A/N: Accidentally uploaded chapter 46 instead of 44! Apologies! (19-8-2026)
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We set off at dawn, continuing our journey through the Serpent's Pass.
Until we hit a dead end.
"That's... at least a kilometer across," I muttered, mentally estimating the distance between our side of the trail and the continuation on the opposite cliff using imaginary Beifong estates as a reference.
"Everyone, single file," our resident Water Bending expert called out, prompting everyone to line up behind her. Stepping to the front, Katara swept her arms through the air. The water before us slowly parted, opening a path across the seabed.
"Aang, I need your help."
The Avatar handed his staff to Toph before hurrying over to the back of the line.
Together, they Bent the water around us, maintaining a massive air pocket as we walked forward.
It felt like we were inside a submarine.
Watching schools of fish swim past, I couldn't help but think ahead to lunch. Slipping one arm through the edge of the air pocket, I snatched a few fish straight out of the water. Grilled fish with rice and charred vegetables didn't sound half bad.
The plan was going surprisingly well... Until a massive shadow drifted over us.
It swallowed the light, blanketing the entire seabed.
"What is that thing?!"
We got our answer a heartbeat later as the enormous creature burst through the water above us, its colossal body crashing straight through our air pocket. Water instantly came rushing in, quickly rising up to our waists.
Toph reacted quickly, thrusting both hands downward and skyward as she used her Earth Bending to raise the ground we are standing on, the pillar of earth launching everyone back above the surface.
A second later, the ocean exploded upward.
A gigantic serpent-like creature emerged from the depths, letting out a deafening roar at the intruders in its domain.
"I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass!" Sokka exclaimed as he turned to Suki. "Suki! You know about giant sea monsters! Make it go away!"
"Just because I live near the Unagi doesn't make me an expert!" she shot back.
Grabbing Momo off Katara's shoulders, Sokka held the lemur toward the serpent.
"Oh, great and powerful sea serpent! Please accept this humble and tasty offering—"
Katara smacked him across the back of the head.
At the exact same moment, the serpent let out another roar before lunging toward our tiny platform.
I spun into position, planting my feet firmly against the stone.
Heat surged through my arm before I unleashed a torrent of flames straight into the serpent's face, forcing the beast to recoil.
"We need to get back to the Serpent's Pass! Renji, we'll distract him! Katara, get everyone across!" Aang shouted.
"Got it!"
Leaping into the air on his glider, he swung his staff in wide arcs, sending powerful blasts of wind crashing into the serpent to force it back.
Tiny explosions burst from my palms as I launched myself off the platform, using the blasts to propel myself through the air. I flew alongside Aang, peppering the screeching serpent with explosions and jets of flame.
Meanwhile, Katara swept her arms forward, freezing a stretch of water between the platform and the Serpent's Pass.
She stepped onto the newly formed ice bridge, continuously freezing the water ahead of her as she extended the path toward solid ground.
One by one, everyone hurried across.
Except for Toph.
She cautiously reached out with one foot, testing the ice beneath her toes. The moment she felt it, she immediately jerked her foot back.
Sokka noticed and yelled out to her.
"Toph! Come on! It's just ice!"
She swallowed before trying again.
"Actually, I think I'll just stay on my little island where I can—"
The serpent suddenly whipped its head toward me.
"Guh—!"
I was sent hurtling backward, crashing straight into our tiny rock platform and blowing away nearly half the island.
Chunks of stone splashed into the sea as Toph quickly abandoned the remaining rock and jumped onto the ice bridge.
"Okay, I'm coming!"
She cautiously took one step at a time.
"You're doing great!" Sokka called out. "Just follow the sound of my voice!"
"It's kind of hard to miss with all the yelling! I can hear you just fi—WOAH!"
The serpent's tail crashed down onto the ice bridge.
The frozen path shattered beneath Toph's feet, sending her plunging into the freezing water.
"Help!" she screamed, thrashing wildly. "I can't swim!"
Seeing her struggle, I abandoned the serpent to Aang and turned toward her.
Explosions burst from beneath my feet as I launched myself across the water, diving toward her.
I caught her wrist just as another wave threatened to pull her under.
"I told you swimming would've come in handy!"
"Well, maybe you should've distracted that stupid thing harder!"
"Hey, not everyone can shrug off getting slammed by a giant sea monster and crashing through half an island, alright?"
Using another explosion to propel us upward, Toph tightly hugged me for dear life as I hauled both of us into the air before angling back toward the safety of the shore.
"We're doing swimming lessons once we get to Ba Sing Se," I joked as I set her back on her feet. She kicked my shin with her foot in response.
"Don't push your luck."
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"There's the wall!" Sokka exclaimed after hours of walking, pointing toward the horizon.
Sure enough, the towering walls of Ba Sing Se were finally visible in the distance.
Even from here, the sheer scale of the city was overwhelming. The city definitely deserves the title of the Earth Kingdom's greatest and last bastion.
"Finally! Now, it's nothing but smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se—"
"Ah..."
Ying suddenly stopped walking, one hand moving to her stomach as her expression twisted in pain.
"Ying?" Than immediately rushed to her side.
A moment later, her eyes widened.
"My water broke."
"... Sokka, please keep your mouth shut." I resisted the urge to smack the Water Tribe warrior into the sea.
"Duly noted."
I dropped my supplies and started digging through my pack, pulling out clean towels, a pot, and anything else that could be useful.
"Toph, make us a large shelter. Something enclosed."
"On it."
She slammed her foot into the ground, raising large walls of stone around Ying and Than. She even shaped an inclined platform underneath Ying to keep her comfortable.
"Sokka, Aang, fetch water. Lots of it."
"Got it!"
"Katara, Suki, wash your hands and keep them clean."
They nodded, using Katara's Water Bending to thoroughly clean their hands before helping prepare the supplies.
I rolled up my sleeves, using a small flame to heat and sanitize the water and tools we had available before wrapping a towel around my hair and lower face.
After instructing Weng to carefully hold the tray of supplies, I knelt beside Ying and observed her breathing, her expression, and the rhythm of her contractions.
"Miss Ying, stay calm. Slow breaths. Don't fight your body."
Ying nodded nervously as Than tightened his grip around her hand.
"A-Are you sure you can do this?"
I gave him a gentle smile.
"Don't worry. I have training from the Wei Bing Medical Academy in Omashu. I am certified to deliver in emergency situations."
The two girls stared at me.
"... You are?"
"Yep."
Do you know how long I spent earning that certification?
Two months of memorizing medical texts, studying procedures, and going through practical training. All because there was a small chance Lao and Poppy would randomly decide to have a child and I would need to deliver the baby while in the wild.
They hadn't had one since I got the certification, but finally, after all this time, I was about to use a skill that had been sitting on the back burner.
"Alright, let's get started."
Time to deliver a baby out in the wilderness with nothing but ordinary tools!
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"It's a girl!"
Katara's voice broke through the tense silence.
After carefully cutting the umbilical cord with the sanitized knife, I finally allowed myself to breathe.
A newborn's cry echoed through the stone shelter.
As Katara gently used her Water Bending to soothe the pain and exhaustion Ying was feeling, I wrapped the baby in a clean towel and carefully checked her over.
No visible complications. Strong breathing. Healthy heartbeat.
"... She's healthy."
I smiled softly.
"Congratulations."
I gently passed the baby over to her father.
Than stared down at his daughter, tears slowly leaking from his eyes.
"S-She's beautiful..."
He looked toward Ying, his voice trembling.
"Ying... Weng... look."
While the new family gathered together, quietly admiring the newborn, I stepped outside the shelter.
"Nice work, Doctor Renji."
Suki followed after me, removing the cloth that had covered her mouth. I shook my head with a chuckle.
"Uh, don't call me a doctor. Just thinking about what actual doctors have to go through to earn that title gives me shivers."
Leaning against the earth wall, Toph glanced over at Sokka with a smirk.
"So, are you going to see the baby, or are you going to faint like an old lady again?"
"No, no, I'm good this time."
Sokka huffed before the two walked into the shelter.
I turned my attention toward Aang.
The Avatar sat quietly against the earth wall, knees pulled toward his chest.
"Aang, you want to see the baby?"
He looked toward the tent.
"... I don't know."
Before I could say anything, Katara's voice called out from inside.
"Aang, you have to come see this."
I extended my hand toward him.
After a moment of hesitation, Aang took it.
I pulled him back onto his feet, and together we walked into the shelter.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes immediately landed on the newborn resting in Ying's arms.
The new life that had entered the world only minutes ago.
"She sounds healthy to me," Toph noted.
Sokka leaned closer, making a funny face at the baby.
The newborn started crying louder.
"It's so squishy-looking."
I couldn't help but smile. For the first time in what felt like forever, I saw a genuine smile appear on Aang's face.
"What should we name her?" Than asked, looking toward Ying.
Ying gently held their daughter closer.
"I want our daughter's name to be unique. Something that has meaning."
The couple looked toward Aang.
The Avatar blinked, wiping away the tears that had gathered in his eyes.
"I've been going through a really hard time lately..."
He looked down at the baby.
"But seeing her... seeing that a new life can still begin even after everything that's happened..."
"You've made me hopeful again."
I placed a hand on the young Avatar's shoulder.
Ying looked toward her husband, her expression brightening.
"I know what I want to name our baby now."
She looked down at her daughter.
"Hope."
Than smiled.
"Hope... That is a perfect name, my dear."
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As Aang and Katara finally separated from their hug, we slowly approached them.
Aang looked at each of us, his expression brighter than it had been in days.
The plan was for Aang to search for Appa first while the rest of us continued toward the city. Splitting up would save valuable time—time that could make all the difference in finding the sky bison before it was too late.
"I promise I'll find Appa as fast as I can."
"See you in the big city," Sokka said.
"Say hi to that big fuzzball for me," Toph added as she punched him in the arm.
"Be careful," I warned, handing him some supplies. "And don't hesitate to run if things get dangerous."
Katara smiled softly.
"You'll find him."
Aang nodded.
With one last wave, he unfolded his glider. A burst of wind carried him into the air, sending him soaring above the Serpent's Pass before he disappeared into the clouds.
We soon began packing our belongings, preparing to continue our journey toward Ba Sing Se.
And I stayed quiet as I listened to the conversation between Suki and Sokka nearby.
"Sokka, it's been really great to see you again."
"Whoa, hold on." Sokka stopped her.
"Why does that sound like you're saying goodbye?"
"I came along because I wanted to make sure you got through the Serpent's Pass safely..."
She paused.
"But now I need to get back to the other Kyoshi Warriors."
Suki looked away, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about last night. We were talking... and saying things... and I just got carried away, and before I knew it—"
The silence that followed said everything.
The two eventually separated.
"You talk too much."
Sokka said it with a small smile.
Another long silence followed.
I decided that was probably my cue to stop listening and returned my attention to packing.
"Ah... love." I shook my head slightly. "What a nice thing. Honestly thought Katara and Aang would be first in this love business, huh?"
"... Yeah."
Toph, who had been sitting patiently nearby while waiting for me, quietly muttered.
"Sounds nice."
It took me a second to process what she had said. Then a grin slowly spread across my face. I leaned toward her and lightly elbowed her.
"Did I hear that right? Who's the guy, hmm? Hmmmm?"
I waited for her usual rebuke.
Instead, Toph stared silently at the ground.
A second later, she huffed and smacked my shoulder.
"What guy?" She crossed her arms. "For a person that can see well, you're just as blind as I am. Just pack up and shut it."
She turned her head away and walked away.
I quickly grabbed my belongings and chased after her.
"Come on! As your butler and best buddy, you have to tell me if you have a crush or something!"
"Whatever, you dumb brute! Don't make me smack you again!"
She did, in fact, smack me into the ground a moment later.
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A/N: And that concludes the Serpent's Pass! Next episode... The Drill!
P.S. This was such a long chapter: 2 thousand words. It's been a while since I wrote so much. I kind of went crazy today.
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