Avatar: The Last Airbender

Two years have passed since the defeat of Phoenix King Ozai and the end of the War, now life has started to grow once more as the four nations were at peace with each other but the pain the Fire Nation had caused for the pass hundred years has caused hatred to thrive. Team Avatar continues to have the support of the Fire Nation, protecting them as the veil of War on the torn world that had been so recently repaired could break once more and the War would continue. But there is something hiding in the darkness, manipulating the Nations and breaking the fragile peace and kill the Avatar before the return of the airbenders.

Chapter 1

Aang watched the sunset, it's iridescent lights and movements a peaceful scene but he could not find any in it storm clouds were gathering once more, the same ones that had plunged the world into chaos for a hundred. He couldn't tell anyone not even Katara, the women he loved and the one who had stuck by him ever since she broke him out of the iceberg after his one hundred year sleep. His mind drawn away from the clouds and wandered on the kiss they shared in the Jade Dragon in Ba Sing Sa and in that moment he knew that she felt the same way he did, he missed her intensely and wanted to be with her at this very moment but his duties as the Avatar had to come first. He closed his eyes then stomped on the ground as frustration set in, her face in his mind and that of his friends. Sokka, Suki, Toph, and even enemy turn friend Zuko, he couldn't be with them or even visit them and it was making him loss his mind and afraid just like when the Monks were going to separate him from Gyatso.

His body was tired also dragging him down to sleep but he didn't want to because then they would return, the dreams; the dreams of his friends lying death on the ground around with a mysterious person standing in front of him. He didn't know what it was about either it was about him or something or someone who would do this but all he knew was that it would return every time he slept. All he did know was that it was connected to him in a way, maybe even an angry spirit trying to get revenge on him for what a past life had done, he didn't know but it was coming soon. Momo jumped onto his should, wrapping his tail around his neck and looked at the sunset with him followed by Appa who growled. He turned and jumped onto the top of Appa's head and said,

"Yip, Yip." He smashed his tail to the ground and took off into the air as they headed towards the Fire Nation to the newly-rebuilt temple that replaced the one that was destroyed. He needed and guidance and there was only one person in the world that could help him figure out what these dreams were, an old friend and mentor: Roku.

The sound of footsteps rapidly approaching echoed throughout the chamber, disrupting his concentration on the various things that needed to be done in order to restore the Fire Nation's former glory. The doors slid open and a sage from the Fire Temple entered and bowed before the desk,

"Fire Lord Zuko, there is a message for you." The sage had the scroll pointing outwards for him to take; Zuko rose and took the scroll, opening it and read its contents. He looked at the sage with curious eyes clearly he was very surprise and excited to be the bearer of the message.

"Rise, Fire Sage - -, "He said hanging on the sage's name.

"Timun, my lord."

"Fire Sage Timun, are you sure this is from him?" Timun nodded rapidly as he rose but keeping his head bowed slightly in a show of respect. Zuko ignored this and re-read the scroll not wanting to misinterpret it but it seemed like he didn't. He raised his head over to the far wall where a royal firebender was standing, looking as if not even paying attention to the conversation that was happening in front of him. He gestured to him; the guard ran to him and bowed,

"Go to Admiral Itanmi, I want him to have an Empire class vessel ready for the Avatar immediately as his escort to the Fire Temple." He ordered.

"Yes, Fire Lord." The guard said his voice held a mechanical quality to it due to the mask; he rose and ran out of the doors to enact his orders. Zuko turned back to Timun,

"Now as for you, I want you to send a message to our allies, Sokka, Suki, Katara and Toph about this; they might like to see him again."

"Yes, Fire Lord." He turned and headed for the doors when they opened admitting Mai to enter, the sage stopped and bowed.

"Fire Lady, Mai." She stopped and acknowledges him before continuing towards Zuko. He laughed a bit after seeing this, no matter what he didn't this she could be civil to anyone but this have changed ever since they got together and he became Fire Lord. He crossed the rest of the distance and embraced her in a fierce hug then covered her mouth with his; they kissed intently then pulled away as he guided her to the desk. He sat in the chair as she sat on his lap and looked at the forms that were scattered around, she saw Aang's message upside down and turned it to read its contents.

"The Avatar?" She asked.

"He needs to head to the Fire Temple for spiritual enlightment." Mai tilted her head slightly to the right as she looked into his amber eyes.

"Then why did you send the royal firebender to order Admiral Itanmi to have an Empire class vessel to be prepared for his arrival and the sage to send a message to the others?" Zuko was shocked that she knew all of that but it shouldn't really be surprising, when she wanted to Mai can sneak past anyone including an airbending monk.

"You were listening out the door, were you?" She shrugged then got off of him and walked around the desk, Zuko followed suit but remained behind the desk.

"Why do you need the help of the Avatar and his friends in the first place, you're the Fire Lord now. We can survive anything the other nations can throw at us."

"Us, yes but not the colonies in the Earth Kingdom or the outpost that are still watching the Water Tribes. There are hundreds of Fire Nation citizens that are still in those lands and they are too poorly defended if they are attacked."

"Well you still have the Navy that can watch over the Water Tribes and the Army for the Earth Kingdom in order to protect them." Zuko shook his head then slammed his hands down on the desk as his temper started getting the better of him but Mai didn't even blink let alone jump back when he did it to his advisors or Admirals.

"You're not getting it; I promise my Uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation. What you're proposing is preparation for war again!" He shouted, echoing his anger through the chamber.

"So what the others are doing it, you said yourself there are hundreds of Fire Nation citizens in the Earth Kingdom and if they're taken then they will be the aggressors and we would have a reason to fight back, in defense." She explained but Zuko lowered his head in frustration feeling the pressure of what she was saying, the War had torn the world apart.

"Mai, I can't hundreds of firebenders died while thousands of earthbenders and waterbenders and not to mention the entirety of the Air Nomads die trying to defend themselves. I won't do it, I won't restart the War after we have just ended it two years ago; the world and the Fire Nation isn't ready for something like that again," He sat down, placed a hand on his head and sighed overwhelmed. "Mai, I don't think I can be like my father nor grandfather nor great-grandfather and I won't be, I'm not plunging the Fire Nation back into war again. True, our military and navy has grown in strength but this is nothing more than a Cold War that could escalate in seconds as long as the Aang and his friends are on our side the other nations won't attack unless provoked." Mai stared at him a little longer then moved behind him and placed her arms around his neck as she kissed him and whispered,

"Alright, you don't have to tell me everything, you know."

The wind blew through her dark brown hair accompanied by smell of the ocean, Katara stood there watching the tide come in and out, the push and pull that had created the ability for her people to waterbend. It calmed her but no matter how calm she tried to get there was an emptiness in her heart, she was worried, she hadn't seen Aang since he left with Appa and Momo two years ago after their kiss. The memory played over and over in her mind, she couldn't get it out because she didn't want to because it was the only thing she had left to remember him by; she closed her eyes and breathed deeply then exhaled. She continued for several minutes trying to let go of the hurt that came with it, then the sound of a bird cawing came. It was a Fire Nation dragon hawk flying directly towards her, it landed in front of her waiting for her to take the message. Katara untied the message and read it,

From Fire Lord Zuko,

Avatar Aang his heading to the Fire Nation for a meeting in the Fire Temple.

Sage Temin.

It was simple but an unknown number of emotions swelled within her chest as she read it again to make sure she wasn't imagining it but no it was there, tears formed but she kept them from falling. Katara rolled up the message having it held tightly in her hand as she ran towards the village, the hawk followed her as she ran faster until she reached the house the people of Kyoshi Island gave Team Avatar to stay in. She bust the door open and ran in, Sokka and Suki were in the living room; Sokka polishing his 'space sword' and Suki practicing her various combat forms. While Toph ran in with her,

"Wo, where's the fire Katara?" Sokka asked, she would have laughed if she wasn't in shock. She slammed in down on the table making Sokka's sword jump up for a second, she moved her hand away to let them see. He looked at it for a moment then back at her an eyebrow raised. "What is it?"

"Look for yourself." She said, Sokka took it and opened it as he read it aloud clearing his throat comically. Tired of waiting Toph hit him in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?" He exclaimed, getting up from his seat.

"For taking so long, just read it already." Sokka grumbled as he sat back down and looked at it.

"From Fire Lord Zuko,

Avatar Aang is heading to the Fire Nation for a meeting in the Fire Temple

Sage Temin"

His eyes grew wide as he looked at his sister, she nodded slowly her eyes were filled with joy and pain. When Aang left it broke her heart into a million pieces now reading this he couldn't make fun of her now or anything because he had left a similar hole in all their hearts. Everyone was too shocked to speak and Katara was holding herself, shivers visibly appeared it was too much for all of them but more difficult for her, he stared at her for a moment then back down to the message.

"Twinkletoes is back." Toph said incredulously, she was the first one to speak up. "Should we go?" Everyone looked around confused but Katara wasn't as she took the message.

"Yes!" Everyone's head perked up as they heard this.

"Are you sure? I mean Aang left us without barely a word good bye." Suki said.

"Yes, I sure. Aang may have left us but I still love him no matter what and I want to see him again, however painful it will be." Sokka stood you and nodded his head in agreement as he placed his sword back into it sheath and swung it across his back.

"Alright, we're going get your things packed I'll send the message." Without another word Suki and Toph left to pack their things, Katara hugged her brother.

"Thank you, Sokka." He returned the hug and then let her go. She turned and went to pack her things, Sokka took a piece of paper and wrote their message to Zuko.

Zuko,

We're coming, whatever you do don't let Aang leave. There are some things that have to be resolved.

Sokka

He rolled it up and attached it to the dragon hawk's leg then went outside and it go. Everything was set into motion Team Avatar is coming back together and they would finally know why he left.

Appa growled as they entered Fire Nation territory, Aang looked down and saw a Fire Nation Cruiser but bigger with a golden bow carving directly ahead of them signaling towards him. He smirked,

"Zuko must have sent it, want to go down and check it out." Appa growled his protest. "Oh, come on, buddy, the Fire Nation isn't our enemy anymore and also don't you want rest for a while. I know you're getting hunger." Appa growled again in protest but there was resignation in his voice.

"Good boy." Aang said patting his head for a while. Appa lowered them until they landed on the Cruiser, Aang jumped off as a male and female naval officers. He was surprised that Zuko was allowing women to join the navy but a lot of things have changed since he was made Fire Lord. They bowed to him and he returned it then looked at them,

"Avatar Aang, I am Captain Retuin of the Victory, this is my second in command, Commander Masetl. We've been ordered to escort you to the Fire Temple but first we are to take you to the Fire Lord, he seemed very adamant to see you." He nodded.

"I would have guessed so. Alright, I have no choice I'm your prisoner." She said, the captain and commander chuckled as they turned.

"This way to your quarters." Aang followed her to the bowels of the ship after a few turns they reached his room and opened the room.

"I hope you find your stay comfortable." She said as she closed, leaving him alone. The room was tailored to the comforts of the Fire Nation, the seal on the wall, the unnatural feel of the metal and the hum of the engine. All Aang could do is meditate, he sat on the bed, crossed his legs in the meditative position, placed his hands on his knees palms up and breathed in and out. The world faded away with each breath, he continued feeling the four elements dance around him then he saw his friends; Sokka, Suki, Toph, Zuko and Katara he went deeper to the point where he could feel them. He focused heavily on Katara, the forbidden love he could have until the tension between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes comes to an end and the mysterious threat finally revealed. He saw the life he was to have, him being with Katara, having kids and living out the rest of their lives together but he couldn't have it. Katara seemed to have felt him and she returned the feeling, it was warm and strong but he also felt her anger, it was scary. He sent his feelings to her but it never got there as walls of fire rose between them, it broke Aang out of his meditation, he was sweating he felt like he was dying.

It was dark, he had been meditating for hours without realizing it, his breathing was heavy, he decided to go to sleep but what he felt in the trance was facing Ozai when he was releasing his Earth Chakra with Guru Pathik. He took off his shirt putting it in a chair, Aang lay down and closed his eyes, but no rest came to him for the dream came again appeared along with his greatest fear making him howl in pain.