|
|
Katara is picking berries with Momo when suddenly she hears a voice.
|
| Chio
|
Help! Stop! Let him go! [Katara runs toward the voice and comes across a small village where firebenders are setting the wooden houses on fire. Two soldiers have captured a girl and her father.] Please! We don't have any money!
|
| Soldier 1
|
Then your father will come and work for us instead!
|
| Katara
|
Let him go! [The soldier turns around to see Katara bending a stream of water above her, ready to attack.] Now!
|
| Soldier 1
|
[Dropping Zenko.] What the--
|
|
|
[Before he can finish, the wave of water hits him and tosses him around. Then she turns on the other soldier and Momo jumps onto the his head. The next panel shows Katara standing next to smoking houses as Aang and Sokka walk up behind her.]
|
| Aang
|
Uh, did we miss something?
|
| Katara
|
Oh, not much!
|
| Zenko
|
[Walking up to Katara with Chio shuffling behind him.] Waterbender! Thank you so much for saving me, and our village! Say thank you, Chio!
|
| Chio
|
Thanks.
|
| Zenko
|
A waterbender, way out here! Our prayers have been answered!
|
| Katara
|
It was nothing. I mean, I'm just glad I could help.
|
| Zenko
|
My name is Zenko, my daughter here is Chio, and this is Maizu Village. The Fire Nation raided us months ago and rounded up all our earthbenders, so we had no way to defend ourselves when they came back. But you came when we needed you most! We don't have much to offer, but please have dinner with our family tonight as thanks!
|
| Katara
|
[As Aang, Sokka, and Momo look at eachother excitedly.] We would be honored to join you.
|
| Zenko's husband
|
[As everyone eats dinner in the family's house.] But thank you again, Katara. Not only for saving my husband, but for bringing the Avatar to our humble village. Now we see there may yet be a chance of saving our lands from the Fire Lord.
|
| Zenko
|
You know, our Chio does some bending of her own!
|
| Katara
|
What, really? I thought you said all your earthbenders were
|
| Chio
|
[She cuts Katara off, acting embarrassed.] Dad! He's joking, it's not real bending. It's just... [She takes a piece of paper and folds it a paper flower.] Paper-bending. Origami.
|
| Aang
|
Wow!
|
| Katara
|
That's beautiful!
|
| Zenko's husband
|
Go show them your room, they'll love it!
|
| Chio
|
Papa, they have better things to do than look at some dumb paper. They're heroes after all.
|
| Katara
|
Actually, I'd love to see more!
|
| Aang
|
Please?
|
| Chio
|
[Standing up.] Well, okay... [Katara drags Sokka away from his noodles.] My room's just down the hall. You don't really have to look at it all. I know you're usually saving people and fighting bad guys and all that, so, you know... [She opens the door to the room, revealing brightly colored origami on sitting shelves and hanging from the walls.] This isn't exactly impressive.
|
| Aang
|
[As he, Katara, and Sokka gaze up at the walls.] Chio, these are so cool!
|
| Katara
|
They really are! Besides, it's nice to have a night off from saving the world sometimes.
|
| Chio
|
You're just being polite, I know. You've done so much, you help people all the time. People like my dad. You don't have to just wait around and hope things get better.
|
| Katara
|
Actually, I have to wait and hope for things to get better all the time. I've got to stay optimistic, even when things are scary and seem impossible. No matter how exhausted I am, no matter how I'm feeling, I'm supposed to have hope! Aang needs it, the people we meet all need it. You can't win a war with fighting alone. Hope is more powerful than you might think. Honestly, I wish I had more of it sometimes.
|
| Zenko
|
[As Aang, Katara, and Sokka prepare to leave.] Be safe in your travels, children. Take another basket of dumplings. Really, we made too many!
|
| Katara
|
Thank you for all your generosity.
|
| Chio
|
[Peeking out from behind her papa.] Um, Katara? When you came to rescue us today, I wished so much that I could fight like you. I want to be able to protect my dad, and my papa, and the whole village. But you helped me see that fighting isn't the only way to help people. [She gives Katara a blue paper crane.] I made this for you to take on your journey. The crane is a symbol of luck and peace. As you work for peace, may it give you protection, luck, and most of all, hope.
|
| Katara
|
Thank you Chio. I know it will. [She hugs Chio.] You know, your bending really can help save the world.
|
|
|
[She climbs onto Appa and waves goodbye to Chio.]
|
| Textbox
|
End!
|
