Odette:

They sky was full of dark gray clouds.

I was at the Southern Air Temple at a circular platform with the peaks of mountains peaking above the clouds. I ran, paused and looked both ways, then continued running again. I came across a brown curtain and pulled it open, looking at the scene before me with a surprise and shock.

As I entered a room, the ceiling collapsed and a figure resembling myself was sitting at the far end with her back to me.

I stopped. The figure at the end of the room turned around, revealing herself to be a picture image of myself. Her eyes and the arrow symbol on her head were glowing blue.

I was still standing at the entrance to the room and gasped in shock, wondering what was going on. The wind blew violently around the other me. She was surrounded in an orb of wind. Alana and Kole were lying in the foreground, shielding themselves from the wind. I peered curiously at the glowing me, who slammed her hands together. A bright light from her enveloped us. I was hit by the powerful blast of wind and thrown backward into the Fire Temple.

I screamed as I fell. "Aaahhh!"

I landed on the floor of the Air Temple with a loud, "Oof!"

Behind me, I watched as the intricate Fire Temple door opened, revealing the glowing me hovering behind it. Her clothing billowed in the wind she created. I stared in terror at her face - my face - an angry scowl on it. She opened her mouth and fire shot out as she performed a strike with her hand, causing the ground beneath the real me to melt. I fell screaming into the chasm.

I landed on the deck of a Fire Nation ship. Behind me, I looked up and saw the Water Spirit approaching the ship. I looked at the glowing me in surprise, who was surrounded by blue light. She raised an arm, ready to strike. I watched as the water spirit mimicked the action. The spirit struck the ship. I looked back at me, who once again did the striking motion that she used to break the ground beneath me before…

…I gasped myself awake and breathed hard, my heart flying in my chest. I was in a fur hammock beneath the deck of a ship. Four such hammocks, two on each side, were in the room also. I sat on the upper left, with Kole lying asleep in the lower right.

Terrified and still breathing hard, I jumped down from my hammock, landing on shaky legs. Needing fresh air, I climbed a ladder that led up to the top deck, trying to shake off my most recent nightmare.

I could hear Kole following me.

"Odette?" he asked, once we were outside.

He approached me as I looked out over the ocean, trying to forget what I had seen…what I had done. All those people…

"Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked, placing his hand on mine.

"Nah. Just a nightmare."

He gave me a knowing look and I laughed lightly, knowing it was pointless to try and tell him I was fine and nothing is wrong. He knew me too well.

"I was in the Avatar state, but I was outside my body watching myself. It was scary. I was scary," I said, trembling at the memory.

Kole pulled me to him and hugged me comfortingly as we looked out over the ocean.

The next morning, Master Sorren was on the deck of the ship with several other men from the Northern Water Tribe. He reached into a bag and pulled out a triangle-shaped amulet.

"Odette, I want you to have this," he said in a serious and ceremonial manner.

The amulet was beautiful, a triangle with a wave-shaped pattern of blue color with a crescent moon on the top.

"This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis," Sorren explained as he handed the amulet to me. "The water has unique properties. Don't lose it."

The grumpy master's face softened.

"Thank you, Master Sorren," I said respectfully.

He embraced me and then I walked over to Fanindra. Kole stepped forward to say his goodbyes and Master Sorren produced an intricately-decorated brown box.

"Kole, these scrolls will help you teach waterbending," he said. Kole nodded and smiled at him.

Kole looked up at me and smiled, coming to join me as Alana stepped forward.

"Alana." Alana looked at him proudly and expectantly. "Take care, girl."

Sorren patted Alana's arm, giving her nothing. Alana's expression became very dejected and embarrassed.

Master Sorren turned to all of us once we were all situated on top of Fanindra.

"Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Ike will provide you with an escort to Naliwen. There you'll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi," Sorren said.

"Fanindra, yip yip!" I said, nodding at the master one more time before we rocketed into the air.

Master Sorren waved goodbye in amusement.

Kole called back as we flew off. "Say hi to Gran Gran for me!"

I pulled the reins and Fanindra let out a loud roar of farewell.

Ren:

We were at a bathhouse that stretched over a wide river, blossoming cherry trees adorning the courtyard.

Uncle was content, as he received a massage from two attendants. I was sitting to the side miserably, a hat concealing my face.

"Aaahhh... this is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?" he said and I wanted to roll my eyes.

He cast a glance at me and walked over to sit beside me on the floor. He knew I was upset and honed in on it like a shirshu.

"I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?" he said, not a question but a blunt statement that made me twitch in anger.

I kept my face still hidden under the wide-brimmed hat as I spoke.

"Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all," I said dejectedly and looked up. "I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, I want my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless."

"I'm sure he doesn't! Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" Uncle said with exaggerated optimism.

I didn't want to hear it. I knew my own father well enough. He didn't like to be disappointed, and when he was, he wouldn't hesitate to step on you no matter who you were. I had messed up big time…and now I was paying the price for it…still paying the price.

I got up and walked away.

As I walked, I heard Uncle speak negatively to himself. "Erg... that came out wrong, didn't it?"

Ugh.

Athera:

Two lines of red armor-clad Fire Nation soldiers were stood on the deck, and fell to their rightful place on their knees as the elaborate cabin I was in opened at the edge of the war ship I was on.

Four servants carried a curtained platform between the lines of soldiers. They stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled apart the curtains, revealing me to my pitiful subjects. I stepped out and examined my soldiers.

I raised a hand, then looked at the two rows. They rose and I began to walk between them, loving the fear I brought to their faces. They way the trembled in my presence made me giddy…and I wanted more.

"My brother and my uncle have disgraced the Fire Lord and brought shame on all of us. You may have mixed feelings about attacking members of the royal family; I understand. But I assure you, if you hesitate, I will not hesitate to bring you down. Dismissed," I growled coldly, venom dripping from every word like a deadly poison that intimidated them even more.

The troops quickly ran off to the left, and a lone soldier approached me.

This ought to be good.

"Princess, I'm afraid the tides will not allow us to bring the ship in to port before nightfall," he said respectfully, his voice quivering.

Oh really? Was I no longer in command? Was it the seas who controlled him and bent him against his will? Well, not for long.

I turned and walked to the left as I spoke.

"I'm sorry, Captain, but I do not know much about the tides. Can you explain something to me?" I asked innocently.

I saw him gulp out of the corner of my eye.

"Of course, Your Highness," he said.

"Do the tides command this ship?"

The foolish captain was confused. "Uh... I'm afraid I do not understand."

"You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?" I repeated condescendingly.

The captain looked over at me nervously. "No, Princess."

I smiled cruelly and looked out over the ocean.

"And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?"

The captain gulped again and closed his eyes.

"No, Princess," he answered nervously.

I pushed a strand of hair from my face, then turned around while speaking. "Well, then, maybe you should worry less about the tides who've already made up their mind about killing you and worry more about me, who's still mulling it over."

"I'll pull us in," he said quickly. The captain bowed respectfully and ran off toward the cabin. I glared at him as he left.

Odette:

Alana leaned on the edge of Emry's saddle as we flew, looking bored. She suddenly stood up, looking excited and grinning like a goofball.

Curious about whatever had gotten her so excited, I looked over Fanindra dragon head at the mountainous landscape. A circular, walled tower came into view.

Oh.

"There it is!" Alana said, practically bouncing in her seat. I was glad to see her smile…she had been so sad lately after Falcon's death. She'd stare up at the moon almost every night crying herself to sleep.

Fanindra flew down toward the walled tower and landed gracefully inside. A bearded man in a green cap and brown and green armor stepped forward.

This must have been General Ike.

"Welcome, Avatar Odette!" he welcomed us graciously.

Alana stretched as Kole brought our supplies down from Fanindra, and I rubbed my sore behind. I had literally been sat in the same exact spot since we left the North Pole.

We stopped and looked up at the General Ike, who bowed along with numerous soldiers behind him, then spread her arms in greeting.

"I am General Ike. And welcome to all of you, great heroes!" he announced. "Fanindra, Fang, brave Alana, the mighty Kole."

"'Mighty Kole'? I like that," Kole said, smiling in amusement.

Fireworks exploded behind us, and we turned to look at them. A group of four Earthbenders stepped forward, lifted small, green orbs from the ground and launched them into the air with their fists. Kole, Alana, and I looked on, amazed.

Alana nodded her approval. "Not bad, not bad."

Kole:

We were quickly led into the inside of the base of the tower. The room was large, with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was at the far end, with a large banner showing a green circle and a brown square inside of it hanging from the ceiling. Odette, Alana, and I sat in the center of the room on a mat, with Ike at the desk.

"Avatar Odette, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole," he said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "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," Odette replied humbly.

Ike leaned forward and smiled happily. "Avatar... you're ready to face the Fire Lord now."

I froze, my mind going into a whirl. My head snapped to the side to look at Odette. At first she seemed content, but her expression quickly changed to one of surprised disbelief.

"What?! No I'm not!" she exclaimed, alarmed.

"Odette still needs to master all four elements," I explained, s equally shocked.

"Why?" Ike said and became worked up as he spoke and rose from his desk. "With the kind of power she possesses—power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes—she could defeat the Fire Lord now!"

Alana rose her hand somewhat timidly.

"But, sir, the thing is Odette can only do those things when she's in the Avatar state," she said.

"See, it's this special state where—" Odette tried to explained but he cut her off.

"I'm well aware," he interrupted heatedly. He continued more gently. "Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power."

He walked around his desk and to a map of the 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."

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

Odette looked concerned and frightened.

Odette spoke with uncertainty. "Right... but I'm don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do once I'm there."

Ike turned around and faced us.

"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," he said.

We all stood up at once. I didn't care what he thought, there was no way Odette was ready for this, She would die before she even reached the Fire Lord. Alana and Odette looked surprised while I was just angry.

"No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Odette's pursuing her destiny her way," I snapped, irritated.

Ike was once more at his desk.

"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war went on. May I show you something?" he said.

Ike and Odette walked over to a circular window overlooking two orange-roofed buildings. A large crowd was standing outside one.

"That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones." I looked down at the injured soldiers walking toward the infirmary. "They came back."

Odette looked down sadly and I felt my anger spike. "Every day the Fire Nation took lives. People are dying, Odette! You could end it, now! Think about it."

That was a low blow. Odette's Achilles Heel was her compassion and using the war victims against her was a dirty trick.

And I knew she was going to fall for it.

Athera:

I was on my battleship, running through my lightning bending practice. The sun was setting in the background.

I stood on the deck and brought my arms down in front of me. Two old women - my advisors - watched from the top of the stairs. I swung an arm around, electricity sparking from my left hand. I brought it around in a circle, then began to mimic the motion with my right hand, electricity shooting from my index and middle fingers. I brought my fingers together, and then lunged forward, launching a lightning bolt from my left hand. The lightning arced over the edge of the ship.

My fingers were smoking and a single strand of hair dangled in front of my face. The old women on the stairs spoke up.

"Almost perfect," one said.

"One hair out of place," the other seconded.

Furious, I glared angrily at the one strand of hair. I wiped it bitterly away from my eyes, feeling like strangling someone.

"'Almost' isn't good enough!" I hissed.

I began the training again and shoot lightning in every direction.

Odette:

It was nightfall and we were still at the Earth Kingdom base. General Ike was looking down at a map on his desk.

"General Ike?" I asked.

Ike looked up, smiling.

"Come in, Odette. Have you thought about our discussion?" he asked warmly, all smiled now.

This guy was out of his mind…but he was right.

I looked down in uncertainty, knowing I was going to get myself into a lot of trouble. "I'm in." I then looked up with determination. "I'll fight the Fire Lord."

After I gave him my answer, he tried to shower me with praises but I ignored him and simply walked away and back to our room. I entered the dimly-lit room, walking across the floor as Kole rose from his bed, Fang sat on his lap.

I sat down on my bed with a sigh.

"I told the general I'd help him... by going into the Avatar state," I told him, knowing he would not be happy about it.

I was right.

"Odette, no. This is not the right way," Kole said, his voice firm.

Alana, who was lounging with her arms behind her head, decided to speak up. "Why not? Remember when she took out the Fire Navy? She was incredible."

Kole ignored her. "There's a right way to do this. Practice, study, and discipline."

Alana spoke louder, glaring at her brother. "Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord."

Kole rose from his bed and approached Alana and I.

"If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!" he snapped angrily and I winced.

He left and I rose and started after him.

"Kole, I'm just being realistic. I don't have time to do this the right way," I pleaded as he walked away. I looked away, sad and almost ashamed.

I returned to the base during the next day. Ike led me to a cliff side away from the base with a small open-air building on top. There was 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. In an ordinary warrior it improves strength and energy ten-fold. In you, it may induce the Avatar state," he said to me.

The teacher poured the tea into a cup in front of me.

I was sitting at the small table across from him and next to Ike. Alana and Kole sat side-by-side a few feet behind me, Kole extremely unhappy.

"Ten-fold energy, huh?" I took it and slurped it down; the taste made my face twitch at least three times.

I don't really remember what happened after that.

I began to race around the small structure on my air ball while the others remained motionless.

I was speaking in a fast, high-pitched, hyper voice while zipping everywhere on my air-scooter. "Is it working, is it working? 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?"

Alana looked bored with my mindless chatter. "I guess she could talk the Fire Lord to death."

Just then I collided with a column, my air ball disappeared and my shawl fell over my head, knocking me out cold.

When I came to and my head stopped spinning, I was led outside at the entrance gate to the base. Kole and sat on the ground while Ike stood behind us, stroking his beard as usual. Alana was in front of us, her arms folded behind her back.

"Maybe I can shock you into the Avatar state," she said.

"I love surprise," I said cheerfully.

Kole shook his head and covered my eyes with his hands. When he removed them, Fang's head had replaced Alana's.

"Raahh!" Fang howled and I lurched backward in fright.

"Aaahhh!" I looked at my hands and held them up. "Still not glowing."

Alana lost her balance and yelled while Fang chattered and they both toppled over. General Ike just shook his head.

We moved on into the inside of a temple. I stood in the center wearing a ridiculous hat with leaves coming out of the top and a blue cape. Ike, Alana, and Kole stood before me. A priest was in the distance near a stairway.

A priest spoke to me pretentiously. "You are wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations. 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!"

He suddenly threw the mixture all over me. The mixture splattered over me, covering me in mud.

"This is just mud!" I said, wrinkling my nose.

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

My nose began to twitch and I lifted up a finger. Ike, Alana, and Kole all looked hopeful.

My nose itched like crazy and I sneezed. "Aaaaachoooo!"

I smiled sheepishly at the others as they got sprayed by mud from my sneeze. Ike wiped his face.

General Ike remained determined. "We have to find a way."

Ren:

Uncle emptied a bag of seashells on a table. We were still at the bathhouse, wasting time as usual.

Uncle lifted a few shells into his hand, inspecting them.

"Look at these magnificent shells! I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come," he said.

"We don't need anymore useless things. You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now," I said.

Suddenly a dark, nasty, evil voice that made my skin crawl spoke from the corner of the room. "Hello, brother. Uncle."

I turned to see my baby sister, Athera at a table behind us, her hand on a seashell. Athera and I looked a lot alike, except she looked more like our father and I looked more like our mother. She had a beautiful heart-shaped face and perfectly shaped lips that were always curled into a calculating smile. She had dark brown hair like me that remained in an elegant but practical bun at the nape of her neck with the sides of her bangs hanging down, framing her face. Her eyes were shaped like a cats and golden brown and her skin was pale as the moon. Her hands were slim and her fingers slender and graceful looking, each one ending with a perfectly manicured, clawed, blood red nail. She was medium height, coming up to about my shoulder and was eighteen - a year younger than me.

Uncle and I looked at her in surprised, and then anger. Whatever my sister was here for it was not good. I'd known ever since we were kids that wherever she went, trouble was soon to follow.

I stepped forward threateningly.

"What are you doing here?" I said accusingly.

She seemed utterly unaffected by our glares as she toyed with the seashell in her hand.

"In my country, we exchange a pleasant 'hello' before asking questions," she said arrogantly. She got up and walked over to face me. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, RenRen?"

"Don't call me that!" I yelled furiously.

Uncle tried to calm down the growing tension before we did something stupid.

"To what do we owe this honor?" he asked, working to keep his voice calm.

"Hmm... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point." She shattered one of Uncle's shells with her sharp nails on this last word and his face darkened. "I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him—treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust."

Her voice and face softened. "Father regrets your banishment. He wanted you home."

I was stunned…frozen in shock.

I looked out the window in complete disbelief.

"Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful," she said when I didn't respond, her pleasant expression sweet and kind…something very unusual when it came to her. "I just gave you great news."

"I'm sure your brother just needs a moment to—"

"Don't interrupt, Uncle!" Athera snapped at him angrily. She sighed, collecting herself and turned to address me, walking up so she was beside me.

"I still haven't heard my thank you. I am not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way," she said, her usual malice slinking back into her tone.

"Father regrets? He... wanted me back?" I murmured with shocked and quiet disbelief.

"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." Athera walked out of the room without another word.

Odette:

It was evening and Kole and I were alone, stood outside on the wall overlooking the city.

"Can we talk about something?" he asked. It had been pretty quiet between us for most of the day and I hoped it wasn't because he was still mad at me.

"Sure," I said, turning to him cautiously.

"Do you remember when we were at the air temple and you found Monk Athos' skeleton? It must have been so horrible and traumatic for you. I saw you get so upset that you weren't even you anymore. I'm not saying the Avatar state doesn't have incredible—and helpful power. But you have to understand, for the people who love you, watching you be in that much rage and pain is really scary," he said, searching my face, pleading with his eyes for me to understand.

I sighed, knowing I couldn't back out of this one. "I'm really glad you told me that. But I still need to do this."

Kole frowned, his eyes darkening. "I don't understand."

"No, you don't. Every day more and more people die. I'm already a hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it," I said.

"I can't watch you do this to yourself. I'm not coming tomorrow," he said quietly. He began to walk off, but paused. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I said sadly, wishing I could make him understand.

Ren:

I was still in shock as I began packing my things. I was so excited I could hardly believe it. I could go home, without having to chase the Avatar down…I could finally go back to where I belonged.

"We're going home. After three long years. It's unbelievable," I said to my Uncle happily. I walked behind him, carrying some folded clothing.

"It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything," he said skeptically.

"Did you listen to Athera? Father's realized how important family is to him. He cares about me," I said, at first surprised and the growing more forceful.

"I care about you. And if Mordred wanted you back... well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine."

Defensively I turned my back to Uncle.

"You don't know how my father feels about me." I stiffened in anger. "You don't know anything."

"Ren, I only meant that in our family things are not always what they seem," he said gently.

I whirled around angrily and faced Uncle, leaning in as I accused him.

"I think you are exactly what you seem: a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother," I growled nastily.

I turned and walked away.

Odette:

I was at a river with icy cliffs on both banks. I was having another nightmare like the one before, where I watched myself outside of my own body.

I watched as I - glowing in the Avatar State - exploded from the river in a tall column of swirling water. The other me soured through the sky, then turned down toward a Fire Nation ship with the real me stood on the deck. The glowing me landed on the deck and swung her vortex of water like a whip at me.

As the water vortex knocked me overboard I screamed in terror. "Aaahhh!"

I landed on a hard stone floor.

The glowing version of me stood in front of me, with Ren looking at her. The glowing me turned around, and Ren briefly assumed a defensive stance before turning and running. Me, no longer glowing, launched a water attack at him as I watched in horror.

"No!" I gasped and started awake in bed.

Okay, that was it.

I turned over toward Alana.

"Alana. Alana, wake up," I said softly.

"Wha...?" she asked groggily.

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

Alana looked over, her hair a rats nest around her face.

"You sure?" she said, surprised.

Thinking of what my dream self had done to Ren I nodded vigorously. "Yes."

Alana shrugged, accepting. "Okay."

"Do you think the general will be mad?" I asked, a little apprehensive.

"What can he say? You're the Avatar. Who knows better than you?" she said and rolled over.

I looked away, then lied back down, folding my arms behind my head.

I hoped so.

Ren:

I was descending the stairway outside of the bathhouse as quick as I could. I had a bag with my few measly personal belongings thrown over my shoulder. Though I wanted nothing more than to go home…it just didn't feel right without Uncle.

I paused for a moment and looked down at the Fire Nation ship in the bay below, then turned to continue on.

"Wait!" I heard my uncle calling urgently. I spun to see Uncle descending and waving behind me. "Don't leave without me!"

He was coming?

"Uncle! You've changed your mind!" I said, happily surprised.

"Family sticks together, right?" he said as he put a hand on my shoulder.

I smiled happily, feeling like everything is finally falling into place for me.

"We're finally going home," I said as we both looked down at the ship below.

I continued on, happier than I had ever been before.

Odette:

The next morning, I returned to the Earth Kingdom base. I stood in front of Ike's desk, hoping that he wouldn't freak out when I told him I was out.

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

"Sure I can't change your mind?" he asked, sounding disappointed when speaking.

I looked down sadly. "I'm sure. I can only reach the Avatar state when I'm in genuine danger.

Ike looked away. "I see. I was afraid you'd say that."

Ike stepped back in a sudden movement, causing a small shock wave. He pushed forward, sending her desk flying at me. My eyes flew wide in surprise as the desk rammed into me.

"Ugh!" I cried out as it crashed right into my stomach, flinging me over the side of it.

The desk rocketed toward a window, taking me with it. Alana tried to go after me, but was restrained by two guards.

"Odette!" she cried as the desk crashed through the wall. Both the desk and I fell toward the ground and I screamed as I felt myself falling.

Using my airbender abilities, I slowed my fall with a gust of air. I tumbled forward and the desk crashed and broke apart behind me. Ike ran to the destroyed wall and pointed angrily at me.

"Men! Attack the Avatar!" he commanded.

My eyes widened in alarm as four groups of three guards closed in around me. I looked up in surprise, wondering what this general was playing at. Ike leaped down from the tower and landed in front of me, sending a wave of moving earth toward me. I leaped agilely over the wave.

"What are you doing?" I snapped.

"I believe we are about to get results," he said, looking at me with sinister eyes.

The six Earthbenders on either side of me lifted circular discs of earth with square holes in the middle around themselves, then hurled them at me. The first two rolled toward me from both sides, and I stepped backward, avoiding them. I leaped into the air and spread my body horizontally as two discs flew above and below me. I soared through the air for a moment and then landed and peered over my shoulder. Other Earthbenders stood ready with more discs behind me.

"I am not your enemy! I won't fight you!" I yelled at them.

Four discs were launched at me, and I leaped over them as they collided right where I was standing. I landed on one of the upright discs, and another flew from the left and knocked it over. As I fell, two of the other upright discs closed in around me. Thinking fast, I scrunched myself into the square holes in the discs as they began to roll. The discs rolled into an Earthbender, who shattered them.

I went flying and skidded along the ground. I stood up, surveying the troops around me.

I looked up and saw Alana running to the broken wall that I fell out of and looked down.

Just then four Earthbenders surrounded me, throwing their stone discs. Two collided horizontally and I leaped over them. The other two tried to smash me between them, and I leaped through the hole in the middle of the one on the right.

I zoomed off on my ball of air while three Earthbenders tried to raise walls of earth to stop me. I zigzagged between them and shot past two spear-wielding guards on ostrich-like creatures. They began to chase after me. I started up the wall of the base with the creatures in pursuit. I began to tire out toward the top, my ball of wind disappearing and I just stared running. The creatures closed in and I barely missed their spears and began to fall.

I hit the ground and tumbled forward, the creatures jumping down behind me. I stumbled forward onto one of the disc-shaped portions of the floor. Ike lifted it up with his Earthbending skills, trapping me in the center hold and bringing me to him.

"You can't run forever!" he shouted.

"You can't fight forever!" I shot back.

Ike leaped forward, smashing the ring with his foot and I leaped away.

Ren:

When we reached Athera's ship, a group of Fire Nation soldiers formed two ranks along the path leading to the ship.

Uncle and I walked toward them, my heart hammering in my chest. Athera was standing at the top of the stairs leading onto her ship, a soldier on each side.

I was completely content and at ease, but Uncle kept eyeing the guards suspiciously, ever the paranoid one. Athera raised her arms in greeting and bowed to us.

"Brother! Uncle!" she said warmly as we both bowed. Uncle opened one eye slightly, watching the soldiers beside him. "Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to come."

The two files of soldiers closed in behind Uncle and I.

"Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?" the captain asked.

"Set our course for home, Captain," she replied pleasantly.

Huh, maybe she wasn't the obnoxious psycho monster she used to be.

"Home…" I said wistfully.

Uncle and I began to climb the stairs onto the ship, the captain leading the way.

He turned to his men. "You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners ho—"

He stopped abruptly, realizing his mistake

I looked up in surprise at Athera who looked enraged.

"Your Highness... I…" the captain stuttered, mortified.

That's when I realized it. I wasn't going home. My father hadn't forgiven me. He still wanted me to get the Avatar before I was welcomed back.

My eyes widened. Uncle looked to his left, then spun around, backhanding a guard off of the ship and kicking another down the incline. Another guard approached from his left. He elbowed him off the incline. He punched another that approached from his right and grabbed another, spinning him around and tossing him.

My momentary shock and hurt dissipated, leaving nothing but white hot rage in it's place. I grabbed one guard, throwing him off the incline and into the water. I stalked up the incline, furious.

"You lied to me!" I yelled furiously at my sister.

Athera looked at me with nothing but confidence.

"Like I've never done that before," she said smugly.

She turned and walked away, and two guards launched fire at me. I brushed the fire aside and charged forward, screaming in rage.

Odette:

"Aaahhh!" I screamed as I ran away. Four discs fell from the sky and I turned and began to run to the left, with a disc rolling after me.

I glanced over and I saw both Kole and Alana running down the stairs. They met at the bottom.

"What's going on?" Kole yelled as he looked at me sprinting for my life.

"The general's gone crazy. He's trying to force Odette into the Avatar state!"

Alana and Kole watched as I ran between two groups of soldiers. Alana pulled out her boomerang and tossed it. Right as he was about to throw his disc at me, the boomerang hit his helmet and knocked him out cold. His disc fell over.

As soon as I was out of the clear with that one, I ran from one of the birdlike creatures who started coming after me. Something shot by and I suddenly realized that his spear had been cut in half. Kole has sliced the spear with a stream of water.

Alana was approaching one of the birdlike creatures, its rider unconscious on the ground. She had her arms lifted in the air as she slowly approached.

"Good bird/horse thingy," she said nervously, trying to coax the beast.

She grabbed the reins and leaped on the back of the creature. It took off running.

Kole remained stationary as Ike had his men line up a group of discs around him. I climbed the stairway of the tower behind me and tossed a look over my shoulder, hoping to catch Ike's attention.

Ike smirked at me. "Maybe you can avoid me, but he can't."

The Earthbenders used their discs to create a v-shaped wall, made sure that the only means of escape were by General Ike. Kole threw his stream of water at Ike, but he raised a patch of dirt, creating a patch of mud. He took up a fighting stance as Kole spun around and began to sink into the ground. He was up to his knees in dirt. He struggled to escape but didn't budge.

"Aaahhh!" he grunted, straining against the earth. "I can't move!"

"Don't hurt him!" I yelled, enraged.

I leaped down from the staircase and shot a stream of air at Ike. Ike looked surprised but quickly raised a wall of earth to protect his self. He lowered the wall then turned back to Kole, who sank deeper into the ground.

"Aaahhh!" Kole cried in alarm.

Alana rode out from behind one of the discs on her birdlike creature and charged toward Ike.

"Kole! No!" she yelled, preparing to attack.

Ike sank the bird creature's legs into the dirt and Alana got tossed from her ostrich, landing in the hole of one of the discs. "Waaaahhh! Oof!"

I ran to Ike, grabbing his arm desperately.

"Stop this! You have to let him go."

Ike looked down at me angrily.

"You could save him if you were in the Avatar state," he said maliciously.

I was so frustrated and desperate tears began to form in my eyes.

"I'm trying... I'm trying!" I snapped, begging for my Avatar spirit to take control of me.

Kole continued to sink further into the ground. He was now up to his armpits.

"Odette, I'm sinking!" he yelled to me, desperately trying to get away.

"I don't see glowing," Ike said, his tone sounding mocking.

Ike pushed his fist toward the ground, and Kole sank further, only his head remaining above ground.

"Aaahhh! Please!" he gasped, terrified.

I dropped to the ground at Ike's feet, still clutching his hand.

"You don't need to do this!" I cried, hysterical.

General Ike glared at me. "apparently I do."

He clenched his fist and Kole disappeared totally into the ground. I dove for him, just barely missing his hands. Overcome with rage, hate, and malice in my heart, I felt my marks begin to glow as I was filled with intense power, and I turned around.

The Avatar State had been activated.

I glared angrily at Ike as I rose.

Ike lifted his fist into the air in victory.

"It worked. It worked!" he exulted.

A strong blast of wind hit Ike, and he shielded himself with his arms. I was standing in front of him, wind billowing around me and lashing my hair in all directions. Ike smiled but the grin quickly faded as he became terrified.

Good.

I launched a karate chop-like attack at him and he went flying backward. He landed at the base of the tower.

Furious, I lifted myself up in a vortex of dirt.

Ren:

I leaped onto Athera's ship, knocking two guards on either side out of the way with flames shooting from my arm and leg.

I took up a fighting stance at the left while Athera remained motionless, her back to me. Charging forward, I brought my arms down, fire daggers in my fists but she spun and blocked me.

Uncle was still fighting soldiers on the path leading to the ship so I knew he would be no help to me.

"Ren! Let's go!" he yelled but I ignored him. This time, Athera had gone too far. And now…now she was going to pay.

I swung my fire daggers at her ferociously, repeatedly, but she simply avoided them. She grabbed my arm and spun me around. I was breathing hard, my anger made me sloppy.

"You know Father blames Uncle for the loss at the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar. Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?" she said, a nasty smug grin on her face.

I brought out my fire daggers again and leaped at Athera, throwing a flaming kick at her head. She leaped back, nimbly dodging my blew. She swiped at my face with her fingernails and I staggered back, feeling the three stinging cuts on my forehead. I charged forward and screamed, swiping my daggers at Athera again. She blocked my blew effortlessly and the fight continued up the stairs toward the cabin of the ship.

She found and opening and kicked me, knocking me down the stairs a bit. I recovered quickly and charged back toward Athera.

She blocked my fist and grabbed my arm, bringing it down harmlessly. She glared at me, and my eyes widened in alarm. She tossed a blue flame at my head, sending me tumbling down the incline. I landed with a thud and pulled myself up, looking back at the incline. My vision was blurry and shaky as I tried to locate Athera.

She was standing at the top of the incline and began to swing her arms in arcs around, lightning arcing around her. She aimed her fingers at me and a lightning bolt shot toward me.

Uncle suddenly appeared and grabbed Athera's fingers in his hand. He channels the electricity through his body and shot it from his other hand, letting it explode harmlessly into the cliffside. He turned back to Athera and kicked her, sending her flying overboard. She splashed into the water.

Not wasting a second, Uncle and I took off running down the path from the ship.

Odette:

I swirled in my vortex of dust with General Ike in front of me. He cupped his hands and shouted at me.

"Avatar Odette, can you hear me?! Your friend is safe!" He raised his arms and Kole emerged from the ground, gasping. "It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar state, AND IT WORKED!"

I didn't listen to him. Even though Kole was okay, he'd still threatened my friend. I whirled around, angry.

The vortex suddenly collapsed and I slammed into the ground, a cloud of dust shooting forward. Ike was sent flying. Large chunks of earth rose from the ground, sending Earth Kingdom soldiers into the air. The wave of destruction crashed into the buildings around the base, cracking them apart.

I was hovering still and I felt my body suddenly go cold and I froze. I began to turn blue and this strange spirit of myself left my glowing body and rose into the sky.

Up in the air, I overlooked the wrecked base. I realized I was with Koren.

We flew by quickly on Koren's dragon and he looked back at me.

"It's time you learned," he said and I became even more confused than I already was.

The dragon flew off into golden clouds. There were figures stood on them as we flew by and I recognized them as Avatars.

"The Avatar state is a defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars," Koren explained.

He gave me a vision of a female Avatar in a green robe and mask, held fans. Her eyes glowed briefly and she took up a fighting stance.

"The glow is the combination of all your past lives, focusing their energy through your body."

I saw a male Avatar on the end of a ship. He was wearing a blue coat and a white hat, presumably made of animal skin. His eyes blinked, causing a huge tidal wave behind the ship.

I then saw another female Avatar, whose eyes blinked with the glow. She shoved her hands forward and strong winds blew the yellow grass and trees around her in the distance.

"In the avatar state you are at your most powerful," he said and I saw a male Avatar in red armor. He lifted his arms and four volcanoes erupted behind him.

My vision returned to normal and Koren looked at me seriously. "But you are also at your most vulnerable."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Koren and the Avatars suddenly vanished. They appeared in a single-file line, all their eyes glowing.

"If you are killed in the Avatar state, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist," he said.

The Avatars vanished, ending with Koren, who faded away.

I looked away sadly, feeling the weight of this new responsibility settle down on me. The dragon spiraled down toward the Earth Kingdom base.

It crashed into my body and disappeared, as did the sphere of wind. Warmth returned and my body went limp, and I fell to the ground, no longer posses by the Avatar Spirit.

I glanced at the ruins of the base around me.

Kole ran toward me worriedly. I was sitting on the ground with my arms on my knees, guilt sweeping through me. He ran up beside me and we embraced tightly.

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

We both looked up as Ike began to speak.

He walked forward, spreading his arms. "Hah! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that."

I glared up at him and Kole looked like he would have socked him if he hadn't been held onto me.

"You're out of your mind," I snapped.

General Ike ignored me. "I guess we'll figure that out on the way to the Fire Nation."

Alana rode up behind him on the birdlike creature, held her boomerang. She bonked Ike on the head and knocked him out cold.

"Anybody got a problem with that?" she snapped, glaring at the soldiers and they all shook their heads in unison.

Alana dismounted from the creature as the soldiers approached us and bowed.

"Do you still want an escort to Naliwen?" one of them men asked.

Kole glared at him. "I think we're all set."

We all got onto Fanindra and took off, leaving the horrible place behind us.

Athera:

My brother would pay for thinking he could defy me. He may have been older, but he was weaker and I would annihilate him. We had searched the bathhouse and the woods around it but they were long gone. No matter though, I would find them in time.

My father had sent me on a mission to have them either both imprisoned or killed. After this little turn of events, I was going to opt for the latter option.

I held up a poster with pictures of Uncle and Ren and some writing and spoke to the crowd of people who had gathered before me.

"Anyone who harbors these traitors will face the wrath of the Fire Lord," I called out loudly.

The group of citizens looked up at me from below. Civilians cowered in fear, just the way they should.

My face twisted in anger as I thought of those two traitors.

"There will be no place left to hide," I said menacingly.

Ren:

Uncle and I dumped out stuff somewhere in the woods. Now that we were on the run, we couldn't afford to be slowed down with household items.

We had been running down a path for almost half an hour, needing to put distance between us and Athera. Exhausted, we paused at a small body of water at the side of the river and collapsed onto our knees.

"I think we're safe here," Uncle panted.

I took in deep breaths and nodded in agreement.

I knew Athera enough to know that she had probably already sent out warrants for our arrest. We would have no place to go to now unless we were in disguise.

Knowing what had to be done, I brought out a knife with some writing on the blade. I stared at it for a moment, not liking what I was about to do.

Uncle nodded solemnly and turned to me.

I took the knife and brought it behind my head and... cut off my pony tail.

For me, I saw cutting my hair as a symbol of something. When a warrior cut off his ponytail, it stood as an act of severance from the Fire Nation-the very regime that had enslaved me my whole life-and from my family, which, aside from Mother and Uncle, was what corrupted me in the first place. It stood as an act of letting go, of saying, "Enough is enough! I'm done with this!"

I passes the knife to Uncle, who did the same.

Sadly, my hand released the ponytail, letting it fall into the water and Uncle followed.

As our hair floated down the river, we looked into the distance, wondering what our next move was.