Avatar - The Lost Stories
Water Tribe Warrior
As the Gaang was getting on in age, young upstarts began replacing them during the rapid modernization of the world. Sokka, once the head of the Republic City Council, was replaced by someone more capable. It seems they were trying to nudge him towards an early retirement.
Not that Sokka minded; he was going to return to the South Pole anyway. The next Avatar was soon to appear, either at home or in the Northern Water Tribe, and Aang had trusted Sokka to protect the next in line.
And there had been rumors, whispers behind locked doors, that a group calling themselves "The Red Lotus" was beginning to form. And they had dark intentions for the world.
In preparation for this, Sokka sent a message over the new phone system to the Order of the White Lotus, asking them to help set up guard stations at each of the poles. He also called the remaining members of Team Avatar: Zuko, Toph, and Suki, letting them know to stand by in case he needed help. Katara was already at the South Pole, waiting for him to come home.
It took a few days, and when the ferry finally arrived, Katara was waiting for him at the dock.
"Sokka." They hugged. "Welcome home. Did they finally kick you out of the council?" Katara joked.
"Hah. They wish they could get rid of me. No, I'm just taking time to visit my little sister."
"I'd like to introduce you to a couple of new friends of mine. Come with me."
Sokka looked around at the now large and prosperous village, memories of their younger years flooding his head.
Katara's friends were a young couple who had settled here not too long ago. The woman was noticeably pregnant.
"Tonraq, Senna, I'd like you to officially meet Sokka, my brother."
Tonraq shook hands with Sokka, "It's a pleasure. Katara's told us so much about you and Team Avatar's famous exploits."
"I'm sure Katara's also been making jokes about me. Did she tell you about the time I got stuck in the ground?"
"No." Senna chuckled. "Would you like to come over for dinner? Then you can regale us with that story."
"Sure, I've never been one to refuse a good meal. And thank you."
Turns out Sokka would eventually retire of his own will. Five years go by, and in that time, Avatar Korra is born.
And the Red Lotus make their move.
Now, Korra had been moved to the White Lotus base for safekeeping, but that didn't stop the assailants from trying to break in.
Sokka awoke to the sounds of fighting. This was bad, and he knew it. Quick as he could, he threw on his winter gear, grabbed his new sword, and rushed outside.
"Someone, call in Team Avatar! Tell them to get here as quickly as possible!"
Katara was already on the scene, battling against a woman with water for arms.
The White Lotus soldiers were trying to corner a Lava Bender, a type of bending that was not seen until now.
And then a whistle rang through the air.
Sokka's body moved on its own, nearly dodging a massive explosion aimed right at him. He'd seen this before, but this time, Combustion Man was a woman.
Sokka barely got on his feet before what he assumed was the leader came rushing at him with a bow staff.
Sokka parried the strike with his sword.
Katara robbed the one lady of her water arms, but the enemy then just conjured a new set from the snow.
The Lava Bender was running circles around the White Lotus, melting the ground beneath them, pushing them back, giving them no time to reclaim their footing.
Sokka was pushed into constant defense. Between Combustion Lady and the leader, there didn't seem to be an opening to strike back.
"Is this all you've got, Chief Sokka?"
*WHACK*
The leader cracked Sokka in the head and sent him flying.
"Sokka!" Katara yelled.
Dazed, vision blurred, he could barely see Combustion Lady charging up for the killing blow.
And then a pillar of fire shot down from the sky, interrupting the attack.
"Hang on, guys!" Firelord Zuko and Suki jumped off his pet dragon.
For reasons unknown, Toph couldn't be reached, but her daughter was on the way with Republic City Police.
Suki went to her love's side and helped him up.
"Two on two, now it's even."
"Thanks for having my back, Suki."
Zuko trapped the armless Water Bender inside a fire tornado. The air around her dried out quickly, and she soon passed out from the heat.
Katara switched to the Lava Bender, drenching him and the ground with an onslaught of waves. She froze his entire body, rendering him useless.
Sokka threw out his boomerang. It circled around Combustion Lady and hit her upside the head. The brief stun allowed Suki to move in and completely paralyze her with chi blocking.
And from there, all four members of Team Avatar descended upon the leader. There was nothing he could do to fight his way out of the onslaught.
Suki paralyzed the other three for good measure. Now they just had to wait for Lin and her forces to send everyone off to prison.
"Are you ok, Sokka?" Katara checked his head wound. "Let me heal that up for you."
"Later, Katara. I need to make sure Korra is ok."
Sokka ran back inside, straight to Korra's room. The guards stepped aside for him.
Inside, Tonraq was stationed against the window, while Senna had Korra's ears covered, making sure the little Avatar slept through everything.
"Sokka. Oh, thank goodness. I guess this means everything's alright?"
"Yeah... Everything's good..."
The adrenaline wore off in that instant, and the ground rushed up to meet him.
When Sokka woke up, he saw his concerned friends hovering over him.
"You're up. Thank goodness." Katara returned her healing water to a bowl. "How are you feeling, Sokka?"
He glanced at his sister, Suki, and Zuko.
"...I don't think I have it in me for another fight like that. I'm... more exhausted than I ever have been in my whole life."
Suki placed a kiss on his forehead. "Just take it easy for now, tough guy."
"The Red Lotus is no joke," Zuko commented. "We have to find out who organized this attack. ...But I have a feeling our new prisoners won't talk."
"If only Toph hadn't retired. She could get them to talk."
"This isn't going to be the last time, I don't think..." Sokka tried to get up. "Someone needs to inform the council."
"Oh, no you don't." Katara pushes him back down. "You're not going to move a muscle unless I say so. Zuko can let the council know what happened."
The next morning, Zuko and Suki returned to their duties, while Katara dutifully took care of her brother.
Though... each day after the fight, Sokka just felt more and more exhausted. It was as if the stress of everything that happened in his life finally caught up to him. Not to mention that there was a constant numb feeling in his head after he took that hit.
And then, one day, while Katara was tending to him...
"...Katara."
"Yes?"
"...I'm tired."
"I know..." She brushed his hair back with her hand.
"I want you to know something..."
"What is it?"
"You need to know... that you're... the best sister I could've ever gotten. ...And I love you, even when you got on my nerves."
"...I love you too, Sokka." Katara's voice wavered, and she grabbed his hand. "Even when you annoyed me too..."
"And let the Gaang know... I love them... as well."
Sokka closed his heavy eyes, a faint smile on his face. His chest rose and fell a few more times, and then it stopped.
And his pulse faded beneath her fingertips.
Katara lowered her head, shoulders quivering with grief.
"Mom... Dad... Please take care of Sokka for me."