Subaru71077: There's no change. Just re-releasing because it was in the wrong volume, and my cognitive abilities weren't enough to figure out how to change the chapter's volume without deleting it.
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Katara slowly opened her eyes, noticing the light of dawn outside the tent. She stretched, raising her arms above her head, feeling her muscles protest. Every fiber of her body begged her to stay lying down, to steal a few more minutes of rest under the warm furs, but Katara knew that wasn't an option.
With a resigned sigh, she pushed the furs aside and sat up, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands to chase away the remnants of sleep.
If she wasn't mistaken, that day marked the seventh since Ikari's arrival, and much of the village seemed to have changed since then. His coming with the letters from the men who had gone to war brought more than just relief. They brought hope. Hope that everything was going to be alright. That one day they would return.
And because of that, the constant fear that hung over the village had lessened, even if only a little.
But the changes Ikari brought went beyond that. He dedicated himself to teaching Sokka how to fight, turning his clumsy brother into someone who was starting to handle weapons with confidence. And, as if that weren't enough, he even managed to teach Sokka how to fish — something Katara swore would only be possible when their father returned.
As for herself, Ikari had said he couldn't teach her about waterbending. However, thanks to his guidance, Katara saw her progress evolve at a frightening pace, and in just a few days she advanced more than in her entire life, feeling the water respond to her commands with a fluidity that once seemed impossible.
Besides, Katara liked to believe that they had become good… friends? After all, they had spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other during those days. She had even opened up for the first time to someone from outside about the trauma of losing her mother. With Ikari, those conversations flowed naturally, creating a bond Katara deeply valued.
'These days went by so fast…' she thought as she finished braiding her hair in her usual style. Then Katara dressed, carefully adjusting the sleeves and collar to protect her wrists and neck from the cold. 'Well, let's start the day.' Motivating herself, she stepped out of the tent.
But Katara had barely taken three steps before stopping at the sight of Sokka a few meters away, sitting on a log. He was hunched over, holding a piece of paper, his face unusually serious, almost grim.
Katara frowned. It had been a long time since she had seen him with that kind of expression. 'What happened? Shouldn't he be training with Ikari?' Katara walked toward him, the snow crunching under her boots. "Sokka?" she called, stopping by the log. "What's wrong? Did training with Ikari end early?"
Sokka slowly raised his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping as he held the paper out to her. "No, Katara… there wasn't any training."
"Why?" Katara asked, her voice tinged with doubt as she took the paper, not understanding why he was giving it to her.
"Because… Ikari left," Sokka replied, looking down.
Katara froze, the paper nearly slipping from her hands. "...what?" A sense of déjà vu struck her like an icy wind, bringing back memories she didn't like one bit.
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Already a few nautical miles away, Ikari was lying on the hard floor of his boat, eyes closed, his body swaying gently to the rhythm of the waves. Every few minutes, he raised his hand toward the sail, sending gusts of wind that filled the fabric and propelled the vessel across the sea.
He had gathered his things from the tent and left before the sun even appeared, leaving behind only a letter of thanks for having received him with hospitality and saying goodbye to everyone, not leaving out a single name.
It was not the best way to say farewell, but It was the most 'acceptable' Ikari managed to think of
"You could stop staring at me like that, buddy?" Ikari murmured, feeling the weight of Momo's big eyes fixed on him.
Momo let out a low grunt, without averting his gaze, ears high in an expression of disapproval.
"What is it?" Ikari opened one eye, staring at the lemur. "Are you mad at me?"
"Grrr," Momo replied, crossing his little arms, his gaze even sharper.
"You wanted to stay a little longer, is that it?"
Momo shook his head negatively.
"Oh. I see." Ikari closed his eye, understanding the reason for his companion's irritation. "You're upset because we left without saying goodbye."
"Kyu!" Momo exclaimed, the high-pitched sound loaded with indignation.
"You know I hate farewells," Ikari said, his voice softening. "And I left a letter, didn't I? It's all explained there."
"Grrr," Momo insisted, narrowing his eyes, as if to say the letter wasn't enough.
Ikari sighed, opening his eyes and staring at the blue sky. "Stop it, Momo. You know very well that if I had stayed to say goodbye, Sokka would've wanted to come along. I'd have to say no. Then an argument would start. He'd insist, I'd have to explain how dangerous it is to be around me, Katara would try to mediate, and maybe even ask to come along herself… it would've been chaos."
"…Kyu…" Momo grumbled softly, his ears drooping, his gaze now more sad than angry.
"Hey…" Ikari stretched his arm, pulling the lemur against his chest. "We'll meet them again someday, alright? I promise." He said, caressing Momo's head.
The lemur nestled against him, letting out a sigh that sounded almost human. For a moment, the two stayed in silence, listening only to the sea and the wind.
"Kyu?" Momo grunted after a few minutes, lifting his head toward Ikari.
"Yes, Momo, we're going back to hell," Ikari replied, his tone heavy but resolute. "But first, we'll try to get some reinforcements." He finished with a sigh, imagining how difficult it would be to convince those isolationists to join the war.
Their destination?
Kyoshi Island.
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[Fire Nation Royal Palace]
Sitting on his throne with impeccable posture, Fire Lord Ozai fixed a cold gaze on the man kneeling before him. "As you must know, Commander Zorin, three months ago we lost Ketu Harbor in a cowardly attack by the pathetic Earth Kingdom resistance."
Zorin, his head bowed in respect, remained silent, fists clenched against the polished floor. He knew that any interruption would be a fatal mistake.
Ozai leaned slightly forward, his eyes narrowed, shining with a mixture of hatred and irritation. "Ketu Harbor was a vital strategic point for our operations in the west and east of the Earth Kingdom. Its loss was a significant logistical blow. Our supply routes were compromised, and the transport of troops and resources to the battlefront became more costly and time-consuming." He paused, letting the words weigh in the air. "I have spoken with my generals, and we have come to the conclusion that trying to retake and make Ketu operational again would be a waste of men and time. The Earth Kingdom may keep its useless ruins for now."
Zorin lifted his eyes for a fraction of a second, catching Ozai's calculated tone. He knew that the Fire Lord would never admit a defeat without a greater plan in mind.
Ozai leaned back on the throne. "However, we still need a new harbor. And after much investigation, we have found an area to replace it. Kyoshi Island, strategically positioned in the south, remains independent and isolated from the continent." He continued, full of disdain, "No allies. Protected only by women playing at being warriors. The island is perfect for a new harbor. And taking it will be like pulling out a weed — easy, quick, and necessary."
"I am giving you an opportunity, Commander Zorin," Ozai went on, his voice now heavy with unquestionable authority. "Conquer Kyoshi Island. Make those shores a harbor worthy of the Fire Nation. Do this, and you will no longer be just a commander. You will be admiral, with a fleet under your command and a place of honor at my side. Fail, and…" He let the sentence linger, the silence more threatening than any word.
Zorin swallowed hard "Fire Lord, your trust is an honor. I will not disappoint you."
"We shall see, Zorin."
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Subaru71077: And with that, we close the... introduction? I think we can call it that. What are you thinking so far? I want to hear your impressions.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.