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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- 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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Chapter 096
Torluq’s group arrived at the North Pole in their stolen Fire Nation vessels almost a month after separating from the Southern Tribesmen. Along the way they followed Chief Hakoda’s example and commandeered as many ships as they could, but unlike his demonic vow they took the crew as prisoners. During the siege on their homeland several of their countrymen had been taken and they hoped their new guests would be able to tell them where they were being held.
Chief Arnook and the council listened as Torluq explained that the Avatar and Chief Hakoda’s children had been captured. Neither man was shocked to see flyers aboard the more recently acquired cruisers declaring Katara a traitor. It had long been suspected that her battle at the Spirit Oasis with the Fire Nation Prince was merely a cover up for a romantic liaison. No proper Water Tribe girl would have sent Yue away leaving herself alone with him a strange man. She either intended to seduce him or they were already intimately acquainted and this was just the latest in a number of rendezvous.
After Yue’s death Chief Arnook had approved extending the patrols as far South as the Northern Air Temple but several of his warriors were desperate to take more immediate action. They had been rallying around Aivayok, a respected tribal elder whose family once held the chiefdom. He led the faction wishing to take the war to the Fire Nation and each day gathered more supporters. His youngest son Hahn had been among those captured during the failed siege.
Arnook knew that denying Torluq’s request for warriors to help rescue the Avatar would create more political tension. There were several people questioning his leadership ability after the Fire Nation successfully breached their walls and harmed the moon spirit hidden in the heart of the city. If it had not been for Yue’s sacrifice to save the Tui he most likely would have already been ousted.
He considered Torluq’s proposal carefully. He agreed that rescuing the Avatar was of the utmost importance, but Chief Hakoda’s inclusion of Iluak among his war party was a bad omen. Sokka had been a brave warrior and had done what he could to protect Yue, but the decision to allow Katara to travel with the Avatar and learn true Waterbending had caused discord among his people. Several of the younger women and girls refused to go the healing huts and sat defiantly at the training grounds. Even those who weren’t benders had adopted the practice. More troubling was that some of the men who had no sons or whose daughters had been raped during the invasion were whispering that women should be taught to defend themselves.
Aivayok was sympathetic to their cause. It was the broken betrothal of his ancestor’s youngest daughter that cost his family the chiefdom of their tribe. His great-great aunt Kesuk had claimed she was raped by the Fire Lord. No one not even her father believed that an unseen force took control of her and held her down allowing Fire Lord Kuzolon to sully her. Aivayok’s great-great-grandfather had been a child at the time and saw the strange woman who’d accompanied the Fire Lord opening the walls to pass into her room but due to his age and their close sibling relationship he was not a credible witness.
She had sent him a letter after she’d been banished to the Fire Nation to live with the man she allowed to seduce her. In it she explained the woman he’d seen was Nini, the daughter of a disgraced Water Sage. She had been raped by the previous Fire Lord, Irohulon, but their father had not believed her. He had her beaten and her nose split before banishing her as punishment for making such a claim. She was the mother of the current Fire Lord and this was her revenge against their family.
The letter was no secret among the Northern Water Tribe. Aivayok’s ancestor had showed it to everyone and it held a place in the history of their tribe. Nini’s parents were sages who’d been shunned for practicing black magic so Kesuk’s claim of witchcraft did have some merit although no one believed the woman was her. Nini died in the wilderness along with her bastard. No one, let alone a woman, could have survived such a harsh punishment; unless of course she was a witch. The letter was used a tool to warn against the danger of allowing young women to give into their fanciful natures.
Which led Arnook back to Katara and her influence on his tribe’s young women; there were those who claimed she was a witch or Water Sage as well. She had been the one to free the Avatar from his 100 year prison and the first woman in centuries to learn true Waterbending.

Arnook looked from Torluq to Aivayok then surveyed the faces of his council. He needed to make a decision that would keep his tribe protected and satisfy the ones who wanted to do battle. He had just been told a woman was among Hakoda’s fighters. That would discourage many of his tribesmen. He slyly announced, “I will allow any of our warriors who wish to take a more active role in the war to do so. However I will stipulate that you take this letter to Chief Hakoda and consult with him regarding your actions. I fully trust your judgment but as his son Sokka pointed out, our past practice of isolation has left us outdated on the capabilities of the Fire Nation. He has been battling them for the past two years.”
Arnook took the opportunity to belittle Hahn, “The warriors who disregarded Sokka’s warnings ended up dead or captured but the ones who listened to his advice are still among us. Chief Hakoda’s input will be invaluable in assuring your safety so I ask that you work with the leader of our sister tribe to put an end to the Fire Nation.”
Aivayok was able to maintain his calm expression. Arnook had expertly maneuvered this obstacle but there would be other chances to unseat him. For now he had to help his family members decide who among them would be going to war.

Toph proved to be an invaluable traveling companion. After exchanging most of the gold coins Lady Sakura had given them for less noticeable coppers, Iroh found himself with the dilemma of transporting them without inviting robbers. The little Earthbender solved his problem by simply crushing them together and shaping them into cookware.
They left Ember Island in the dead of night and arrived at the main island before well before dawn. At her suggestion they vandalized several stores moving the goods from one to another so it would take longer to realize what was stolen. During the day they hid out in a small cavern she constructed under the police station. The next night they undid the cages in several animal stores, opened barn doors and removed pasture gates from their fences and returned to their temporary shelter.
Just as she predicted, all their activities were blamed on local teenagers. The third night when the city guards were searching the city for the group of miscreants, they stole a boat (Iroh’s original plan) and left for the sparsely inhabited Black Cliffs. To his surprise Toph told him the ground felt familiar.
A few steps further inland and she recognized it as the meeting point for the invasion. They spent the night on the bed of koalasheep’s wool they’d made for Aang. The next morning they stuffed as much of it into their traveling bags as possible. General Iroh was not known for a head full of thick curly hair pulled into a top knot.
At their next stop, Toph got off the boat and dug her toes in the ground in glee. She stopped and then stomped around for a little bit, “Hey Gramps, is there a giant fire breathing statue of your brother near here?”
“Yes, Miss Toph, there is. It’s the pride of Fire Fountain City.” Iroh replied without thinking. A moment later he asked, “How did you know about that?”
“Let’s just say I’ve been here before,” she replied evasively, “Do you have a lot you need to do here?”
“Not especially,” Iroh responded raising his eyebrow. He knew that tone of voice; he’d heard it plenty of times from his own son and Azula. Zuko’s plotting was always more obvious.
“So we can leave in a few minutes then?” she asked as an idea took shape in her mind.
Iroh hesitated before slowly responding, “We can.”
Toph crackled her knuckles, “Gramps, do you think you can get a faster boat?”
Iroh realized he wouldn’t get anywhere with her without taking a direct approach, “Miss Toph what are you planning?”
“I’ll put it like this; we’ll need the fastest boat you can find. I need to visit an old friend that sold us out to Sparky-Sparky-Boom-Boom Man.”
“Who? You know what, nevermind,” Iroh said deciding to focus on more practical matters, “It takes time to steal a boat.”
“Not with the right distraction. Take me to the dock then point me towards the center of town.”
They walked to the main dock then Iroh directed her towards the town square. Dreading what she was planning, he changed into a disguise and picked up a fan to cover his facial hair then followed her surreptitiously.

“Hello beautiful,” a masculine voice called out.
Iroh jumped when he felt the swat on his backside. He remembered he was supposed to be a woman so he resisted the urge to flambé the offender and lifted his voice several octaves, “Um hello.”
“Well aren’t you easy on the eyes from both sides,” the lecher said flirtatiously. “I’m the mayor of Fire Fountain City. I haven’t seen you before. I certainly would remember one so lovely.”
“Why thank you,” Iroh tittered nervously placing a hand over his fluffy chest mentally making a note not to use as much stuffing next time.
“So what brings you here business or pleasure?” the man purred waggling his eyebrows suggestively as he kissed Iroh’s hand.
“I..ah…oh dear. Is that statue of the Fire Lord sinking?” Iroh shrieked, this time his voice changed pitch naturally.
“What? That’s not possible. It’s been standing for the past-” he stopped when he heard the sound of metal screeching.
“That’s for Aang, Sokka and Katara!” Toph screamed as she bent Fire Lord Ozai so his likeness was quite literally blowing fire up his own ass.
She attached dirt to her feet and skated towards Iroh and his admirer. In two fluid motions the mayor was left up to his neck in dirt and Iroh was moving along side her.
“Help. The Runaway is stealing my woman!” the mayor screamed as he struggled to escape his earthen prison.
“Woman? Is that guy blind?” Toph asked increasing their speed.
Iroh laughed, “Miss Toph, you have no idea.”
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Borealis: A Zutara Story