SIX | SUNS & SHIPS.
( the avatar returns, part three )

❝ i'll look after you. ❞

HOW WOULD ONE save an Avatar?

Crystal had been thinking about that for the past ten minutes and kept coming up dry. They couldn't just march into a Fire Navy ship, right? How would they fend off all those soldiers? Sure, Sokka was good with his boomerang, Katara could fling a bit of water, and Crystal could function with her clubs (they also doubled as knives if you flicked them out; Amka's little secret) but could the three of them really pull this off? The crew already had the world's most powerful bender on their ship. What's a couple of kids to them?

She, Katara and Sokka had harboured a rickety old canoe and all the courage they could muster. It didn't ease her nerves. Spirits, this was the most daunting thing that ever happened to her! This was exhilarating! This was—

"What do you three think you're doing?"

They froze in their tracks. Shit. Frantic glances were shared. They've been caught. Slowly, agonizingly, they turned around. Crystal panicked and started to smile so wide her cheeks hurt. Maybe it would look less suspicious?

Gran-Gran didn't seem to think so. The old woman stared at them with narrowed eyes, her face unreadable. Crystal gulped. She prayed to all the Gods that they wouldn't have to sneak themselves out—getting the canoe here was already hard enough.

Instead, Gran-Gran broke into a smile and thrust out some rolled-up sleeping bags. "You'll need these," She said, eyes crinkling. "You have a long journey ahead of you."

Crystal flooded with relief. "Oh thank Spirits," She muttered.

"It's been so long since I had hope," Gran-Grain said wistfully, approaching Katara. "But you brought it back to life, my little waterbender." She wrapped her granddaughter in a hug, and Crystal found herself missing her mother again. The warm, snug squeeze Momma held her with was something she could still feel. Even at night when she was cold, it was like Momma was still there.

"And you, my brave warrior," Gran-Gran turned to Sokka next. "Be nice to your sister."

Crystal pursed her lips to hide a chuckle as Sokka tried his grandmother's hugging. Then Gran was looking towards her, wrinkled face becoming more and more obsolete. Crystal swallowed. She was afraid Gran wouldn't say anything at all. She didn't exactly have the best track record with this tribe.

Instead, there was a kindness in this woman's eyes Crystal sorely misread. "Crystal, dear, look after my grandkids for me. We both know you're more sensible than the both of them." She smiled, throwing a wink.

Sokka and Katara groaned. "Hey!"

Crystal's cheeks flushed—partially ashamed, partially flattered. "I—thank you," She stumbled.

"Aang is the Avatar. He's the world's only chance. You three found him for a reason. Now your destinies are intertwined with his."

Crystal, Sokka, and Katara exchanged looks at Gran-Gran's words. Once full of adrenaline, Crystal's eyes sobered. It hit her like a ton of bricks. They were leaving. Not for a day on a fishing trip, or a journey to shops. Now this was something bigger than either of them, and something far, far longer.

But what about Amka? I haven't said goodbye! What about my soup, and my tent, and Milo—

"Milo?" Sokka blurted.

Crystal's eyes bulged. Since when could he read her thoughts?

But then she followed his gaze, and saw a black-haired boy trotting towards them, with an exasperated Amka in tow.

Crystal gleamed, stepping forward. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Gran told me—you were leaving—gave her—your stuff," Amka panted, tugging on Milo's hand to keep him from streaking forward. "Then he showed up asking where you were, saw Gran, and I. . . panicked." She doubled over, heaving, and let go of Milo's hand. Enough was enough.

The little boy charged straight for Crystal, arms flailing. She couldn't help but laugh as he crashed into her legs. "Where are you going?" He asked, face huddled in the fur of her parka.

Crystal exchanged a paranoid look with Amka. What the hell was she supposed to say to this?

"Uh. . ." Crystal trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek. Her face fell. She was leaving the only home she could remember. The only home that, according to her past, would take her. Crystal knew nothing of the outskirts of this tribe, or the intricacies of the Nation she was born in. All she knew was her life now. The life where she made Amka butternut soup and braided Milo's hair. This life, wether she liked it or not, taught her that you couldn't be loved just about anywhere. Only people could. People like Sokka, and Amka, and Milo. The rest would sour on her with time.

Crystal bent down to look Milo in the eyes. "I've gotta save the world, buddy," She said with a teasing smile.

"Okay, a little dramatic," Sokka coughed. Katara elbowed him in the ribs.

Milo blinked slowly. "But you said you would braid my hair!"

Her smile withered. "I know, bud," She took his chin and lifted it up. "I'm sorry, but I have to go this time."

His wide green eyes dimmed, and his brows pulled together. "How long until you get back?" There was a wistful sadness in him, as if he already knew the answer.

"I don't know," Crystal admitted. Then she added fiercely, "But I promise I'll braid your hair the second I come home."

Home. What a melancholy word in her mouth.

Milo barrelled into her, skinny arms wrapping around her neck. "You promised you would do it today!" He whined.

Crystal hugged him back, tears gathering in the cold. "I know, I know. We can do it later, okay? I'll be back," She promised, trying not to cry. Her eyes wandered to Amka, who was watching with a tender smile. "I'll be back soon," Crystal said again.

The somber look in Amka's eyes said she knew otherwise.

"Crystal, we have to get going," Katara said behind her.

"I'll see you later, okay?" Crystal ruffled Milo's hair, and he giggled. She flicked back a wayward black tendril. Milo grinned wide, spreading his arms and letting himself topple into the snow like she'd just tipped his entire body backwards. "Stay cool, kid."

Milo stuck his thumb up in the air with a goofy smile.

"There's no way we're gonna catch a war ship with a canoe," Katara said doubtfully behind her.

Crystal craned her head. She stared at the small, rickety boat, and yeah, it wasn't much. The canoe could barely hold fish catchings—how could it compete with a ship straight from hell? "There's got to be another way," She said, standing up.

A roar rang from the banks of snow. Brown horns lumbered over a hill, attached to a giant, six-legged flying bison. Right on cue.

"Appa!" Crystal grinned. "Oh, that's perfect!"

Sokka was whining behind her but she didn't pay attention. She hopped over to Aang's furry friend, patting his big black nose. "Be careful, Crystal," Amka called out to her. "I'll miss your soup!"

Crystal turned. "The recipe is under the vase in the tent."

Amka's smile widened tenfold.

Crystal let a disgruntled Sokka hoist her onto Appa. "This is gonna be easy guys, don't worry," She grunted, swinging her leg onto the saddle. "We'll be in and out in no time."

Sokka didn't seem convinced.

And he especially didn't seem convinced when twenty minutes later, Appa was still wading through icy waters, decidedly not flying.

"Yeah, this is real easy," He groused. "Go. Fly. Soar," He deadpanned, and got a rumble from the bison in return.

"Please, Appa," Katara coaxed. She was sitting on Appa's head, his thick brown reins in her hands. "We need your help. Aang needs your help!"

"C'mon, buddy, just this once," Crystal said, petting the fur on the side of his saddle.

"Up. Ascend. Elevate." Sokka tried again, but none of the commands were working. "What was it that kid said?" He mumbled to himself. "Yee-haw? Hup-hup? Wahoo?"

Crystal furrowed her brows, wracking her brain. There was a word, foggy and distant in her mind, but just out of reach. "Uh. . . yip-yip?"

Appa grumbled. His tail started to swish. He picked up speed, charging ahead. In one leap, the bison soared into the air, and Crystal nearly peed her pants. "Holy shit, I'm a genius!" She yelped.

Wind rushed past her as Appa rose higher. She scrambled to the edge of the saddle, peering down. In the distance she could see
outlines of the village she called home, growing fainter by the second.

"You did it, Crystal!" Katara cheered, voice echoing through the sky.

"He's flying! He's flying! Katara, he's—" Sokka turned from beside Crystal to look at his sister in pure awe. Katara gave him a smug grin.

"I mean, big deal, he's flying," He muttered, and then immediately went back to admiring the view. Crystal couldn't help but smile at him. Even if she was still ridiculously upset, it was nice to see him cheery.

They sailed for a while. Crystal stared at the ground long after she lost sight of her old village and her old life. Snowy caps had melted into jagged lakes and valleys. Chunks of ice looked like stars in churning waters. The air was thin and cold, raising the hairs on her neck as it brushed by.

They eventually zeroed in on the Fire Navy ship. Crystal moved to the front of Appa's saddle. "That's it, all right," She swallowed. The ship was black and foreboding, but it didn't look as scary all the way up here.

When she squinted, she could make out three figures on the deck. Two of them were decked in red and black, ravenous hair billowing past them like smog. Their fists were both pointed at the third person, who was clad in bright orange and was spinning a staff to fan the flames the other two were spitting at him.

"There's Aang!" Crystal said, pointing to the last figure. As Appa got closer, she could see Aang backing to the edge of the ship, trying to fight off fire.

"Yeah, and there's Grim and Grimmer," Sokka groaned, gesturing to the boy and the girl trying to edge Aang off the ship.

Crystal remembered the black-haired girl from before. Apparently the feeling was mutual, because she looked up and their eyes caught. Crystal shuddered.

"Hey, Kasumi!" Zuko huffed, drawing his partner away from the strange animal in the sky. The two of them were shooting fire at the Avatar every way they knew how, but he kept side-stepping attacks or diffusing them with his staff. "Remember the thing you told me yesterday on the deck?"

They punched flares at the Avatar in unison. "Zuko, now is not the time!" She snapped. Oh sure, he appreciated her now but yesterday he wanted to throw her off the ship—

"No, where you said you could throw me overboard in three seconds!" Even in combat, Zuko glared at her. He gestured to the Avatar. "Because we could use that right now!"

She shared a glance with Zuko, calculating and a little cocky. He followed her lead, and together through whips and flares—Kasumi aiming for the Avatar's feet, Zuko his head—the Avatar lost his balance and fell into the churning waters.

Sleepily watching from afar, Iroh thought they made quite a team.

Crystal just wanted to kill them.

"Aang! No!" Katara yelled, watching as he went under the waves.

Katara screamed for their friend, and for a second Crystal thought he was dead—but then he burst to the surface held high by a massive water tornado so she guessed he was fine.

In one clean blow, Aang landed back on the ship and sent all the guards sprawling to the ocean. His eyes glowed white.

"Woah," Crystal gasped.

Kasumi had just barely snagged Zuko's ankle as they plummeted to the water, and Zuko just barely snagged the anchor of the ship. The two of them dangled over the ocean for dear life. "Get off me!" Zuko grunted, shaking his leg. "Kasumi, get off!"

"No!" She yelled, holding tighter. Her nails were digging into Zuko's ankle. If he thought she'd sacrifice herself to the ocean for him, he was a whole other level of stupid. "You let go of that anchor, Zuko, and I will drown you myself!"

He jostled her again, and her head clanged against the ship. "Ow!"

Zuko peered down, sending her a roguish glare. "Sorry, spasm."

Meanwhile, Crystal was scrambling off of Appa to pick up a desolate Aang, slumped on the floor. "Hey guys. Thanks for coming," He said weakly. After that water feat he'd just pulled, he almost looked as lifeless as he did when they pulled him out of that iceberg.

"Well, I couldn't let you have all the glory," Sokka bleated. Crystal kicked him in the shin.

"I dropped my staff," Aang rasped in Katara's arms. Sokka was quick to say "Got it!" and he spring up to retrieve it.

Crystal helped Katara prop Aang up, still slack-jawed. "Could you always do that water tornado thingy? Man, that was so cool! Have your eyes ever glowed like that?"

"Maybe he can answer questions after he's out of immediate danger," Katara huffed.

Kasumi was still dangling on the side of the ship as Crystal and Katara hauled Aang to safety. She could tell they were running out of time to get the Avatar back, and she needed an opening. Urgently.

And the world seemed to work in her favour for once, because that stupid Water Tribe buffoon peered over the edge of the ship. The Avatar's staff was in his hands, but he froze when he saw two firebenders leering at him.

Zuko leapt into action. He grabbed onto the other side of the staff and tugged, shaking Kasumi like a ragdoll. She let out a shriek. "Zuko, you—stop! You're messing up my hair!"

The Water Tribe boy bonked Zuko in the head with the Avatar's staff. Zuko lost his grip, and down he went. Kasumi let go of his ankle before it was too late and latched onto the chain of the anchor at the very last second. She heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ha! That's from the Water Tribe!" Buffoon yelled, skipping off.

She looked down at Zuko, who was furiously holding on to the edge of the anchor. He was lower than her now. She grinned. "Sorry, spasm."

The biting metal dug into her hands. With a grunt, she pulled herself further up. She had to climb up this ship.

Crystal, on the other hand, was hacking away at the ice around Sokka's feet—Katara was trying to fend off the soldiers but accidentally hit her brother in the process—when Sokka turned his head to the left and blanched. "Guys, we have a problem!" He squeaked. "Like, a big one!"

Crystal looked past Sokka's legs. Oh no.

That stupid Fire Nation girl had pushed herself back onto the ship again. Her black hair was disheveled behind a crimson headband, but she looked just as scary. "Where do you think you're going?" She gritted, stalking towards Crystal and her friend.

Sokka was kind of frozen at the moment so he couldn't do much. "Uh, Katara!" His voice cracked. "Help!"

Crystal glared at the girl. She could take this one.

Kasumi raised her fists as the Water Tribe girl circled towards her. There was a fire in her eyes Kasumi almost envied. "Look blondie, let's just make this quick—"

Crystal punched Kasumi in the face.

Kasumi reeled back, a hand flying to her cheekbone. "Sorry!" Crystal winced. "Well, not really, since you're trying to kidnap my friend."

Kasumi had no time to assemble herself before Crystal came back with a club, swinging straight for Kasumi's head—holy shit, is she trying to kill me?

Kasumi caught the club with her hands in the nick of time. Crystal gritted her teeth and pressed forward. Kasumi's muscles strained as she tried to keep her hands up so the club wouldn't maul her face. "How are you—so—strong?" Kasumi wheezed, feet slipping backwards.

Sweat pooled at Crystal's hairline. "I squash a lot of vegetables in my free time."

She was surprisingly vicious for a Water Tribe peasant. Maybe even a little competent. But clubs didn't do much against fire, did they?

Kasumi stepped forward and a flare shot towards Crystal's feet. She lost her balance, bumbling backwards, and the club went with her. "Katara!" Sokka screeched again. "Crystal's getting her butt handed to her, help us!"

"I'm not getting my butt handed to me!"

Kasumi rolled her eyes. "Yes, you are." She sent another wave of flame to the bimbo's feet and she leapt back, bumping into her frozen friend.

Kasumi was on her way to immobilizing the girl when something cold crept up her legs. When she tried kicking her foot again, it didn't move. She looked down and started to writhe in frustration. Her legs were encased in ice.

Bimbo grinned. "You were saying?"

Sokka and Crystal looked back at Katara, who sent them a weak smile. Dozens of guards were frozen in front of her. Her hands were shaking as she beckoned them over. "Guys, let's go!" She urged, climbing onto Appa.

Sokka was muttering something Crystal couldn't bother listening to. Once he freed himself from the ice, Crystal yanked him the hardest she could and the two of them leapt onto Appa's tail. "Yip-yip, yip-yip!" Crystal yelled as they plopped into the saddle. Appa took to the sky as fast as he could. Katara was already at the reins. Aang was slumped in the saddle, paler than ice.

Kasumi huffed. They were slipping out of her fingers. "Shoot them down!" Zuko yelled as Iroh hastened to pull his nephew back onto the deck. A fireball curved through the air, aiming straight for the Avatar and his weird flying sheep. Kasumi's heart fluttered with hope.

Hope was crushed when the Avatar sent a gust of wind, redirecting the ball to the ice caps next to them. That was the last Kasumi saw before ice and snow tumbled down, letting the Avatar leave her for good.

Now she was stuck on a ship succumbed nose-first in a pile of ice. That kid was smart.

"Good news for the Fire Lord," Iroh said. "The Fire Nation's greatest threat is just a little kid."

"That kid, uncle, just did this." Zuko rose to his feet, gesturing to the disaster around them. Kasumi's feet were stuck in ice, half their ship was buried in snow, and all their guards were frozen.  "I won't underestimate him again."

"Yeah, and his lackeys aren't all harmless either," Kasumi added, crossing her arms.

"Dig this ship out and follow them!" Zuko ordered—and then noticed the guards were holding lanterns to their frozen buddies. "Uh, as soon as you're done with that."

Kasumi frowned. "Hello? Is anybody going to help me?" She made a notion to her iced feet.

Zuko's eyes shifted to her face. Curious, he walked over to her. "Who gave you that?" He asked. His hand rose for a fleeting moment like he was going to touch her face, but it fell back to his side. She pretended not to notice.

Kasumi had no idea what he was talking about until she touched her cheek again. Yeah, there was definitely a bruise there. "Blonde girl punched me," She mumbled crassly. "I need to ice it or something."

"Well, take your pick," Zuko said hotly, gesturing around them. Literally everything was ice.

"Uh, I would if I could move my feet. Are you going to help me with that?"

Zuko looked her up and down. He was frustrated. She could tell. "No, I don't think I will," He grunted, stalking away from her.

This was not a good day.

—☯︎︎—

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, this was a pretty good day.

Exhausted, Crystal was curled in the crook of Appa's saddle. Katara, Aang, and Sokka were all talking about something she couldn't seem to catch. The golden light coming from the sun was warm, and the longer she basked in it, the harder it was to concentrate. And with everything that just happened, she was just about ready to pass out for good. Battling on a ship, leaving home, fighting with Sokka—the wind in her hair and the kisses of sun were loosening something in her that today had tied up. She could stay here forever, letting the sky lull her to sleep.

"How did you do that? With the water?" Katara sputtered at Aang. "It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

"I don't know, I just sort of. . . did it," Aang said, shoulders hanging low. He seemed sad.

"Why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?" Katara asked.

Aang's face fell. "Because. . ." He swallowed, turning away. "I never wanted to be."

Crystal felt a rush of sympathy for this poor kid. She knew the things people envied could also be the things people hated most about themselves. Life was cruel to everyone, no matter how many elements you could bend.

They passed over a dark cloud. Crystal's eyes drooped lower, and she snuggled into the saddle, wrapping her parka tight.

"But Aang, the world's been waiting for the Avatar to return and finally put an end to this war," Katara started.

"And how am I going to do that?" Aang asked, arms curled around his knees. Crystal wanted to give him a hug. He looked so little on the tip of this saddle, with nothing but sky stretching behind him.

"You have to master water, then earth, then fire, right?" She said blearily, in hopes to cheer him up.

"That's what the monks told me."

"Well, if we go to the north pole, you can master waterbending!" Katara said with a smile.

Aang's face brightened. "We can learn it together!"

"And Sokka, I'm sure you'll get to knock some firebender heads on the way," Katara turned to her brother.

"I'd like that," Sokka mused. "I'd really like that."

"And Crystal—" Katara caught sight of her friend, half conked out. "Well, you're kind of cool with anything, aren't you?" She chuckled.

Crystal shot Katara drowsy finger guns.

"Then we're in this together!" Katara cheered.

Crystal let out a sigh, shifting to see if she could get more comfortable. She knew she should probably listening to whatever Aang was saying, but sleep was getting closer and closer the longer she closed her eyes.

Someone nudged her in the ribs.

Crystal frowned. Was she not allowed to sleep or something? Had she not been through enough? She cracked her eyes open.

To her surprise, she found Sokka staring at her with a warm, amused look on his face. His blue eyes looked grey in the paling sun. He gestured for her to come closer. Like some sort of truce.

Crystal didn't move at first. She curled her legs closer to herself and shifted away. She hadn't forgotten what he said to her, and she hoped he didn't think the wound had already healed just because he said sorry. It took more than a sorry to forgive an idiot.

Sokka's face fell. "Please?" He asked softly.

The tone of his voice made her heart leap out of her chest. He sounded like a kid again. He sounded like he needed her again.

She glanced at him. He looked so lonely. Reluctantly, she huffed, "Say one thing to wake me up and I hit you with my clubs."

Sokka broke into relief, scooting closer to her. "Aye-aye, captain."

He spread his arms, pulling Crystal in. She rolled her eyes. Sokka had always been a big hugger. Ever since she met him, it was almost incessant. Sometimes when he was upset, he would go searching for her in tents just to whack her with pillows and smother her in a hug. She couldn't say she minded it.

She hugged him back anyway, letting her cheeks smush into the fur of his parka and the warmth of his skin. She just wanted to sleep, honestly. And this was as comfortable a place as any.

"Are you still mad?" Sokka asked quietly. For a moment, it felt like they were still little, and Sokka was warming her up after a snowball to her face.

Crystal clung to the feeling. She nestled her face in the crook of his neck. "No," She sighed, "But that doesn't mean I forgive you."

"Yeah, I can work with that," He muttered, making her stomach warm. "I'm still sorry, by the way. Really sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise." His arms were pulled tight across her waist, like he was afraid she'd leave.

Crystal was already slipping further into slumber. She felt so small with him, so huddled. This was what she wanted, not Appa's dusty saddle. She wanted her best friend. "Well you can start by letting me sleep," She mumbled, smiling a little.

"Okay, okay," He chuckled, leaning back. "I'll look after you from now on, alright?" His voice was so low that only she could hear. It dripped down her throat like warm honey. "We'll look after each other."

"Shhh. Save the sap for when my brain is awake enough to register it."

She pressed her nose into his neck, filling her lungs with sandalwood and salt and sea. Sokka bundled her in his arms. Their chests rose and fell together like the push and pull of tide. This was how they were supposed to be. This would never change.

Crystal's mind was foggy as she drifted off, but she still tried to promise with Sokka that they would look after each other for as long as they could. Even when they were insufferable idiots.

Like Katara said, they were in this together.

____________________________
A/N. . .
woo we're done episode two!! this chapter is a little rougher than the last one but i tried to make it readable for u guys! crystal and kasumi's interactions were so fun to write i love their relationship and i'm so excited to develop it ahhhh

but honestly next chapter is one of the best chapter's i've ever written and i'm so excited to publish it aghajdnskjw!! it's all about pearl bc i'm getting tired of straight people and oh my god she's my favourite to write. out of all the chapters i've written so far chapter seven is by far my favourite!! i'm so pleased with how it turned out and i hope you will be too

please don't forget to leave comments while you read!! it makes me so happy guys you're so fun🥺 thank you for reading and the lovely support, sorry updates haven't been as frequent, see you soon <3

—perrie