Chapter 1: The Avatar State

Guess who's back? That's right, The First Metalbender is back! Hey guys, this is TyForestGames and I'm back to write Book 2! Before we get into this, I'd like to apologize for two things:

One, I'm sorry about the delay. Other things came up, and I decided to write other stories that I felt would reach a broader audience.

Two, I apologize if the first few chapters are... lackluster. Here's the thing, I don't like Book 2 nearly as much as I want to. Mainly the first few episodes. The good stuff will come when Toph is introduced, because, come on, who doesn't like Toph?

Now, with apologies out of the way, let's jump into ATLA: The First Metalbender Book 2: Earth.

XXX

It had been a week or so since the Fire Nation Navy had attempted to take out the Northern Water Tribe. Image Tyler had learned quite a number of things in the aftermath, few being pleasant. Prince Zuko escaping, the moon disappearing for a short time, and, most of all, Princess Yue's sacrifice.

The next week had been mostly helping with reconstruction. Tyler never did find his metal, admittedly quite sad about that fact. It may have been a grim reminder of his time in the earthbender prison, but it still held sentimental value. But it didn't take much time to find a replacement, what with all the rebuilding.

But now, it was time to leave. Avatar Aang had to complete his training, and earthbending was next on the list. The Gaang's plan was to find the King of Omashu, Bumi, who just so happened to be one of Aang's old friends, both figuratively and literally. Master Pakku was talking about sailing to the Southern Water Tribe to reconnect with them. And he had come to see them off as they all got on Appa.

Pakku held up flask to Katara, and said, "Katara, I want you to have this. This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties. Don't lose it."

Katara accepted the amulet gratefully and hugged her master, "Thank you, Master Pakku."

Pakku then turned to Aang and Tyler with a box of scrolls, "As for you two, these scrolls will help you master waterbending. But remember, they're no substitute for a real master."

Oh, right. Tyler had nearly forgotten that Katara had been somewhat illegitimately promoted as a 'waterbending master'. He wasn't exactly sure how to feel about that...

Pakku turned to Sokka and patted him on shoulder, leaving him dismayed, "Sokka... take care, son."

As the entire Gaang fixed into place, Pakku said one final word of direction, pointing out, "Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There, you will be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi."

Aang nodded and said, "Appa, yip yip!"

Katara waved to her master as they flew away, "Say hi to Gran-Gran for me!"

XXX

Some time later, Sokka spotted something in the distance, and excitedly cried out, "There it is!"

Tyler spotted a very mountainous region, and they were headed towards a large, circular tower. He figured that was where this General Fong guy was. Appa flew down toward it landed inside. A bearded man in a green cap and brown and green armor stepped forward, along with numerous soldiers, as the group got their stuff together.

"Welcome, Avatar Aang!" the man said, spreading his arms out in greeting, "I am General Fong. And welcome to all of you, great heroes! Appa, Momo, Image Tyler, brave Sokka, the mighty Katara.

Katara smiled, pleased, 'Mighty Katara'? I like that."

Tyler pinched his nose, "Please don't inflate her ego..."

"What was that?" Katara glared.

"Nothing!"

Fireworks exploded behind them, and the four turned to look at them. A group of four earthbenders stepped forward, lifting small, green orbs from the ground and launching them into the air with their fists. As a result, more fireworks lit the sky.

"Not bad, not bad," Sokka said, everyone amazed.

XXX

The General led them to the inside of the base, where they entered a large room with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was at the far end, with a large Earth Kingdom banner hanging from the ceiling. Aang, Tyler, Sokka, and Katara sat in the center of the room on a mat, and Fong sat at the desk.

"Avatar Aang," Fong began, stroking his beard, "We were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole. I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility."

"I try not to think about it too much," Aang replied humbly.

The General smiled happily, "Avatar... you're ready to face the Fire Lord now."

"What?!" Aang cried, very alarmed, "No I'm not!"

"Whoa now," Tyler spoke in agreement, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves here!"

"Aang still needs to master all four elements," Katara explained.

"Why?" Fong said, becoming worked up as he rose from his desk, "With the kind of power he possesses-power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes-he could defeat the Fire Lord now!"

Sokka raised his hand somewhat timidly, "But, sir, the thing is Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar state."

"See, it's this special state where-" Aang tried explaining before Fong interrupted heatedly.

"I'm well aware," then he continued on, a bit more gently, "Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power."

He walks around his desk, then approached a map of the Avatar world, "Without you we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."

The General pointed at the map, drawing a line with his finger from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation.

Aang looked very uncertain with himself, "Right... but I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do once I'm there."

General Fong faced the Gaang, "So it's decided then. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar state, and then you'll face your destiny."

Sokka and Aang looked surprised, while Katara seemed angry and Tyler a bit annoyed.

"No, nothing's decided," Katara said irritably, "We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way."

"I understand that we want to win the war as soon as possible," Tyler put in, "But if we rush things, horrible stuff is bound to happen."

Fong returned to his desk, "Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?"

Fong, Aang, and Tyler walked over to a circular window overlooking two orange-roofed buildings. A large crowd was standing outside one.

"That's the infirmary," the General explained, "And those soldiers are the lucky ones. They came back. Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now! Think about it."

It was at this point that Tyler was starting to not like this guy.

XXX

Aang and Tyler entered the dimly-lit room from a door at the right. The two walked across the room as Katara rose from her bed. Aang sat down on his bed while Tyler remained standing.

Aang spoke quietly, "I told the general I'd help him... by going into the Avatar state."

"Aang, no," Katara said, "This is not the right way."

"Why not?" Sokka said, arms behind his head, "Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? He was incredible."

"There's a right way to do this," Katara argued, "Practice, study, and discipline."

"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord."

"Guys, stop," Tyler spoke at last, "This is Aang's decision. If this is what he wants, then let him."

"If you meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine," Katara growled, "Go ahead and glow it up!"

"Katara, I'm just being realistic," Aang pleaded as Katara stomped away, "I don't have time to do this the right way.

Aang looked down sadly, almost ashamed.

XXX

The next day, Aang was sitting at a table with a steaming teapot while a teacher talked, dropping something into the teapot with chopsticks.

"This rare chi-enhancing tea is a natural stimulant," the teacher explained, "In an ordinary warrior it improves strength and energy ten-fold. In you, it may induce the Avatar state. "

The teacher poured the tea into the cup in front of Aang. Sokka, Tyler, and Katara sat side-by-side, a few feet behind the young boy.

"Ten-fold energy, huh?" Aang said before slurping down the whole cup.

He then twitched a few times before he began to race around the small structure on his air ball while the others remained motionless.

"Is it working, is it working?" Aang spoke in a fast, high-pitched, hyper voice while zipping everywhere on his air-scooter, "I can't tell! Somebody tell me if I'm in the Avatar state 'cause I don't have a good view of myself! Am I talking too loud?"

"I guess he could talk the Fire Lord to death," Sokka muttered, unimpressed.

Aang then collided with a column, his air ball disappear and his shawl falling over his head, "Ooof!"

XXX

Later, at the entrance gate to the base. Aang and Katara sit on the ground while Fong stood behind them, stroking his beard. Sokka and Tyler sat with their arms folded behind their backs.

"Maybe I can shock you into the Avatar state," Sokka suggested.

"I love surprises," Aang said cheerfully.

Katara covered his eyes with her hands. When she removed them, Momo's head had replaced Sokka's. The lemur screeched, causing Aang to lurch back in fear. But he looked at his hands and held them up.

"Still not glowing."

XXX

Even later on, the group went to the temple. Aang stood in the center, wearing a ridiculous hat with leaves coming out of the top and a blue cape. Fong, Sokka, Tyler, and Katara stood at the right side of the room. A priest stood near a stairway.

"You are wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations," the priest said pretentiously, "Now I will join the four elements into one!"

As he mentioned each element, he threw a pan of water, dirt, a torch, and blew air into a mixture, "Water, earth, fire, air! Four elements together as one!"

And he threw the mixture right in Aang's face, covering him in mud, startling the boy, "This is just mud!"

The priest gave Aang an odd look, "So... do you feel anything?"

Aang's nose began to twitch and he lifted up a finger. Fong, Sokka, Tyler, and Katara began to look hopeful... but Aang only sneezed.

"Aaaaachoooo!!!"

And they all got sprayed by the mud from Aang's sneeze.

Fong wiped his face and said, determined, "We have to find a way."

XXX

That night, Aang jumped awake in bed and gasped, having just experienced a nightmare. He turned over towards Tyler.

"Tyler," the Avatar whispered, "Tyler, wake up."

"Wha...?" Tyler said groggily.

Aang sat up, looking weary, "I don't think we should be trying to bring on the Avatar state."

That caught Tyler's attention, waking him up just a bit, "You sure?"

"Yes."

"...Okay. I'm not gonna say I told you so, but okay."

"Do you think the general will be mad?"

"What can he say?" Tyler turned to his side, ready to go back to sleep, "You're the Avatar. Who knows better than you?"

XXX

The next morning, Aang and Tyler walked to the Earth Kingdom base and stood in front of Fong's desk, followed by Sokka. The two explained Aang's dilemma and decision as best as they could.

"The thing is, I don't think we'll ever be able to trigger it on purpose," Aang finished, "So, I guess that's it."

"Sure I can't change your mind?" Fong said, sounding very disappointed.

"Sorry, sir," Tyler said, "Quality trumps quantity in this situation. Besides, given what I've seen and heard, Aang can only reach the Avatar state when he's in genuine danger."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tyler instantly regretted ever saying them. He only prayed to whatever gods existed that Fong didn't take advantage of that information. Unfortunately, those gods apparently didn't like the Image very much.

"I see," Fong said, "I was afraid you'd say that."

Fong stepped back, causing a small shock wave. He pushed forward, sending his desk flying at Aang. Not able to defend in time, the desk rams into the both of them. The desk rocketed toward a window. Sokka tried to go after them, but was restrained by two guards.

"Aang! Tyler!" he cried.

The desk crashed through the window, the desk, Avatar, and Image falling toward the ground, yelling out in terror. But using his airbender abilities, Aang slowed his fall with a gust of air, and Tyler brought out his metal, transforming it into s board, and starting gliding, catching Aang, and the two landed safely on the ground as the desk crashed and broke apart behind them.

Fong ran to the destroyed wall and pointed angrily at the two boys, "Men! Attack them!!"

Aang's eyes widened in surprise as four groups of three guards closed in around them. Tyler turned his board into a staff and got into a defensive stance. Fong leaped down from the tower and landed in front of the two, sending a wave of moving earth towards them. They leaped over it, narrowing avoiding the crest.

"What are you doing?!" Aang exclaimed as they landed.

Tyler looked at Fong, who was looking quite sinister as he said, "I believe we are about to get results."

The six earthbenders on either side of the two boys lifted circular discs of earth with square holes in the middle around themselves, then hurled them. The first two rolled towards them from both sides, Aang simply side-stepping them while Tyler took a more direct approach and used his staff to slice one of them in half.

"I am not your enemy!" Aang exclaimed, "I won't fight you!"

More discs were launched at the two, and Aang leapt over them as they collided right where he was standing, while Tyler defended by continuing to smash the discs flown at him with his metal. The Avatar landed on one of the upright discs, and another flew from the left and knocked it over. As he fell, two of the other discs closed in around him, but Aang scrunched in the square holes in the discs as they begin to roll.

Four earthbenders surrounded them, throwing their stone discs. Two collide horizontally and both boys leaped over them. The other two tried to smash them in between, but they both jumped through the hole in the middle of one of them. Aang and Tyler zoomed off on a ball of air and metal board respectively, while three earthbenders tried to raise walls of earth to stop them.

They zig-zagged between them and shot past two spear-wielding guards on ostrich-horses, the guards beginning to chase after them. Aang started gliding up the wall of the base with the creatures in pursuit, Tyler continuing straight forward. The Avatar began to tire out, his ball of wind disappearing and he just runs. Aang barely avoided the spears and began to fall, but Tyler caught him and they flew to the ground.

The boys landed on the ground, the creatures jumping down behind them. But they were standing on one of the disc-shaped portions of the floor, and Fong lifted it up with his earthbending, trapping Aang and Tyler in the center hold and bringing them to him.

"You can't run forever!" Fong scolded.

"You can't fight forever!" Aang retorted.

Fong jumped forward, smashing the ring with his foot. Aang and Tyler leaped and ran away as four discs fell from the sky. As a disc rolled after them, they ran between two groups of soldiers. Tyler spotted a soldier about to throw his disc at Aang, but then Sokka's trusty Boomerange hit his helmet and knocks him out cold. Tyler saw Sokka and Katara join the fray, the latter cutting a guard's spear in half before it could get Aang.

Sokka approached one of the ostrich-horses, its rider unconscious on the ground. He coaxed the animal, grabbing the reins, and leaping on the back of the creature and it took off running. Katara remains stationary, Fong lining up a group of discs around Katara. Aang and Tyler climbed the stairway of the tower behind the General, and Aang looked over his shoulder.

"Maybe you can avoid me," Fong told Aang, "But she can't."

The earthbenders used their discs to create a v-shaped wall, making sure that the only means of escape was by General Fong. Katara threw her stream of water at Fong, but he raised a patch of dirt, creating a patch of mud. Katara spun around and began to sink into the ground. She struggled to escape but doesn't budge.

"I can't move!" Katara exclaimed, straining against the ground.

"Don't hurt her!" Aang said, both he and Tyler enraged now.

They leaped down from the staircase and Aang shot a stream of air at Fong, who looked surprised, but quickly raised a wall of earth to protect himself. He lowered the wall, the turns back to Katara, who sunk deeper into the ground, who cried out.

Tyler charged toward Fong, but the General sunk the Image's legs into the dirt, doing the same to Sokka's ostrich-horse, Sokka getting tossed from it, landing in the hole of one of the discs.

Aang ran up to Fong, grabbing his arm, "Stop this! You have to let her go."

Fong looked down at Aang angrily and maliciously said, "You could save her if you were in the Avatar state."

Tyler could see the frustration and desperation on Aang's face. He even saw tears begin to form in the younger boy's eyes. Tyler wanted nothing more than to run up and sock Fong in the face, but both Tyler and his staff were stuck in the ground. But he was rage-filled. Aang is just a kid!! Nobody should put this kind of pressure on him!

"I'm trying..." Aang cried, "I'm trying!"

Katara continued to sink further into the ground, now up to her armpits, "Aang, I'm sinking!"

"I don't see glowing," Fong said, his tone now a mocking one.

Tyler pulled his metal with all the strength he had, but couldn't budge it. Of course, the one time he wanted to bludgeon someone, he was out of commission. Fong pushed his fist toward the ground and Katara sunk further, only her head remaining above ground.

Katara screamed, terrified, "Please!"

Aang dropped to the ground at Fong's feet, still clutching his hand, saying hysterically, "You don't need to do this!"

"Apparently I do."

Fong clenched his fist and Katara disappeared completely. Aang dove for her, but just barely missing her hands. And the arrow tattoos began to glow and he turned around, revealing that the Avatar State has been activated. He glared angrily at Fong as he rose.

Fong lifted his fist into the air in victory, exulting, "It worked! It worked!!"

A strong blast of wind hit Fong and he shielded himself with his arms. Aang was standing in front of him now, wind billowing around him. Fong's grin quickly faded as he became terrified. Aang launched a karate chop-like attack at Fong, who went flying backward and landed at the base of the tower. Aang lifted himself up in a vortex of dirt.

Fong got up, cupped his hands, and shouted at Aang, "Avatar Aang, can you hear me?! Your friend is safe!"

He raised his arms and Katara emerged from the ground, gasping, "It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar state, AND IT WORKED!!!"

Aang whirled around, his face angry. The vortex suddenly collapsed and Aang slammed into the ground, a cloud of dust shooting forward, sending Fong flying. Large chunks of earth rose from the ground, sending Earth Kingdom soldiers into the air. The wave of destruction crashes into the buildings around the base, cracking them apart.

Suddenly, Aang's body went limp, and he fell to the ground, no longer glowing. Katara ran towards him and they embraced.

"I'm sorry, Katara," Aang said, tired and remorseful, "I hope you never have to see me like that again."

Fong walked forward, spreading his arms, at the same time releasing Tyler and Sokka, "Hah! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that."

"You're out of your mind," Tyler growled, stalking up to the General.

General Fong ignored him, "I guess we'll figure that out on the way to the Fire Nation."

Unfortunately for Fong, ignoring Tyler was a mistake. Tyler walked right up and smacked the General as hard as he could on the back of the head with his staff. Fong fell, knocked out cold.

Sokka rode up behind him on the ostrich horse, holding his boomerang, "Anybody got a problem with that?"

The soldiers all shook their heads in unison. Sokka dismounted as the soldiers approached the others and bowed.

"Do you still want an escort to Omashu?" one of the soldiers asked.

Katara smiled, "I think we're all set."

XXX

Oh my gosh, freaking finally, am I right or am I right?! Man, it's amazing how much you can do if you're determined enough and stressed enough. I guess this is my escape from the clutches of college. Till next time guys!