not known about Kyoshi Island. Although this place was supposed to be formed many hundreds of years ago, in his own time, Aang had been consumed by the marvels of world and animal riding to think of anything else.

"Aang, you told us you'd show how to run on water!"

Broken out of his thoughts, Aang looked down and saw a small group of girls cheering for him. His expression eased greatly and with a bright smile, he jumped down. Making the girls gasp like usual, Aang made his body purposely descend slower than normal, making him look like a leaf gradually floating down.

Aside from Sokka who soon found himself without any tasks to keep busy with, making him particularly eager to leave for their next stop already, everyone had found things to accomplish. Nik and Katara set out to learn from Suki. Suki even offered Aang but he didn't think much while declining it. Air Nomads simply cannot join any other faction no matter how small or large, ordinary or extraordinary it is in the grand scale of things.

"No way you're running on the water," A voice expressed its dissatisfaction and the group turned to look at a few Kyoshi Initiates along with Katara. Compared to young Kyoshi Initiates, Katara obviously stood out not due to her skills but her height.

"Katara is right. The population of the Elephant Koi Fishes has decreased drastically and the Unagi has become more aggressive. It would react violently to even the larger ships which is against its cautious nature. The beast is hungry and if provoked... it may end badly," one of the Kyoshi girls spoke up what they have been taught over these few years.

In fact, the new generation of Kyoshi Warriors had experienced this change first hand. Their ships and boats attacked and a few lives lost, too.

"Heehhhhh! But he is the Avatar. He is all-powerful and can control all the elements, right? You said so!" The young girls around Aang glared at the Kyoshi Warriors and Katara in Kyoshi attire, in return, glared at Aang.

"Phooh, phooh," Aang looked away with an unsuccessful attempt at whistling before he shook his head.

"I said I will help the village. Thinking hasn't worked for me and I don't have the option to wait anymore... the only thing I can do is to act."

Declaring so, Aang broke out of his group of fangirls as Katara frowned, following quickly.

"Go and call Suki and others. If the Avatar is really attempting to help us then we need our numbers ready to assist in dangerous situations."

"Alright, Noya," one of the girls left.

Meanwhile, Katara caught up with Aang.

"Aang, I know you're feeling impatient but heading straight forward is not the right way," Katara held his shoulder, stopping him.

"When faced with tough situations, we can either act head-on or think clever methods to avoid it or emerge victorious without being affected... there is no way the village can just evade the situation."

"Look, Sokka said that if the Unagi is really hungry, it will start searching for food in other regions. Things will eventually calm down. They always do," Katara comforted Aang with a smile but Aang shook his head.

"I thought the same thing... troubles never go away," lowering his head, he whispered again, "they just end up being someone else's trouble. Monk Gyatso said that inside the Air Temple Sanctuary I will find some who will guide me through my journey. But there was no one aside from the statues. If there is nobody who can help me... then I have to make decisions myself, too. I want to help the village."

Shrugging Katara's hand away from his shoulder, Aang began walking towards the bay when Katara sighed, "Then at least wait until other Kyoshi Warriors are here. They can help you."

Aang looked back, nodding in agreement.

The Kyoshi Warriors soon arrived but seeing Nik missing, Katara couldn't help but question Nik's whereabouts.

"He's with Sokka in Kyoshi's sanctuary. Cleaning duty. I didn't bring him because I don't want any rookies around and that includes you, too. Everyone will go back to the village."

"But--" one of the girls aside from the Kyoshi Warriors whined and Suki glared at the little girl.

"I'll tell your mother not to bake cookies if you don't go now."

Her words had a great effect on the young girls and they quickly left.

"Sorry, Aang!" one of them waved and shouted while scampering off to the village.

Once the girls left, Suki eyed the remaining initiates and they dutifully retreated slightly behind but didn't leave. Katara had a deep frown as she spoke up, "Look, I can help. There's plenty of snow here and I might be able to waterbend away the attacks of the Unagi."

"We aren't looking for a chance of deflection, Katara. Sorry, but as you said, we might be in need of you."

Suki patted Katara's shoulder and then looked at Aang, "The Village Chief asked me to thank you. Even if we all might fail, we all are grateful just because of the thought."

Aang nodded and took a deep breath.

However, instead of taking any action, he looked back once again, "I don't want to kill the Unagi, just wanted to clear that."

With that Aang flicked his glider open and flew up. Meanwhile Katara was left to wonder silently.

Aang had just said that problems don't go away but burden someone else instead. The Unagi was this village's problem and driving it away would mean making it someone else's burden.

'If he wasn't talking about the beast... then what else?' her gaze flickered momentarily.

As much as she would have enjoyed pondering over this cryptic conversation instead of participating in a dangerous mission completely unprepared, Katara's thoughts were cut short by the sudden eruption of water like a growing fountain the moment Aang reached further away from the land as the wide rending jaw of Unagi snapped into a quick bite barely evaded by Aang with a slight alleviation.

*Khrrrb*

The sound of the snapping jaws sent a chill down the spectators' spines. As the Unagi's body lost its momentum and began descending into the sea, Aang rotated his staff, closing the glider in response, and waved it downwards while breathing a lungful of air forcefully.

*Whooosh*

The air visibly struck down, sending the Unagi's giant and slowly falling back rushing down. Before falling himself, Aang maneuvered the wind around him to quickly begin gliding once again, flying straight up to pull enough distance between the beast.

Proving itself more resilient in its quest for food, even before smashing down with its heavy body now being a distracting force, the Unagi screeched loudly, shooting a jet of water from its mouth that aimed for Aang.

*Psssshhhh*

Everyone's eyes widened when the sudden spray quick in its approach hit the unsuspecting Avatar, taking him down as the wings of his glider grew wet.

"Aang!" Katara screamed, her armor already unbuckled as it would only serve to slow her down before she took into the water herself.

"Quick, distract the Unagi!" Suki called out, already prepared for such a scenario as three particular warriors good with their aims and particularly steady arms stretched their bows. Though used to close-ranged combats with swords and war fans, the Kyoshi Warriors have utilized different weapons at times, too.

With Suki's words given, the three archers shot bamboo arrows chasing towards the upper body of Unagi still revealed over the surface while the rest of it had already submerged, the shadow of which dashed towards Aang's location as he floated on his glider. He had come to be the moment he hit the water and now he swam back, quickly gaining momentum to eventually run on the water but most probably learning from the last encounter or maybe just too impatient, the Unagi's body whipped, its large tail fin smashing towards Aang's location that he barely avoided but he still got pulled into the water.

*Grrruurrpppp*

Eyes wide, Aang quickly swam up seeing the giant beast making a turn. In his vision were three floating arrows that had clearly missed their mark.

'Oh, no. Oh, no!'

Quick to escape, Aang resurfaced when Katara caught up to him.

"Just keep me a little up from the water," Aang quickly requested and Katara began swimming back. Knowing fully well that Aang could swim, she still decided to approach not to burden the Avatar--

"Haaahhh!" She almost growled while forcefully pushing against the water. Katara sensed it again. A part of her that would eventually return escape from her body temporarily as it caused the water to itself push them back at a great speed.

*Khyyaaaaa*

Unagi reemerged with a sharp screech, its speed far surpassing Katara's meager display of waterbending but it had gained enough time for the Avatar to muster a deep breath.

*Whooooo*

Exhaling, Aang used his airbending, in the same manner, Katara waterbended but this time, the Air escaping his lungs forcefully pushed them back against the water as a quick jet of air.

*Thud*

"Ugh!"

The duo reached land, dragging back due to the force behind their escape as they gave a pained grunt together and heard Suki still shouting.

"Prepare!"

"Haah!"

The group stated loudly in affirmation at once, drawing their swords with a chilling and sharp sound. It confused Aang for a moment why the Kyoshi Warriors didn't feel safe even when on land but Unagi's actions proved how correct Suki's decision was when Unagi jumped out from close to the shore and dove 'in' the land. His wide, slippery body violently smashing against the snowy shore as the Kyoshi Warriors quickly retreated.

"All of you, get back!" Suki waved at the initiates who looked ready to join in. Teenagers as they were, the group has always learned the philosophy of joining in together. In layman's terms: Ganging up on their targets.

*Pssshhhhh*

"Look out!"

Seeing the Unagi spray another jet of water towards him as if angriest at him, Aang quickly stood up and rotated his staff like a fan as a spiral of wind obstructed the water in its way... barely.

It came crashing down with force Aang hadn't imagined or expected. It was stronger than before and this time instead of luckily landing in the water correctly, Aang was struck against the ground.

---

"And then the Unagi quickly began thrashing. A few warriors were sent into the waters but we quickly brought them out while others and Katara distracted it. But Yona is stuck when she pulled Suki out."

The Kyoshi Initiate explained. It wasn't just Sokka and Nik she had rallied up but the entire village. Those who could help picked their farming tools.

"Is that Kyoshi's sword?" The Village Chief gasped at the sight of weapon in Sokka's hands when he shouted, "Not now, old chief!"

Pursing his lips, the man only glared at Sokka helplessly. But when they reached the sight of the attack, almost all the villagers including Sokka and Nik had their courage deflated.

*Grraaaghhh*

Appa growled, moving towards the shore as he saw Aang being in trouble while Momo flew away for the very reason there was trouble. Nik found Momo being the smartest of them all despite being a Winged-lemur.

"Yona!" The girl cried out seeing one particular short-haired girl dodging the Unagi's charge.

"Save Suki!" The girl shouted without looking back. No one had any time to distract themselves.

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"Sorry," Aang but his lips as he twisted in the air. His glider was closed for a moment but when he struck this time, it wasn't a blunt force of wind but a precise attack turning wind into the sharpest of swords slicing away at the Unagi's tail that intended to strike at the unconscious Suki with the buckle of her armor stuck against a rock by the shore.

A long gash marking the Unagi's tail instantly made it screech painfully. What swords gave his slippery body was barely worth mentioning as scratching but this attack roused Unagi's fear and even more...

Hunger.

"W-what are we going to do?" One of the villagers inquired, thoroughly intimidated but Sokka had already rushed past while shouting, "Nik, do some magic, will you?"

Holding the sword with two hands, Sokka wildly joined the attack as he stood by Katara.

"What were you thinking? Small eels are already dangerous and this mother of all Eels is gonna be easy?"

"Don't shout at me!" Katara glared in return--

"Watch out!" She kicked as the snow around the ground instantly shot up like a pillar, sending Sokka back while the Unagi's body stretched. Unaccustomed to the sword, it was flung out of Sokka's hand and dove into the water.

"Oh, no... my Avatar sword!" Sokka gasped.

"Oh, no! Kyoshi's relic!" The village chief fell on his knees.

Albeit close to the waters, the Unagi was completely on land and it would thrash and move by contracting and expanding its serpentine body in short intervals. This was one such time.

"Attack!"

"Throw things at the beast! Distract it!"

It wasn't known who said it but the group of villagers gathered adopted a strategy to not mingle with the Kyoshi warriors and disrupt them while trying to distract the beast.

*Ghhaaaghhh*

Appa took to another strategy. With a flap of its tail, the Unagi was suddenly sent flying into the sea with a force of the wind that Aang could only hope to generate. It was a moment of respite for everyone except--

"For the love of sex god," Nik almost growled as the Unagi was smashed against the coastline of the bay where Suki was left stranded, her body only afloat because of a piece of the rock snuggling within the buckle of her armor. He was close to her. Too close to leave her behind after reaching this far but as the Unagi slowly slid into the water, Nik held a terrible premonition.

Suki wasn't that far from the shore. Even if standing completely, the water would only reach Nik's shoulders but it would submerge Suki completely. It would have been hard for others to unbuckle Suki's armor in such a state but intentional or not, Sokka sending Nik to this particular location was one of the better decisions he had made after arriving on this island.

Nik absorbed Suki's armor into his personal land and hurriedly had her arms around his shoulders and his arm around her waist to move back. The originally calm location now felt terribly eerie because the Eel was just a few seconds away should it wake up--

*Khnnnnnaaaaaaahhhhhhhh*

The water behind Nik turned into a wave as the beast shot out once again. Nik was never really afraid of animals. Even if giant eels intimidated him slightly, it wasn't to the point of threatening to grip his mind and decisions. After all, he has been unfortunate enough to be raised by real beasts of nature that elicited his fear rightfully. As the giant wave came crashing in, Nik raised his right arm empty for such an occasion.

In barely a second the water began to spiral and enter his palm mystically as his points began to rise slowly. Others would imagine it to skyrocket but with water, especially seawater being as simple and plain as it comes, it only increased Nik's AP by decimals.

"Nik!" Katara held her breath, her body feeling exhausted by now. She had never bent the elements in such quick succession neither was she aware of being capable of such a feat. The water around Unagi suddenly felt heavy and restricted its movements barely but it did stop the Unagi for a second as it turned into a small slab of ice.

*Crash*

Aang flew over as the Unagi broke the ice and Nik was within the reach to return to the land. Even then, he would have to run since this beast was as dangerous in the water as on the land.

"Ready your arrows," In Suki's absence, another warrior took charge and commanded the three archers who had collected their arrows once again to shoot.

The bamboo arrows failed to pierce the beast but it proved as a useful distraction.

"Stay away from them!"

Aang shouted, jumping down and waving his staff once again, generating a fraction of force created by Appa that flinched the beast. Quickly diving into the water and wetting its face again, the eel charged straight at Aang.

The Unagi's dorsal fin was now stretched completely, indicating its agitated state and as Aang prepared for another forceful blow, one of the few things that prove to work against the Unagi, he was struck away as the beast tilted his head slightly.

It came as a surprise to everyone. Aang flew into the water close to the shore, his body only submerged by the half and close to the sword that Sokka had lost grip of.

Nothing to stop aside from a few arrows that proved barely useful, for a matter of seconds, to be precise, the Unagi had locked onto a prey once again. The rocks that the villagers threw were barely of any notice. Ordinary, such a large crowd would drive away any beast well-fed and living a life of comfort but the Unagi had been starved for days with anything barely noteworthy preyed upon. To the large body swiftly contracting and expanding towards Nik as he carried and ran with Suki, the entirety of the crowd was one giant prey.

"Katara!"

Sokka hurriedly held Katara as she, too, fell weakly. But helplessness was all too evident in her gaze as she saw the giant mouth already snapping and barely missing Nik.

'Just let her go, dude! Just let her go!'

Nik stated internally. Strangely, the more he chanted, the firmer his grip on Suki grew. It wasn't because of fear of what the villagers would think or the group of Kyoshi Warriors zooming in on his location might do. Everything was too far away when compared to the fishy smell and the very real screeches and the dragging sound of the Unagi a few meters away from him. And with each second it would close in further.

Nik's armor was already placed into the personal world. This was already the maximum speed he can achieve which was most definitely greater than any Kyoshi warrior if compared in its raw qualities.

"Suki! Wake up! Do you want to go to a better place? Just say yes!" Nik's choice of words was questionable but he kept shouting. If he gets her affirmation then many things would be easier. He could truly save someone even if it meant running away again.

Meanwhile, unconscious he may be, Aang still heard something.

"Just look... deep... we will guide you--"

His hands around the handle of the sword suddenly tightened while his hand around the staff loosened up.

Everything came to a standstill. Nik escaping while carrying an unconscious Suki, the Unagi's jaws reaching for him. The desperate expressions on the faces of Sokka, Katara, and the other Kyoshi warriors while the rocks thrown by the villagers remained in the air. The originally bright sky turned dark and gloomy and despite only snow all around them, dust spiraled over Aang's body as he began to float. The arrow-shaped tattoos on his body glowed bright and in tandem, the recently refurbished Kyoshi statue had her eyes glowing.

But it didn't end here.

Every figure. Every painting. Every statue in the sanctuaries, and every little representation of the past Avatars with their faces had their eyes glowing. For a moment, the world was brightened once again, and in Aang's location stood a towering woman wearing a green armored kimono, a fan-shaped headdress, and a make-up much similar to other Kyoshi Warriors.

*Snap*

When the Unagi was clear to have torn off its prey, it suddenly found itself captured by locks of ice and rock with a woman standing in its way. The world still looked gloomy and everyone had their eyes captured by the woman's presence. She was simply too familiar.

"I get that you're hungry," the woman gently patted Unagi as it continued to look at the woman with a surprisingly intelligent and dazed look.

"I promised your mother when I settled here that your nest will not be affected by humans. Forgive me and my people. It is our fault."

The woman spoke clearly, her voice traveling to every spectator on the scene.

"Let the Elephant Koi Fishes grow for a while. Once again, I promise you that the villagers on the island will only hunt one Elephant Koi every month. You shall rear the rest. Instead of destroying everything, let it thrive."

Although she spoke calmly, the woman held a stern tone that left no room for disagreement. The Unagi slowly nodded, its left barbel moving slightly towards Kyoshi as she held it and smiled.

"Thank you."

With that, the woman slid her foot slightly and the snow collected under the surface of Unagi sent the beast back into the water. What shocked Katara was that as the Unagi turned, the giant of a woman in place of Aang waved her hand and the small portion of the sea glowed, healing the entirety of Unagi's injuries.

Looking down, the woman gazed at the sword deeply and whispered, "Young Avatar, justice is often swift. But aside from humans, beasts are never malicious. Their problems lie in settling and eating only. When it comes to them, strive to create a balance."

With that, she looked at the villagers.

"Kyoshi Warriors, hear my will."

The woman spoke coldly this time as every Kyoshi Warrior fell on their knee, calling loudly, "We are at your service!"

"Any pirate, any villager, or any outsider who hunts Elephant Koi Fishes aside from the allocated number will be met by a swift execution."

"Yes!"

"And..."

Kyoshi looked around, her gaze falling on Katara and then the Avatar gazed at Nik.

"That outsider is not meant to be a Kyoshi Warrior. None of you will muddle her path of bending even if she wishes so from now on," Kyoshi referred to Katara and then pointed the tip of her sword at Sokka, "And never touch my sword again."

He hurriedly nodded, sweat already streaming from his forehead as his views on the world seemed to be shattered.

"Young man," the Avatar then turned to Nik, her gaze softer but her tone as stern as ever, "You have a warrior's honor. But I will not change my rules for you either. No man shall join the Kyoshi Warriors... but you may learn from them."

Nik looked slightly dazed. He wouldn't have even cared if the woman... or this ghost suddenly said that he couldn't learn from the Kyoshi Warriors.

'But honor? Me?' He mocked not only the Avatar but himself, the expression of which was all too evident.

"You doubt my words." Avatar Kyoshi stated as a matter of fact, "But you will understand its meaning as long as you stay."

The dust rosed again, this time, instead of collecting over the body, it escaped. The sky returned to its rightful color while the being in front of Nik turned into Aang once again.

Or was it Aang the entire time?

The young Airbender silently fell on his knees and collapsed. The realization struck Nik that he himself felt weak in the knees.

Letting Suki down, he, too, sat down. He hadn't done much, but he only felt this exhausted a few times in his life where he had to go for hours.

***

A/N: Alright, now this is slightly AU. In the show, Aang has been shown to be able to connect with his past life. But aside from this spiritual guidance, there are two instances where the previous Avatar possesses Aang. I think in the comics, too, Aang is no longer possessed again. The first time is by Avatar Roku during the winter solstice since it is stated that the spirit power rises greatly during that time.

The second time is by Kyoshi. But when it comes to Kyoshi, it seems like there are two things to be kept in mind. Her own will, and the situation. Kyoshi only possessed Aang to confirm that she was indeed the one to kill Chin (or whatever his name was) and it looked like she didn't have the same constraints as Roku. So, it can be speculated that to have a previous Avatar possess the new one, the situation must also be connected to that particular avatar like I showcased here when Kyoshi made the deal the Unagi's predecessor. And, the power of the said Avatar must be kept in mind, too.

Now, it's already known that Kyoshi is by far one of the strongest Avatars. Spiritually and physically. So maybe she simply doesn't need other forces to assist in possession? Anyway, this entire possession plot point was already murky to begin with once Kyoshi possessed Aang in the canon so I decided to have some fun with it.

I hope you enjoyed this episode: Warrior, too.

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