?Chapter 33

"I can't believe you'll be able to do all the crazy things Aaron can," Aang gushed, still reeling from the surprise that Mark had dropped at the beginning of dinner.

"To think it was only a month ago that we met. Now you're learning the secrets of bending. I am more than a little bit jealous."

Aaron was livid. He shoved back his stew, too angry to eat. None of it made sense to him. The boy didn't deserve or understand the power he would be soon showered with. And neither did he respect it.

Only Ren's orders kept Aaron from speaking up. Every second that passed made the repercussions seem less severe.

"I had lots of help," Mark said, forking a steam bun with a singular chopstick and tossing it into his mouth. "I had been training for a while before I came to Omashu. After training with the King, something finally clicked, you know."

"Yeah, something," Aaron muttered, not able to muscle down his feeling any longer. Mark leveled a stare, which Aaron scoffed at.

"Something happened between you two?" Katara asked.

"We've just been getting on each other nerves as of late," Mark said with an awkward laugh. "Since his grandfather officially tasked him with

guarding the group, he's been upset. Aaron used to be a hotshot before he met me. Now, he's a glorified babysitter. Who knows what phantomy business we've been keeping him from?."

"What exactly is Phantomy business?" Sokka asked, throwing a tense look at Aaron and his bulkier father. He'd taken a sword lesson from the older man just a few days ago that scared the piss out of him.

Mark's lips stretched into a Cheshire grin. "Yes, tell us all about Phantom business."

Ren watched the conversation with an impassive look, choosing to continue passively eating soup from the edge of his seat.

Aaron opened his mouth, and his rage and bitterness finally bubbled over. "According to my grandfather, you are Phantom business. I've spent the better two weeks watching you stumble in and out of fights with Samir's victims. Those were weeks that I could've used to search for my cousin, weeks we could've used to travel to the Northern water tribe. If it wasn't because of you and Samir-."

"That's enough!" Ren's voice boomed, yet it cut with the precision of a knife.

Aaron clamped his mouth and slammed his hand on the table, causing a crack to run through. He saw the utter look of shock levelled against him by everyone at the table.

'How dare they.'

He'd done nothing but be loyal from the very first moment he'd met them.

"Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" Ren demanded. "Or has your jealousy and rage robbed you of all your sense."

Aaron pushed from the table and wiped his hand.

"No, it's made me see things clearly. Mark is a leach, and you know he is. He's brought nothing but trouble since the first time I saw him.

He murdered my apprentice and brought that lunatic Samir into our lives. And don't get me started on the ridiculous missions I've had to do to keep him alive. I don't care if he showers us with gifts. Whatever he gives, he takes back in blood and lives. How many people will suffer because of the feud between him and Samir?"

"I said I was fucking sorry!" Mark got up. "I didn't choose to kill Igi. It just happened. My sponsor dropped me in his body. That's all there is to it. As for the blood fued, don't pretend like you phantoms haven't spilled your share of blood."

"Yeah. But we don't treat the world like our playground. You do."

"I am done with dinner," Aaron said, wiping his hand with his napkin. As he stepped back from the table, Katara spoke.

"Where are you going?"

"To see Peta. I haven't had the time to see the little squirt with everything happening. It's time I changed that."

Aaron heard their conversation devolve into furious whispers as he reached the stairs.

"What was Aaron talking about?"

"I can explain..."

Aaron climbed up to Peta's chamber two stairs at a time, stepping away from the carnage as the realization of what he'd just said set in.

It'd been far too soon.

Spirits! What was he thinking? Nearly outright admitting that they were killers in front of the Avatar no less.

He was an 11-year-old child that ran away from responsibility. His anger could've undone the last 100 years of war and preparation.

He massaged the bridge of his nose. The fallout from this could be truly catastrophic, and that only spurred him further to act.

As for Mark, he knew the little gremlin wasn't going anywhere. He was too used to having people fight his battles for him.

Cho was feeding Peta when Aaron eased himself into their room. She made cutesy faces and urged the little Phantom to swallow a spoon full of some pulped grain.

Peta peered at it suspiciously before he sent the spoon and its content flying with a wave of his stubby hands.

"Why, you little!" Cho ground out before huffing. "You're lucky you're cute."

She smushed his cheeks and took another scoop of food, ready to feed him. "Now let's try this again, and don't be such a little troublemaker."

"I don't think he can help it," Aaron said.

"Eeep," Cho jumped, nearly spilling the bowl of food over. She jerked the spoon of food in his direction while clutching the baby closer.

"Come any closer, and I'll scream. Two phantoms and the Avatar are eating several rooms down. You'll never make it out of the palace."

Aaron smiled, mildly amused and pleased by her response. It wouldn't keep any competent fighter away, but she proved herself. It made what he had to say easier.

"My cousin chose well," Aaron said, stepping into the light. "It's just me, Cho."

Cho lowered her spoon and deflated. "Aaron, thanks the spirits. It's just you. I know you're used to sneaking around, but jeez, that could've been dangerous for Peta." She leveled a glare. "What were you thinking?"

Aaron rubbed the back of his head. "Force of habit. It's hard to turn it all off when it's the only thing you know."

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"I…see," she muttered, then looked down at Peta, who was blinking up at her, smile and excitement in his big blue eyes. "What sort of…training do they give young Airbender children?"

Aaron understood her fear. He shared it too. "They start us off really slow. Exercises, classes, competitive activities. It's years before we get our first mission. In Peta's case, he'll have even more time before he goes on his first mission. If he's lucky, he might not even need to fight."

"You don't actually expect me to believe that?" Cho said. "I can see the Fire Nation banners all the way from my window. They're coming for us, and I heard one of the guards say ships are sailing to the Northern Water Pole."

"Then we're lucky Omashu is land locked," Aaron chuckled, eliciting another glare from her.

The situation is not…great," Aaron admitted. "But we need to remain strong. We have people that depend on us." He glanced at Peta. "Besides, you don't actually believe the phantoms will watch as the world burns? We will be mobilizing soon, and each Phantom is a force of nature. The Fire Nation has no idea who they're up against."

Cho gave a deprecating smile. "If I mighty phantom assures me everything is fine, then I have nothing to worry about."

"Exactly," Aaron smirked. "Listen, I want you to travel with us tomorrow alongside Peta."

Cho's eyes went wide. "Are you sure? Master Ren said your grandfather thought it best he is raised around other airbenders and members of the order."

"Well, I am officially inducting you," Aaron said. "I've given it a lot of thought, and I think Misha would've wanted you to stay with him and help raise him if you couldn't stop his recruitment in the first place. When I get her back, she can try twisting grandfather's arm."

"You really believe you can get her back, don't you?" Cho asked in a small voice, and Aaron nodded.

"I do," he nodded with a grimace, thinking about the earlier outburst.

"I got her into this trouble, and it's my responsibility to set things right."

"I'm glad you feel responsible, but you're making promises you can't keep. Lady Misha couldn't recruit Ghost, and she was three years your senior."

"But then she left the frontline to become a diplomat," Aaron said, "I've been doing all of the mission that was supposed to her, and have had to deal with Mark for months. I think I am long overdue for a reward. And recruiting you will be it. End of discussion."

"Wow…" she said. "I guess I am joining the Ghosts then."

Aaron grinned. "Welcome aboard. You will have to take basic training, and it'll probably be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but when you come out the other side, you'll be powerful enough to protect yourself and Peta."

"Hard work doesn't scare me," Cho said with a determined look.

"Good."

---

Aaron, Mark, Ren, and the rest of the Gang stood in front of Appa, while Aaron strapped in their luggage with his usual briskness. Ren was stelled on the giant beast, still as a statue, communing with the rest of the Pahntom.

Last night had been brutal on them all, Aaron especially. Ren had chosen to make him what he complained so vehemently about.

The group's Nanny.

He was responsible for the groups' chores until the North Pole. Katara had initially protested against it, but one look from Ren cemented that his rulership was not a democracy.

Aaron was in great spirits that morning, despite the weeks of labour ahead. Peta and Cho had slipped out that morning, and news had come that Grandfather had finally chosen to mobilize the Phantom and their ghosts.

Great hosts of them were sailing for Ba Sing Se and Omashu to aid in the right to come. It was the first move of the biggest fight of their lifetimes.

In rare moments, he felt flickers of worry. What if something happened o Peta and Cho on their trips? Would he have failed them like he'd failed Igi?

He was still unsure what to think about his Grandfather and what he'd learned about him.

He was leaning towards forgiveness and understanding. He was outnumbered and couldn't hope to take on the Fire Nation himself.

So, he murdered an entire race of ancient spirits to protect himself?

Aaron froze mid-step. "It's better not to assume. Maybe, I should just ask him," he muttered. And risk tipping him off that he'd met Dopi behind his back.

Aaron shook his head. Maybe it was better not to know.

"This was for the best," he muttered to himself again and again as he worked. Soon enough, he was done, and the rest of the group joined him.

"Still agonizing about your nephew?" Mark said, hopping on the saddle and leaning back into a relaxed seat.

"I don't think he really wants to talk about it," Sokka muttered beside him as he settled down also.

"Mark's right," Katara chipped in. "You couldn't have brought him with us. The battlefront is no safe place for a kid."

"Says the 13-year-old," Sokka snarked, and Mark laughed.

Katara rolled her eyes. "You're only 14, and Mark is 12, though he likes to pretend he's all grown up."

Mark scoffed. "Ages mean nothing on the battlefield. I can take on a group of fire benders without breaking a sweat, and Aaron can probably fight better than most soldiers in the army."

"And let's not even talk about Aang," Sokka chipped in.

"What about me?" Aang poked his head out from in front of Appa, where he showered the mighty beast with hugs and pets.

Aaron didn't miss the smile slipping on Katara's face. "Nevermind," she said.

"But I think we can all agree that 1-year-old is too young for the battlefield," Katara said and rubbed Aaron's shoulder. "Don't worry. They're safe."

Aaron pulled her hand away from his shoulder and forced a smile. "Thanks."

He hadn't meant to be cold, but he had a lot weighing on his mind.

When Aaron laid eyes on a man charging through the archway, fighting off the two guards trying to hold him back, he knew he was faced with yet another problem of his own creation.

The man elbowed the first guard in his face and kicked another aside. He was spry for someone his age. Aaron cringed when he recognized the man's face.

"Son!"

Heads turned.

"Son!" he called again, louder this time, as he came running up. The kids exchanged looks, and Mark sat up, looking at the Old dazed man.

"I can't believe I finally found you…" the man gasped out, nearly breaking into tears.

"Uh, do I know you?" Mark asked.

"Village Elder," Aaron got up. "What are you doing here?"

The man's eyes snapped to Aaron as if seeing for the first time before the dazed look vanished, replaced with anger.

"You," he seethed. "You're taking him away from me again! After everything I did for you. You bring the Fire Nation to my village and kidnap my only son." He unsheathed a sword strapped to his side. "Death is too good for you."

Two guards tackled him to the ground before he charged the Bison, and Aaron's mind flashed to a few months back when he'd last seen the village elder.

He looked nothing like the man he saw before him today.

His face was pale, eyes red with rage, and his robes were several sizes too large for him. He looked like feral animals had attacked him and survived.

"I didn't mean for any of it to happen."

"Don't you dare apologize!" he growled at him from the floor. "You chose to stay in our village as long as you did. Their deaths will be on your head."

"None of this is really his fault," Mark spoke up. "I would've left the village with or without his help. He is only with me because I asked him to look after me."

"Don't lie for him," he growled. "You were gravely injured. You would've died if Old Gran hadn't been a talented healer. He stole you at night while you'd barely started recovering. What sort of monster would do that? Perhaps the same kind who'd use a village of kind folk who took him in as fodder."

"It wasn't like that," Aaron muttered, fully understanding how empty his words sounded.

"Let go of me!" the village elder roared, trying and failing to shrug off the soldiers holding him down.

"How could you take his side after everything I've said! And where's the King? You don't know what's at stake."

The guard pressed down harder and growled.

"You will show respect in the presence of the King's guest!"

"You said he was supposed to be here!"

"His advisors dragged him away," Mark said. "Some emergency out of the city."

The Village elder's entire body sagged. "Then, we're doomed," he said.

Mark walked up and waved the guards away. "Let go of him," he said, but they didn't respond. With a harder look, he reaffirmed. "I can take of it from here."

Aaron hung back, despite every instinct in him telling him otherwise. After everything that'd happened between them. The least he could do was not upset the man.

"What's going on…Father," Mark said, mincing the last word.

"The fire Nation has been rounding up Earth Nation prisoners from all over the countryside, leading them to somewhere close to the city. We don't know why, but we know it has something to do with the army outside the city. The men I was grouped with sacrificed everything to get me to the city. And you're telling me I can't get help from the King?"

Aaron had noticed large movements near the Fire nation camps outside the city recently, but he hadn't had the chance to investigate with Astral projection. If the Fire Nation were gathering town folk, it couldn't be for anything good.

"You will get help. It might not just be from the King," Aaron said, stepping forward. This was his chance to make amends.

Mark looked at Aaron, conflicted.

"I want to help as much as you do, but we can't take on an entire camp by ourselves," Mark said.

"It can't hurt to try," Aang said.

"And who said anything about taking them head-on," Aaron said. "We can gather information before we make a move."

"I could use the XP," Mark shrugged before rubbing his chin, "but what about your father and Grandfather? They'd never agree to this. We were supposed to leave for the North pole today."

Ren sat, still as a statue, while they talked and argued, and for a long moment, his warnings and justifications played in his head over and over.

It was a Herculean feat to tune it all out.

"He's not here to stop us," Aaron said. "Besides, whatever they're up to can't be good for Omashu."

"What if he wakes up before we rescue them?" Sokka asked.

"At least we would've tried," Katara said.

Mark shrugged.

The Senlin Elder's eyes wandered from Aaron all the way to Katara, who was still on the saddle, more than a little bit confused.

"What the heck is going on!"