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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33965 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
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Toph’s hand tightened around the aged Firebender’s as she waited for the Fire Lord and his offspring to step away from them. She loosened her grip when she no longer felt their vibrations, but still counted 5,000 furry badgermoles before speaking. “I can’t believe they left me.”
Iroh patted her shoulder, “Now, now, Miss Toph. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision. I am certain the Avatar would be in chains and your other friends would be dead by now if they had not done so. We can still meet up with them at the Western Air Temple. I did plan on leaving the country; this is merely a change in destination. Besides I’d be delighted to have you as my traveling companion.”
Toph nodded. She lowered the walls surrounding them so went back the direction from which they’d come so Iroh could get his bearings. It didn’t take long for the ground to once again grow damp signaling they were getting closer to water.
Iroh had planned to sneak aboard a merchant vessel bound for the Earth Kingdom, but he couldn’t do that now that Toph was with him. Instead he asked her to wait in the cavern near the docks while he procured supplies for their journey.
Minutes later an up and coming playwright wishing to join the Ember Island troupe had purchased the rights to the tragic story of why Mushi and his blind granddaughter, Ursa (named after the beautiful wife of their benevolent ruler) hoped to make a new life for themselves on Ember Island. She offered them passage aboard her private vessel hoping to get further insight on their personalities during their journey.

A rotating skeleton crew resided at private harbor where the Ursa was docked to ensure she was ready for travel at a moment’s notice. As soon as they received the message the crew began preparing to launch. Three large stokers began shoveling coal into the ships furnace gradually heating it with Firebending as the engineers began working the complicated set of locks to raise the water in the hidden cove to sea level.
The stable hands and veterinary officer coaxed the Komodo rhinos and basilisk lizards kept in the local barns onto the ship’s stable making sure to leave room for the royal family’s personal mounts. Once the animals were secured the livestock and their feed was added to the stable.
Fruits and vegetable plants were then loaded along with preserved goods. The Ursa rarely sailed without notice but enough food and fuel was kept on hand to feed two hundred people for up to one month in the event of an emergency.
Two hours after receiving the order, Fire Lord Ozai’s personal vessel was at open sea. It moved up the coast of the main island at top speed, steadily gaining on the bison and small war balloon they were tracking.
“They’re in sight Princess, what are your orders?” The recently promoted Admiral commanding the vessel asked. She had earned her promotion after the Siege of the North Pole. Her ship had been one of the few to return relatively unscathed and with a cargo hold full of prisoners.
“Admiral, position your strongest fire benders on either side of the bow. When I give the order fire,” Azula commanded.
Azula waited until the balloon carrying her brother was directly behind the bison, “Now.”
Zuko felt the incoming heat and took evasive action dispersing the fire with one hand and catching some of it to raise his balloon higher with the other. The fire drew the attention of the people on the bison to the war balloon. They never noticed the bolt of lightning approaching from below.
Appa bellowed in pain as he was struck. The lightning ripped through his armor. As it shattered it he and his passengers were peppered with shrapnel. He used his tail to buffet the air beneath him in an attempt to slow his descent as he and his passengers spiraled towards the ground.
“Appa” Aang screamed leaping off of his head and pulling air up beneath them to break their fall. Sokka grabbed the reins with one hand and Katara with the other. She was using the liquid in her waterskin to work on the deepest area.
She soon realized such a small amount of water was futile on such a large animal so she began calling water from the ocean beneath them and pulling it to the sky. The water was halfway there when another bolt of lightning cut through it electrifying the sky.
Aang scrambled back over the bison. He grabbed Sokka and Katara then extended his glider so their weight wouldn’t burden Appa. He was about to lift off when a flash of light appeared on the right.
“Come this way hurry. There’s a safe place to land,” Zuko screamed as he waved his arms sending fire down them to act as a beacon. “Hurry! The ship can’t come this way!”
“Crap! Zuko’s over there. We have to go the other way,” Sokka yelled not understanding what the prince was saying over Appa’s pained roars.
“No you don’t. This kill is mine,” Azula growled as she saw her brother’s flames. She pulled her fingers back sending another burst of lightning into the sky as the bison veered wildly to the left.
Appa was able to dodge the second strike but it spooked him so much he bore down attempting to gain speed. The action jarred his injured limbs and he thrashed sideways. Sokka and Katara threw their arms around Aang again. They started to lift but Sokka’s foot was caught in Appa’s reins. The sudden jerk ripped the glider from Aang’s hand.
“Leave me! Take Katara and get out of here,” Sokka screamed as Zuko’s balloon continued to head towards them.
“We won’t leave you!” Katara argued, desperately pulling water from the air and forming a blade to cut Sokka free.
They bounced upward as Appa howled in pain. They had reached the tree line. Katara and Sokka both threw their arms around Aang shielding him as Appa rolled sideways and crash landed.

Iroh was explaining to their lovely hostess, Sei, that his son had passed away during the war several years ago. He’d recently become young Ursa’s sole guardian after his daughter-in-law died of illness when he saw a flash of light enter the heavens followed by something rather large falling.
Toph had lowered her head and was masking her giggles as sobs as her grandfather “Mushi” provided all the heart rending details of their life story.   She was surprised by the sudden fluctuations of Iroh’s heartbeat. Unlike the rest of his fantasy he was actually telling the truth about losing his son during the war.

Zuko landed his balloon on the ship just as it was finding a place to dock.
“I don’t care about the other two, grab the Avatar and take him onboard! Send a messenger hawk to my father with the good news,” Azula barked making no plans for the injured bison or Water Tribe siblings.
“No, we’re taking all three of them,” Zuko interjected. His father only wanted the Avatar but it didn’t feel right to leave the others to die.
Of course he couldn’t tell the real reason to his sister, “We can use them as hostages to control the Avatar. Mu, you’re in charge of the bison. Maybe your family can cross-bred him with something to make a flying war animal.”
“A ‘flying war animal’?” Azula snorted in derision. “Really, Zuzu, years with the royal tutors and that’s all you can come up with. But I suppose you do have point. They are unusually devoted one another. Mu, Bingwen, gather what you need to sedate and transport the creatures.”
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Borealis: A Zutara Story