Chapter Text
(Y/n)'s eyes snapped open. She expected to be in her bed, covered in a warm blanket, but all she felt was cold, cold, freezing cold. Her fingers were stiff and there was something very cool around her wrists. Her back ached, and when she could finally stop the dizziness, she realized she wasn't in her bed. She wasn't in her room either, and she wasn't entirely sure she was in her very home.
The floor beneath her was hard and wooden, and at first she thought she was still dizzy, but then she heard water splashing outside. Something was moving below her. There was a porthole above her, shining light.
Porthole?
She was on a ship. (Y/n) snapped up so quickly, leaping to her feet before falling again because there was something tying her legs up. Flashes of fighting, stretching her body in impossible angles, kicking and punching were so vivid in her mind that it gave her a headache.
Her bound hands shot out without a thought, holding her up from smashing her face on the floor. Her nose was an inch to the ground, and she wondered how she even had the muscle to hold herself up. It was automatic for her to push up swiftly and land on her feet even though her body was tied up.
"What the fuck," she whispered, staring at her shaky hands.
It felt almost like it was a memory. But it wasn't hers. She had never learned to fight. And the clothes in her vision...
Her clothes!
She wasn't wearing normal, modern clothes, but something more similar to cosplay outfits. Hers were in different shades of red and brown, a tunic that barely held in any heat, breeches that puffed up from cuffs on her calves, and strong, black shoes that were curled at the tips. It was familiar, like an itch at the back of her mind.
She was across the porthole where the morning light was taunting her. The chains on her hands were long, long enough that she could hold it at shoulder-width. (Y/n) didn't know what her plan was, but she had the feeling she had to trust her body. Letting herself fall again, her hands hit the floor and her body pulled upright, perfectly balanced, core tight like she had done this move a million times, until she was walking on her hands to the porthole.
Just yesterday, she was wheezing because she couldn't run at P.E. Now, she could walk on her fucking hands?
Straightening herself up, she peeked through the open porthole. She could see an iron hull, but the scenery around her...
It was ice all over. Ice lands and water, cold, freezing, but so familiar. She was freezing cold that her fingertips were turning blue. Her chest was contracting with the low temperature, lips turning dry and chapped. This was definitely her body, but the abilities weren't. She knew this place. She just did. Her eyes spotted a brilliant flash of light that shot up into the sky.
Voices drifted down from the deck of the ship. A husky voice said, "finally! Uncle, do you realize what this means?"
Another older voice piped up. "I won't get to finish my game?"
Who were they? They kidnapped her? But from where? And how could they get her to a freezing cold place so suddenly, on a ship?
"It means my search—it's about to come to an end. That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!"
The older voice groaned. "Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko—"
A gasp left her lips. "You've got to be shitting me," (Y/n) mumbled, gripping at her hair. Zuko? Ship? The South Pole?
She knew where she was now. She didn't know how she got there, but she was here.
She was in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
***
After realizing she was in a TV show for some inexplicable reason, (Y/n) first got out of her manacles through her flexible joints—it was a surprising ability but it took a back burner to her thoughts.
Instead, she went to a corner of the brig, pressed her face into her knees, clamped her hands over her mouth, and she screamed till her voice became hoarse. The muffled screams were barely anything compared to the loud engines of the battleship, so she let everything loose. Her shock and fear and what the fuck was happening how is this possible lemme wakeupnowplease.
She was stranded all alone in another universe, trapped in a Fire Nation ship and with no idea how to get back.
(Y/n)—after getting over her panic and steadying her breath—decided to make a plan. Zuko was about to invade the Southern Water Tribe. It had been years since she watched the show, so she barely remembered what happened next.
The siblings. Sokka and Katara. She had to find them. She was in this universe for a reason, and she didn't want to travel with Zuko as his prisoner. So with a quick plan, once the ship docked against the ice of the city wall, she shook herself and climbed out of the porthole with surprising ease.
The only way would be through the deck of the ship, so once she made sure there was a commotion and most of the soldiers were off the ship, (Y/n) clawed her way up, until she tumbled into the next porthole.
Landing on the floor, (Y/n) squeaked as she looked up.
General Iroh was sitting right opposite her, half his noodles falling out of his mouth and staring at her in shock. His expression suddenly smoothed out and he smiled. "Tea?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You're not going to turn me in?"
"I don't even know why Zuko wanted to cage you after we found you drifting. You haven't done anything wrong. Tea?"
"I'd love some, but I'm afraid there's no time. I'd also like to talk, but-"
"There's no time," he repeated. "Take a left until you reach a steel door. Make sure to duck low when you leave the deck. The Captain is still on board."
"Thank you, General Iroh," she whispered before bolting out of the room, leaving the confused old man.
"How do you know my name?" He called after her, but then shrugged and went back to his noodles.
She followed his instructions so well that she was surprised. She made it off the ship without a problem and had to skirt along the edge of the city wall as quickly as possible, and although she was afraid she would slip, her shoes had good grip. She wondered where she had gotten it from, but then another flash hit her. A man in the Earth Kingdom, presenting her with the pair of shoes just after she had completed her training. She was surrounded by other students who were clapping for her.
Her head throbbed when she felt ice seep into her fingernails. She was too cold, her body was going numb. She could barely feel her blue fingers, and then, her grip slipped. Her pinky finger stabbed into the ice and completely broke off with a dull crack. A sharp pain zipped down her spine and she held back a loud cry, staring at the red, frozen stub in horror, her other fingers trembling nearly blue.
Her fucking finger broke off.
Tears sprung to her eyes, but she managed to rein in her anguish through a whimper. She loved her pinky.
Keep moving, keep moving, something chanted in her. A gut instinct, you could call it. That she was trained not to stop, to keep going even when things were tough.
God, but her pinky. What did pinky ever do to deserve this, now probably floating in the icy cold ocean.
Steadying herself, she kept walking around the ledge until she reached the back of the Tribe, and then came the hard part.
How could she ever find Sokka's and Katara's place in the cluster of tents?
So, she waited behind a snow bank, watching as Aang showed up on a penguin and sent Zuko sprawling. His helmet landed on his ass and the village cheered. She couldn't hear much from them, but she got the gist of it. Sokka was... much more handsome in person, she had to admit. She never knew someone who could pull off a wolf-tail so well.
(Y/n) pursed her lips. Sokka was going to date Suki. She wasn't here to fantasize, she had a plan.
She rubbed her hands together and creeped into the nearest tent and grabbed the only thing she could find—a thick, woolen scarf. She managed to wrap up her face and fingers until they were no longer blue, but when her hand was defrosted, blood seeped out of her lost pinky, the skin around it shriveled and crusty.
She had to cry silently at the pain. If she lost another finger, she would riot and burn down the entire South Pole.
Zuko fired blast after blast, all of which Aang dissipated by twirling his staff in front of him like a helicopter blade. The dissipation didn't block the fire from reaching the villagers, though, and they all cried out. Aang realized he couldn't protect them, and then he surrendered. Aang was tied up and taken up the ship, and Katara became sad. She snapped at her Grandmother and brother, and then, things got interesting.
Katara stormed into a tent while everyone had to resume their work and get rid of all the destruction. Sokka went to a separate tent to wash off his warpaint. (Y/n) was shivering as she waited for the right time, and when Sokka left his tent, she quietly and quickly sneaked in. Stripping off her wet, red tunic and scarf, she dug around until she found a blue one. Just when she put it on, Sokka came back in.
His mouth fell open, and his eyes snagged onto the red clothes dumped on the floor. "Fire Nation," he whispered. It seemed to hit him, because he brought out his club. His mouth opened to scream but she was faster somehow. Her hand shot out and whacked several spots on his body, and Sokka went tumbling down.
(Y/n) caught him before he hit the ground, and she cradled his head even though her heart was racing at the fact that she just hurt him without hesitation. "Oh, my god, I'm so sorry!"
"I can't move my limbs!" He panicked.
"Oh, god, I paralyzed you!" She panicked louder. "I'm sorry!"
Sokka paused, bewildered. "You-you're sorry?"
Her fingers were gentle against his scalp, but they were trembling. "I-I didn't mean to! It's temporary, I swear. It's just chi-blocking and I got scared that I actually hurt you and-"
"What's your deal?" Sokka growled. He moved his neck and sorely regretted it because it hit the cold ground. "You're Fire Nation. All you do is hurt!"
"No!" She squeaked. "I'm not from Fire Nation!"
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not! I was in Zuko's ship. I was a prisoner."
"Then why did you chi-block me?" He asked. He could move a hand now. His blue eyes stared at her, watching how she played with the hem of her tunic. His tunic. "Why are you wearing my clothes?"
Her cheeks burned. "I escaped but I was cold. I needed warmer clothes. Listen, we need to go and save the Avatar. I can't explain everything now, but we need to move fast."
Sokka scoffed. "Who are you?"
"(Y/n)."
"That's a strange name." Sokka managed to move his legs and he was quickly pulling himself up. He noticed she was still shivering. "I don't completely trust you right now, and if you're lying, you're going to get it from me." He tossed her a pair of pants and a thick jacket. "Hurry up while I talk to my sister. I'm Sokka."
She smiled. "Thank you, Sokka."
His lips were pressed tightly. "I'm keeping my eye on you every second of every day. You slip up, and I'll be the first to end you."
He left her gulping. When he came back, she was dressed up and ready. The scarf had been completely wrapped around her injured hand so that he couldn't see she was bleeding. The pain was intense by then that her head was throbbing.
Sokka looked at her grimly. "Let's go. We're getting Aang."
They walked together; Sokka keeping an eye on her like he had promised. (Y/n) paused halfway, thinking about Appa. "Do you happen to have any vegetables?"
"Yeah, let me just get the lettuce and potatoes we grow in the warm, solid mud here."
(Y/n)'s cheeks flushed. "You could've just said no."
Katara was waiting for Sokka's surprise, so when he popped back with a strange girl, Katara narrowed her eyes. "Where did you come from?"
(Y/n) was beaming. This was Katara! One of the greatest water-benders to exist! She shook her hand eagerly. "I'm (Y/n)! I'm coming to help you save Aang."
Sokka smacked his own forehead. He pulled the canoe closer to them. "Get in."
"There's no way we're gonna catch a war ship with a canoe."
A loud rumble made them look to the skies. A flying bison mounted the crest of hill, and then swam to them eagerly.
"Appa!"
(Y/n)'s hands flew to her mouth. Appa was so much cuter, with his round head and the brown arrow mark. Sokka groaned. "You just love taking me out of my comfort zone, don't ya? That's Appa, Aang's flying bison."
(Y/n) was already running forward to meet Appa, and when she was in front of him, the bison growled at her. Her nose crinkled. He was pretty stinky, too. "Hi, Appa. I'm (Y/n)!"
Appa stared at her before sniffing her. She squealed when her gently licked her. Grinning at Sokka, she pointed to the bison. "He likes me! Oh, he's adorable!"
Sokka grumbled at her and climbed into Appa's saddle. Katara had already mounted him, and (Y/n) quickly scampered up and stayed in the front of the saddle, like an eager puppy on a car drive.
Sokka said drearily as he held the reins. "Go, fly, soar."
Katara sighed. "Please, Appa, we need your help. Aang needs your help."
"Up. Ascend. Elevate."
(Y/n) watched in amusement as Katara tried coaxing him. "Sokka doesn't believe you can fly, but I do, Appa. Come on. Don't you wanna save Aang?"
"What was it that kid said? Yee-ha? Hup hup? Wahoo?"
Appa rumbled, but didn't speed up. (Y/n) got impatient, so she coughed out, disguising a "yip-yip."
Sokka's brows furrowed. "Uh....Yip-yip?"
Appa rumbled again and flopped his massive beaver tail. Finally, with a mighty heave, he took off into the sky. Katara was ecstatic. "You did it, Sokka!"
(Y/n) felt the air brush past her. The feeling of flying was so amazing, like she was so light and free. Cold, too.
Sokka gasped. "He's flying! He's flying! Katara, he's—!" Katara gave him a smug look. Then, nonchalantly, he said, "I mean, big deal, he's flying."
Once they set course, the siblings turned to (Y/n), who was staring at the sky in wonder. Sokka cleared his throat and pointed to the center of the saddle. She somberly joined them. Katara asked, "what makes you think you can help us rescue Aang? What's special about you?"
(Y/n) shrugged. "Do either of you know how to fight benders?" They turned quiet. She picked her words carefully. Maybe she had a life here that she just couldn't remember. It just didn't make sense. Did she take someone else's memories? "I got training from an Earth Kingdom academy, where I learnt how to fight against benders. I don't know how I got to the South Pole, but I think I was captured by Zuko because I was fighting him."
(Y/n) realized that the siblings hadn't believed her. Even she wouldn't. So, she pulled the sad card. She had to, just to give herself time to create a better story. "I...uh, I lost my parents. I can remember their faces like it was yesterday-" it was yesterday. The siblings' eyes softened. It was working, but she felt guilty. "I miss them. I don't know what happened to them, but maybe I can find out. Maybe I can go back to them if..."
If they were alive? By leaving her old universe, what became of them? Would they miss her, or would their memories of her be gone?
A warm hand enveloped hers. Katara grimaced. "We lost our mother to the Fire Nation. We understand, and we'll help you."
Sokka sniffed. "Speak for yourself. I still don't trust you. But what happened to your hand?"
(Y/n) glanced down to the hand wrapped up in the scarf. She could barely move it, but then he was taking it in his hands and gently unwrapping the scarf. She stared at his brown face, his blue eyes conflicted and brows furrowed. When he pulled his hand up, blood stained it.
"You're bleeding!" Katara gasped.
He quickly unwrapped the rest of the cloth, revealing a bloody mess of her missing pinky finger. "What... happened?" He prodded it and she hissed, smacking his hand away.
She grimaced as she tried moving the hand. Katara immediately moved to bandage it. "I wasn't given warm clothes under Zuko's captivity. It broke off like rock candy and now it hurts like a bitc-" she cut herself off when Sokka was frowning at her. "It hurts."
The rest of the ride was quiet as Katara bandaged her. (Y/n) managed to move her hand much more easily and stretched, knowing that she had a bit of fighting to do soon. The ship came into sight and they saw chaos. Zuko was growling. She could tell by the angry, givemehonor look on his face.
"Appa!" Aang cheered, and turned around in time to block Zuko's fire blast. He had dodged a few more blasts before he was knocked overboard, plunging into the icy water below.
Katara screamed. "Aang! No!" She kept screaming his name.
Water shot up, forming a tornado with Aang at the top, eyes and tattoos glowing wildly. He released it and it expanded outward in a shock-wave that blasted Zuko and his men overboard.
(Y/n)'s eyes widened. "Did you see what he just did?"
Sokka was impressed. "Now that was some waterbending!"
It was short-lived because Aang collapsed onto the deck. Appa landed on the deck and Katara ran to help Aang. (Y/n) waved at Aang, who was drained, leaning against the water bender as he panted. "Hey, Katara. Hey, Sokka. Hey, strange girl. Thanks for coming."
"Well, I couldn't let you have all the glory," Sokka joked.
"I dropped my staff."
"Got it!" Sokka ran to pick up the staff, but shrieked when Zuko caught the other end. Sokka butted Zuko in the head, and he fell overboard with a yelp. "Ha! That's from the Water Tribe!" He cheered.
Some guards managed to get back up, and that's where (Y/n) stepped in. In a flurry of movements, she took down two guards with chi-blocks and knock-outs. Katara was trying to help with water-bending, but she froze Sokka's feet instead.
"Katara!" He wailed. He used his boomerang to chip away the ice, but more soldiers ran forward. Sokka looked up from his feet, only to witness (Y/n) ferociously barreling towards him. His nose flared angrily. "What are you doing? I knew we couldn't trust you!"
Instead of smacking him in the face like he had expected, (Y/n) jumped over his head, flipping in the air, and she landed right on the Fire Nation solider who had been sneaking behind Sokka. She kicked him to the ground, and her palm struck a point against his neck. He fell unconscious immediately.
Sokka gaped. "You-"
(Y/n) held her fists up, growling at more soldiers. "Hurry up, Sokka!"
"I'm just a guy with a boomerang. I didn't ask for all this flying and magic." He complained. He freed himself finally, grabbed (Y/n)'s hand, and ran up Appa's tail. They leaped into the saddle just as Appa took off.
Zuko screamed a command and a massive bolt of Fire was launched at Appa. Sokka grabbed (Y/n) and shielded her as bits of fire rained down on them, scorching a bit of his jacket. Aang leaped up and air-bent the rest of the fire away, sending it crashing into an ice cliff. The cliff toppled over the ship and damaged it.
Katara turned to Aang and complimented him on his water-bending while Sokka pushed (Y/n) away with a huff. (Y/n) stared at him strangely. She knew he was a good person, but he didn't need to protect her like that. It seemed like he was questioning it, too.
"Thank you." She murmured.
His eyes glued onto Aang as if he couldn't even look at her. "I owed you for the thing on the ship."
Their attention was taken by Katara, who was checking up on a somber Aang. "Why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?" Katara asked.
Aang looked troubled. "Because... I never wanted to be."
"But Aang, the world's been waiting for the Avatar to return and finally put an end to this war."
"And how am I going to do that?"
(Y/n) piped up. "According to legend, you need to first master water, then earth, then fire, right?"
He sent her a confused look, as if he didn't understand why she was still here. "That's what the monks told me."
"Well, if we go to the North Pole you can master waterbending." Katara said.
Aang smiled. "We can learn it together!"
"And Sokka, I'm sure you'll get to knock some firebender heads on the way."
Sokka sighed dreamily. "I'd like that. I'd really like that."
"And (Y/n)-" Katara paused. She looked sheepish.
(Y/n) brushed off the hurt. No one knew what to do with her, and she wasn't sure what her purpose was either, but she would find out. "I'd get time to earn your trust."
Katara and Aang accepted it. Sokka was a bit reluctant and he openly showed it. "Then we're in this together."
Aang produced a scroll, revealing it to be a map. "All right, but before I learn waterbending, we have some serious business to attend to." He pointed to several parts of it. "Here, here, and here.
"What's there?"
"Here, we'll ride the hopping llamas. Then waaaay over here, we'll surf on the backs of giant koi fish. Then back over here we'll ride the hog-monkeys. They don't like people riding them, but that's what makes it fun!"
(Y/n) shared a look with Katara. Sokka had taken to staying at the back of the saddle, farthest away from (Y/n). She was stuck in this universe without her family, and she didn't know if she could ever return. But she had to help them as best as she could.
Because if something brought her to this universe, something else had changed, and she would have to fix it.