PLEASE NOTE THIS STORY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. I am currently rewriting it and the new version can be found on my page under the title Nomad.

I didn't want to delete this because I'm using it as a reference and I love reading your reviews when I have a hard time finding inspiration.

Thank you, darlings!

Nomad.

That's what I was to the world, just a hopeless air bending nomad. I traveled from place to place, staying in towns for days, maybe weeks, just to learn about this world I'm surrounded by. Occasionally I'd stay with families in exchange for aiding crops, taking care of animals, or even watching over small children.

Some pitied me. I was the last of my kind. The only air bender left in the world, accompanied by one of the last flying bison. But I did not want their pity, I was the Avatar, I had to be strong, and I was. I did everything I could to keep my chin held high. But late at night I would start thinking about how alone I was. About how guilty I felt for not being able to help my people in their time of need, how selfish I was to just up and leave them for my training, leaving them defenseless.

But then a tiny voice in the back of my head reminds me that my fate would have been the same.

"Aang?" a childlike voice called. "Aangie!"

I sighed and shook my head "Sorry Coco, I didn't mean to daze off."

After receive a thousand messenger hawks from the girl, I finally decided to make a stop at Kioshi Island before his stop at the Southern Water Tribe. But hearing my number one fan drone on and on about how great it was that the Avatar was at Kioshi was growing tiring, but at least I was leaving today.

"Sorry, Coco, but I think I should get going now. It's a long flight to the South pole…" before she could even say anything I hopped up on Appa and took off, not feeling a bit upset seeing as we had been saying goodbye for twenty minutes.

Appa and I set course for the Southern Water Tribe. I climbed up into his saddle and rummaged through my bags, pulling on my winter clothes that I had recently had made for me. This was my first trip to the pole since I was pulled out of the iceberg. Almost ten years. Almost immediately after Appa got his strength back I left the village to learn the elements, and after mastering them all, I decided to make my return to the places I had enjoyed the most. But then I realized I never enjoyed the Southern Water Tribe because I never stayed long enough to do anything there.

Ten years. I was twelve when that boy and girl found me. Sokka and Katara. I barely remembered their faces. I should feel horrible for that, leaving in such a hurry. But learning that I had been gone a hundred years and of the growing tension between the nations, I knew I was needed elsewhere.

It took me four years to gather members of the four nations; we were able to ease the tensions. It was agreed that Fire Lord Ozai would rule with his peace-loving brother Iroh at his side and that if either of them breached this agreement, then their bending would be taken away. The Earth Kingdom would no longer hide threats from their people and the Northern Water Tribe agreed to supply the Southern Water Tribe with more water benders.

After the conference, I spent two years in each nation. The first two were spend in the Fire Nation, overseeing the adjustments that had to be made. In that time period I befriended Zuko, the prince of the Fire Nation. He was a lot different than I had imagined him. He was pale and well mannered, but inside him hid a temper that if ignited would burn down half the palace. Like most Fire Nation children, he was pale with an even skin tone, and his sister was much like him in that. Yet, she was more diabolical. But their mother, Ursa, kept them in check. They were actually a very loving family after the threat of war left them alone.

While I was there, the royal family all helped me master Fire Bending and Iroh even showed me how to bend lightning!

After the Fire Nation I spent two years traveling to the different Air Temples, resting and meditating at each. Probably the most relaxing time I had, especially after being around the high strung people of the Fire Nation.

The Earth Kingdom visit was a lengthy one, but it was well worth it, seeing all my old friends again and making new ones. Ba Sing Se was kept up to date on the outside world, and the King wasn't just a figure head anymore. Everything was perfect from what I saw.

Now I was finally returning to where it all began, and I was nervous to see what that tiny village would look like now. To see Sokka and Katara and their family again.

It felt like only five minutes, but the South Pole was within view, and the village had changed. I could see a Northern influence to a lot of the architecture, and the homes no longer looked like huts, but actual ice building that could be called home.

Appa landed just outside the village and I jumped off, slowly making my way to the gates that were already open for me. I slowly walked in, staff in hand and was surprised to find a market of fish and other varieties of goods there, with vendors of different nationalities trying to grab the attention of the buyers.

Despite the different nationalities and my hooded arrows, I was spotted like a platypusbear in the middle of a turtleduck pond. The colors of my garbs drew everyone's attention, causing me to blush a deep crimson, but I kept walking until I heard someone shout my name.

"Aang!" I turned only to be tackled to the ground by a blue blur.

"Oof!" I grunted as I landed with the native on top of me.

She rolled off, trying to hide her giggle fit. "So you finally decided to visit us, huh?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah…I figured I owed it to the tribe for leaving so quickly."

She shrugged. "You helped prevent a war, we understand."

"Katara, sweetie, that is no way for a woman of your age to greet the Avatar."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom." She stood and held a hand out to me, pulling me up.

I bowed respectfully to the woman before me. "It's good to see you again, Kya. I'm glad to see you are doing well." I looked up at her, and seeing her beside Katara made me realize just how much they looked alike. The dark flowing hair, the deep blue eyes, it was memorizing.

"Come! We must get you to my father!" she grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind her. "We've been excitedly awaiting your visit! We wanted you to see just how much the South Pole had changed after you helped us bring peace back to the world. Isn't it just gorgeous?" she asked.

I smiled, remembering the first face I saw after being pulled out of the iceberg. Hers, her beautiful face, everything. I had fallen in love with her the very first day I met her and not seeing her for years killed me. Just being around reminded me of all these emotions that ran through my head last time I was with her almost ten years ago. How could I ever leave her behind?

"Katara!"

The two of us turned as another man joined out group. He was about as tall as I was (which I proudly say is six feet) dark skin, dark hair to match and blue eyes that matched Katara's. He scooped Katara up into his arms, planting a kiss on her mouth.

My heart dropped to my stomach and I looked away from the embrace, finally noticing the betrothal necklace she wore. I knew I should have come back sooner. Now I had lost her to another man.

"Aang, this is Sangok, one of the men sent from the Northern Water Tribe to help us. Also my fiancé," she giggled, giving him another kiss.

Stupid repairs!

I bowed, masking my grief. "It is very nice to meet you, Sangok."

He returned my bow. "It is an honor to meet the Avatar."

Yes, but it is not an honor to meet you. I resisted glaring at him and forced a smile.

"Come along," Kya urged. "Hakoda is waiting for us."

Okay, to explain, Sozin didn't start a war. Well he tried to and managed to wipe out the Air Benders, but that was about it(more on that later). 100 years passed after Sozin's fall and two water tribe children discover the Boy in the Iceberg and release him. This boy has been the missing Avatar and the village quickly informs him of the tensions between the nations. And that his home was gone.

But because there was no war, Kya is still alive, Ursa is still around and Zuko bears no scar, in fact, his father is not the demon we think he is! :O and because I love Iroh the way he was in the second and third season, he'll be more like that :D