BOOK 1: WATER
CHAPTER 2

The Southern Air Temple

The group made camp near a brook, the sky's tint darkening with night approaching. They had passed over into Earth Kingdom territory hours ago, sea traded for plains and forests as Appa soared through the air. The tribesmen marveled at the span of the world as they saw trees, dirt roads, stone buildings, mountains, great chasms, and more. They asked Aang many questions about this new world they were introduced to: what do people eat with no water around for miles? What are those buildings made of? What is stone? What are those giant triangles on the horizon? What is grass? Aang enjoyed teaching them the many things about their world, feeling only slightly awkward to be explaining something so mundane as grass to a person. Only halfway through the day did Aang decide to alter course.

"I want to visit my home. I want to see the Southern Air Temple for myself." He shook his head. "It's not that I don't believe you, but…" He looked down, unable to say the words.

Katara laid a hand on his forearm, having taken a seat beside him as he steered Appa through the air. "You have to know," she finished for him, and he nodded.

"I do." His face betrayed no emotion, but Katara could see it in his eyes. He was scared. Whether he masked it from extreme discipline or as an obligation as the Avatar, she didn't know. But she knew he was afraid. And nothing she could say would alleviate his fears.

She tried to take his mind off his worries, instead asking him about his favorite pastime or favorite foods. How he learned waterbending, and if he knew any more bending. Aang tried to keep up his enthusiasm, but Katara could tell his heart wasn't in it. She half-smiled at him sympathetically to show her support, but left him to his thoughts as she retired to the saddle with her brother. Their flight was uneventful, and Katara and Sokka grew bored of watching the world fly by them at breakneck speeds. Eventually, and to the delight of the tribesmen, the sky bison landed near a small river, the bank low enough to allow a camp, but secluded from any roads or trails by forests on all sides. Aang unsaddled Appa to give the bison a break from the harness while Katara set up camp and Sokka went to the river to fish for food.

Aang finished with Appa and let the bison wander the treeline to graze, allowing the Avatar to help Katara set up camp. He gathered firewood from deadwood along the forest floor while Katara rolled out the sleeping bags and laid out their food, rationing it based on Aang's prediction of travel time.

"The blubbered seal jerky will last a while, even in warm weather like this. We can leave that for emergencies." She set the wrapped pieces of meat aside as she looked at Sokka fishing in the river. "We'll have to eat the fish as we catch it. If we keep near rivers or streams, we shouldn't have a problem with food." She looked up at Aang as she explained the finer points of cuisine. "Meat didn't go bad so fast at the South Pole, but I don't imagine that's the case here."

Aang grimaced as he shook his head. "It won't last long at all. Though I'm sure the jerky will last you longer than you suspect." She cocked her head at him as he explained, "I'm a vegetarian."

"Really?" Katara asked, and Aang nodded. "Alright. Well, most of our food consisted of meat. I'm not sure I can really help you there. I don't even know what plants are edible around here."

Aang looked around as he put his hands on his hips. "I'll find something to eat. I've known what to look for all my life."

Katara nodded with a smile. "Alright. If you need any help, just ask." With that, Aang set out to find edible flora while Katara waited for Sokka to bring her fish to prepare. By the time the sun had set beyond the treelines, Aang had returned, his hands full of nuts, berries, and some fruits indigenous to the forest. Katara and Sokka were well into their meal, each eating a fish cooked on a spit over a fire. Appa had eaten his fill of grass and was curled up along the beach, asleep.

The three ate in silence, though it was a different kind of silence for each. Sokka was comfortable with the silence, content to eat in peace as he let his mind wander. Katara was trying to muster courage to ask Aang to teach her waterbending, along with just trying to get to know him better. Aang was terrified of what he might find at the Air Temple, knowing it was unhealthy to worry, but unable to stop all the same.

Katara noticed Aang was still scared of what was awaiting him at the Air Temple, and decided to do something about it. She had finished eating a while ago and had watched Aang as he, too finished eating, and now sat staring at the fire. "Aang?" she asked. "Are you alright?"

Aang looked up, startled. "Oh, yes. I'm fine." He smiled at her, but Katara remained unconvinced.

"You're scared, aren't you?"

Aang looked away, ashamed. "I shouldn't be," he said in a small voice.

Katara stared sadly at him as she considered his age. Only twenty years old and already shouldering the largest burden a man could carry. On top of the responsibilities he had to keep the peace in the world, he lived with a fear of his entire race being wiped out. Katara truthfully didn't know if the Air Nomads were wiped out in the attack, but she had never seen one as long as she lived—not before Aang. She didn't want to believe they were extinct, but logic seemed to point to an ugly truth. It was enough for any one man—no matter how much power he held—to feel lost and completely alone.

"You can be, though." She laid a hand on his arm. "The Avatar has just as much right to feel as a normal human being. How else can he make the right choices for the world unless he feels as the people do?" She saw Aang smile at her words and hoped they brought him some comfort. "I know it's not going to make you feel better, but Sokka and I are here for you." She looked at her brother. "Right, Sokka?"

"Of course," the warrior replied with a nod. "Katara's right. You have to care as much as everyone else. Even more so. Where we usually wouldn't think twice, you must have thought it out a third time." He looked into the fire as he gestured to it. "Consider the Fire Nation. Katara and I hate the Fire Nation with a passion. I know it's wrong to do so, but what they did to my family is all I can think about when I think of them." He looked at Aang. "You, on the other hand, must find reasons to love them, because they're a part of this world. When we refuse to care about the Fire Nation anymore, you must still care. How else can that race be saved?" Having said his piece, he resumed sharpening his club with his whetstone, and Katara turned back to Aang.

"That pretty much says it." She smiled as she patted Aang's arm. "Aang, if there's anything I can do, just let me know." She meant it sincerely, and Aang smiled at her to let her know he knew it.

"Your presence is enough," he said simply. He suddenly stood and beckoned to Katara. "Perhaps some waterbending would ease my mind." At this, Katara's face lit up.

"Really?!" she asked, and Aang nodded his head with a smile. "Yes!" she said, fist pumped in the air, and Aang laughed at her excitement. He beckoned her to the beach, stripping off his clothes as he did so.

"We airbenders wear loose clothing for meditation. It helps us focus and keeps us comfortable. Your kimono may be a bit bulky, so you might want to consider removing it. You'll want to be comfortable." He smiled to himself he removed all but his undergarments and placed the clothes neatly on the beach far enough away that they wouldn't get wet from stray waterbending. He watched as Katara removed her own clothing, down to her undergarments, and decided that, though he didn't know Katara really well, she had a fierce determination about her, but seemed to have a strong morality. She didn't show discomfort at the thought of removing her clothes in front of him, at least not outwardly, and he didn't once see her ogle his body. He returned the same respect, only looking at her face.

He stepped into the water, going no further than ankle-deep, and sat down, the water cool against his skin. He crossed his legs in a common meditative stance, hands resting on his calves and beckoned for her to do the same. As she also crossed her legs, he began.

"To truly bend any spirit, you must first find stability and harmony within yourself. The body harbors an innate energy capable of amazing feats of strength, called chi. This chi is the key to bending any element. Without recognizing and controlling your chi, you can never waterbend."

"You've already experienced tapping into your chi, if you can waterbend to any extent. How good you are at waterbending depends on how you manipulate and control your chi. You, as a waterbender, will manipulate your chi differently from an airbender, earthbender, or firebender. All you have to do is recognize the chi within yourself, and then discover how to manipulate it. Doing this will make you a proper waterbender."

Katara nodded. "Alright. I'm ready."

Aang nodded and closed his eyes. "Look deep inside yourself, at the core of your very being. An energy inside you burns with the strength of a thousand suns, simply begging to be let out, and yet your subconsciousness is afraid to let out this energy. Once you unlock it, there is no going back. The bender within you craves this energy, but the human within you simply wants to lead a normal life. This is a decision you, a bender or a human, must make now. Do you simply lead a normal life, where you can be happy and carefree? Or do you take on the role of a bender, where you will, in some small way, be responsible for the fate of the world?"

He was silent for a time, waiting for a response from Katara, and as the waterbending searched her inner self for her chi, he began meditating himself. Katara focused on her core, the energy she felt when she was angry, sad, or joyful, as she knew that was the feeling Aang was telling her about. It was responsive to extreme emotion, she knew, but often uncontrolled in such events. She needed to find it…and control it.

As she searched for it, her thoughts turned to what Aang had said about being a bender or normal human. She knew what he meant about ignoring her bending capabilities and being a normal human. It was pretty self-explanatory. But what he had said about being a bender made her somehow responsible for the fate of the world was troubling. What did he mean? Was she really to have that big of an impact? How did he know? Did he even know what he was talking about? He must, being the Avatar and all! Maybe it wasn't meant in the scope she was thinking. Perhaps she was to influence people through waterbending, if she were to become one. Somehow, she would influence people, who would influence others base on her actions, and so on and so forth. It was a giant scope to be sure, and it was certainly looking at a bigger picture than she was accustomed to… But she smiled inwardly at the idea of bringing good to the world through waterbending. She could use waterbending to help Aang, first of all. Bringing balance to the world was definitely a good thing worthy of learning the bending arts. But even if she could help another human being with her abilities, it would be worth it. Smiling physically at this revolution, she decided that, no matter what it took, she would learn what it meant to be a waterbender.

Almost at once, she felt a sudden pulse of energy through her body, one so strong it made her gasp. "Aang!" she cried out, and she looked at the airbender as he smiled at her. "I think I've found it."

The airbender nodded. "You've discovered the responsibilities of a bender, and their responsibilities to the world." He smiled even wider. "It's an intoxicating experience, one that you will never forget. In unlocking your chi, you can use it to manipulate your respective element in all its forms." He held up a finger. "For now, though, I want you to continue meditating on your chi. Become familiar with it. Feel it coursing through your body, and when you can feel it at your scalp as well as your toes, we'll continue with the next step." He closed his eyes and began meditating once more, and though she was excited to be one step closer to waterbending, Katara understood the wisdom behind Aang's words and closed her eyes as well.

For the next hour, the two meditated together, clearing their minds of distraction and focusing on energy; Katara meditated on the energy within her, learning it inside and out. Aang felt and embraced the energies pouring around him: the water, the trees, the rocks, Katara, Appa, Sokka, the dying campfire, the fish within the stream, and so much more around him. He also, through use of his Avatar spirit, watched Katara's spirit, the energy within her growing as she pulled at it and gave it strength. He smiled inwardly, knowing she had a good grasp on her chi already, and knew she would be a fine waterbender someday, if not a master.

Finally, Aang decided they had meditated enough, drawing out of his trance and standing to stretch his muscles. He noticed that the sun had completely set by now, and guessed they had been at it for a couple of hours. Katara snapped from hers as well and looked up. "I think I've got it, Aang."

Aang nodded, smiling. "I know you do." He chuckled slightly. "Being the Avatar, I'm especially sensitive to spirits. Yours felt like it was waking up for the first time since birth." He helped her up. "Waterbending is really easy from here on out, at least in principle. It's all about controlling the chi and guiding it throughout the paths in your body, as well as controlling the intensity you direct the chi. You'll learn that, as you control the chi, you can control the water, and how you control your chi is how you control the water."

Katara nodded. "So, since waterbending is graceful, if I use my chi forcefully, it won't produce the desired effect?"

Aang nodded. "Right, actually! If you use quick, but graceful and elegant motions for your body and your chi, the water will respond. As you grow in ability, you'll discover ways to manipulate your chi outside normal waterbending techniques, ways to waterbend aggressively, and with sudden power. That will have to be something you learn on your own. I can't teach you that." He looked at Sokka as the warrior stood watch, a feeling of gratitude welling up inside him. Sokka didn't even ask if they needed a guard, and kept watch without protest. Aang beckoned Katara to follow him back to the campsite and walked up the beach, calling out Sokka's name as he crossed from sand to grass. "Thanks for keeping watch." He bowed, his hands forming a sign of apology. "I'm sorry we took so long."

Sokka chuckled. "It was my pleasure, Aang." He looked at Katara. "Any progress?"

Katara nodded excitedly. "I've discovered my chi, the root of my bending. All I have to do is strengthen it, and waterbending will be within my grasp."

Sokka smiled, genuinely pleased to hear her confidence in waterbending. "That's great! I hope you'll continue to improve."

Aang stepped up to Sokka, noting the man's droopy eyelids. "You should sleep." He turned to Katara. "We all should. We should make it to the Southern Air Temple by tomorrow afternoon, so we have a bit of flying ahead of us. We need to be at our best." The two tribesmen nodded at him, and they each went to their respective beds: Sokka and Katara, their sleeping bags; Aang, Appa. Within moments, all three, exhausted from the day's ordeal, slept.


The air smelled of salt, and was comfortingly cool against Iroh's skin as the old man leaned over the starboard side of the ship. A breeze tickled his beard and he smiled at the tranquility of the scene as the boat plowed through the waves with the grace of a waterbender.

If only his nephew could appreciate the beauty of the moment. He shook his head, though. The only moment Zuko was devoting attention to was his failure to capture the Avatar. Iroh looked over at his nephew, the twenty-five year old staring out at the ocean from the bow, knowing that the boy was seething with rage at his failure. Iroh walked up to Zuko, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder in empathy.

"Zuko," he began, ignoring the gesture as Zuko shrugged his hand away. "There will be another chance for you to regain your honor."

"That was my chance, Uncle," Zuko shot back venomously. "The Avatar knows we search for him now. He will be on guard. The search just became ten times more difficult." He gritted his teeth. "I should have been more subtle! Trying to plow through the Water Tribe's wall was too reckless!"

Iroh nodded. "True. But now we know who the Avatar is." Zuko turned to Iroh, surprise etched on his face and Iroh laughed. "He is an airbender. Perhaps the last airbender."

"I don't see where that leaves us, Uncle," Zuko said unconvinced.

"It leaves the Avatar little place to hide." Iroh grinned. "Just how many airbenders have we seen in recent years?"

At once, Zuko got it. "None. My great-grandfather wiped them out at the start of the war." He smiled. "Perhaps this has put us farther ahead than I thought."

"Right!" Iroh said, smiling. "There's always a silver lining, nephew!"

Zuko smiled at the thought of finding the Avatar again, but his smile quickly faded as his memories turned to the Avatar's power. "But he's so powerful." Zuko turned to Iroh. "He even defeated you, Uncle." He looked back at the sea, lost in doubt. "Even if I could find him, what chance do we have of defeating such power?"

Iroh sighed as he leaned on the railing, the breeze caressing his face gently. "Prince Zuko, there will be times in your life when you are afraid. You will fear something or someone so greatly, that you will gladly trade your honor and reputation for survival. It may be a person, a battle, it may be your wedding in the future, the birth of your child, it may be another confrontation with the Avatar... It may even be a discovery that could shake the very foundations of your upbringing." He looked at the prince, and Zuko turned to look at his uncle questioningly as Iroh continued. "It is during those times that you truly become your own man. When you make your own decisions despite the fear you feel in your heart. Remember: the only time a man can truly be brave is when he is confronted with his greatest fear."

Zuko shook his head in disbelief. "Why are you telling me this, Uncle?"

Iroh sighed at his nephew's impatience. "I believe you'll need that advice someday."

Whatever Zuko thought to say, Iroh never found out. A soldier interrupted them, informing them of the ship's approach to Zhao Harbor.

"Good," Iroh exclaimed. "We can resupply and continue our search for the Avatar."

Zuko nodded, eyes distant as he remembered the Avatar disabling him a few days ago. He vowed to bring the man to his father's knees, no matter how powerful he was.

Prince Zuko and General Iroh stepped off the ramp onto Zhao Harbor, the port so aptly named after its owner, Captain Zhao. It was a magnificent structure, a bragging right to the Fire Nation on such a fine harbor, but Prince Zuko didn't care for architecture at the moment. He walked off the boat swiftly, making for the VIP tents that were set up for important people—like himself—to wait for their crew to finish business at the harbor. General Iroh followed behind him, old age hampering his ability to keep up. Prince Zuko might have shown compassion to his uncle, had his pride not been burned by the Avatar's escape from his clutches. "Uncle, I want the resupplying finished as soon as possible. I don't want to stay on these docks for too long and risk losing his trail."

"You mean the Avatar, right?" Iroh commented carelessly, his mind preoccupied with the smell his nose detecting coming from the east part of the docks. It smelled of roasted pig…or perhaps beef. He jerked back in surprise as Zuko thrust his face at his, eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Don't mention his name while we're here! I won't have the entire Fire Nation learning of the truth and robbing me of my prize."

"And what prize would that be, Zuko?" a cold voice said from behind them, and Prince Zuko turned to see a stout man walking towards them, clad in the armor of a high-ranking veteran of the war. He was losing his hair, what little he had pulled back into a topknot, and his sideburns were much like his uncle's, extending down to his chin. His eyes, the yellow irises marking him as a Firebender, were as cold and calculating as his voice, and they didn't mask the contempt the man had for Zuko.

"Captain Zhao," Zuko uttered, his voice dripping in condescension.

"Commander, now," Zhao said smugly, smiling a smile that was evil even to Zuko. He looked to Iroh, his face taking on the look of respect as he bowed to the elder man. "And General Iroh, respected hero of our nation."

Iroh bowed back at the man as he answered, "Retired, Commander."

Zhao smiled at Iroh before looking at Zuko. "The Fire Lord's son and brother are welcome guests any time. What brings you to my harbor?"

"Supplies," Iroh said as he waved a robed hand at the ship, where even now, crewmen were disembarking to gather the necessary equipment they would need for another long trek in the ocean. "We were running low on food that didn't squirm when you tried to gut it, so I convinced my nephew here to dock at your harbor." Iroh smiled at Zhao warmly. "I hear your harbor makes a special tea that soothes the bones." Zhao chuckled as he nodded, and Iroh grinned widely. "Might I be so bold as to ask for some?"

Zhao nodded, beckoning the two to follow him. "Of course. I'm sure we have some tea in stock. Perhaps a nice meal to go with your drink while you wait." He looked at Zuko pointedly as he continued. "Maybe we can share stories of our adventures while your ship is resupplied."

Zuko glared at Zhao. "Yes…Perhaps."


The sun had risen past the treelines by the time the team was ready to depart the campsite. Sokka speared a few more fish to last him and Katara the rest of the journey, and Aang collected enough flora to eat until they reached the temple. As the tribesmen collected their things and put them into Appa's saddle, Aang dispersed the campfire with sandbending. It caught both tribesmen off-guard, with Katara particularly interested in it. Aang simply gestured to the earth in a clutching motion, and the sand rose up and swallowed the campfire, all traces of their being there hidden in the sand.

"That's impressive," Sokka commented. "I've never seen that before. Was that earthbending?"

Aang nodded. "A form of it. Sand is harder to manipulate than solid earth, so I doubt many earthbenders would know it." He smiled. "It took me a few years to truly master it."

Sokka nodded, satisfied, but Katara replied with a question of her own. "Do you know all the bending arts?"

Aang nodded. "I mastered all four bending arts by the time I was sixteen."

Katara's eyes grew wide. "Including firebending?" Aang nodded, and Katara grew concerned. "Isn't that...dangerous?"

Aang shrugged. "All bending is dangerous if used improperly." He began handing Sokka their supplies as Katara simply stared at him. She eventually realized she was staring and, hiding her blush, mounted Appa's saddle. Aang watched her as she settled into the saddle, knowing she would be uncomfortable with firebending for a while, and wondered how he could eventually convince her of firebending's necessity. That, of course, brought on bigger questions for Aang. Was the Fire Nation simply a tool being used by an evil man? Had the entire nation been corrupted? If not, if the race itself was still preserved, then how would he convince the entire world of that? Could he even convince the two people he traveled with of the nation's innocence, simply a people following a corrupt leader?

He pushed the thoughts out of his head for now, content on simply discovering the fate of his people after nearly a hundred years of his absence. Not really content, he thought to himself. More like apprehensive. He jumped onto Appa's head gracefully, grabbing the reigns as he urged the bison forward. "Yip yip!" With a roar, the bison took off into the air, heading for the Southern Air Temple.

They had flown for most of the day, stopping midday near a stream to allow Appa to rest and to practice on Katara's waterbending. Aang continued to have her meditate on her chi, but began to teach her the basics of waterbending. "It's all in the sway of the hips and the arms." He showed her, swaying his hips as he waved his arms fluidly. "The hips swaying make the torso follow, and the entire fluidity of the motion feels natural." Katara practiced with the few forms he had taught her, noticing with excitement that the water was responding to her movements. Aang only stopped their lessons when Katara could twirl water around her with a spin, before shooting the water at him with a thrust of her hand. "That's enough for today. You're really getting the hang of this." He smiled at her as he waterbent the water into their waterskins before depositing the rest in Appa's mouth, the bison growling its approval. "If I wasn't so rushed to get to my home, I'd practice more with you."

Katara smiled as she replaced her clothes, leaving the anorak in the saddle in favor of her blue short-sleeved kimono. "No, it's fine. That's more important than waterbending right now." She finished tying her sash around her waist as Aang also finished tying his, having replaced all his clothes as well. She thrust her feet through her mukluks as Aang walked up to her, crouching down to her level.

"I want to thank you for coming with me," he said. "If my people are truly gone…" he stopped, and Katara placed a hand on his arm.

"We'll find out when we get there." She had put on both boots and stood, pulling him up. "It's best not to think about it right now."

Aang looked down on her, the airbender standing a few inches taller than her, and nodded. "Perhaps it is." He gently pulled his hands away from hers and the three friends mounted Appa, taking off into the air again. The next time they stopped was at the Southern Air Temple, the structure still as magnificent as Aang remembered it. They passed the Patola Mountain Range before the temple came within view, and when it did, all three, even Aang, found their breath caught in their throat.

"Wow…" Katara whispered, and Aang felt himself puff up with pride at her awed expression. "This is your home?"

Aang nodded. "This is it. The Southern Air Temple."

The Southern Air Temple was a magnificent structure built on the carved-out space of a mountain. Blue, elaborately decorated spires stretched into the sky, and a huge, winding road was carved out of the mountain itself leading to the facility, but most of the structure was hidden beneath parts of mountain, the temple having been built into the mountainside for protection as well as camouflage. Aang felt a pang of heartache as he saw the facility, knowing that, even if Katara and Sokka were wrong and his people had survived, it was doubtful any of his friends would be alive. Even Monk Gayatso would have passed by now. Aang sighed fearfully as Appa flew closer, the bison remembering home when he saw it. The bison flew over the temple as he made his way to the stables, Aang needing not direct him, and Aang looked down across the open parts of the temple to see that not a single person was visible. Discouraged, he returned his gaze to the front, waiting for Appa to land. He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew it was Katara, smiling with gratitude at the waterbender's continued support.

Appa landed among the stables, rock pillars separating the stalls that the bison would lay in, and in one instant, Aang knew that Katara and Sokka were right.

The stable was filled with skeletons of humans and bison alike. Aang gasped, his eyes wide as he looked among the stables, every skeleton bringing further pain to his heart. Appa howled and moaned uncomfortably, knowing the skeletons for what they were. The bison backed away from the scene, eyes wild with fright, and Aang snapped from his trance to reign in the bison with whispers of encouragement. The airbender leapt off the bison, landing with feline grace and simply stared at the scene, unable to believe what he was seeing. Katara and Sokka were right. The Fire Nation had wiped out his people. The bones of the bison and people were blackened, as if burned by an incredible heat, and as Aang looked, he saw more skeletons outfitted in rusting armor that looked like the uniform of Fire Nation soldiers from his time. His vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes, and he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to see Sokka standing there, the warrior's eyes somber and understanding.

"We've seen enough if you'd like to leave."

Aang shook his head. "No. I have to see everything." He turned back to the stables, taking a deep breath. "I have to see what has happened to my people. I have to see the extent of the crime the Fire Nation committed against my people."

"Aang," Katara said, walking up beside him. "Are you sure? It may only cause you more pain."

Aang nodded. "I know. But I have to see." He walked forward without waiting for a response, and the two tribesmen followed him silently, afraid to say anything.

The three walked the temple corridors at Aang's pace, skeletons of fallen airbenders littering the floor. Their positioning gave insight into their final moments. Some hugged each other, some looked as if they were running from something, some looked as if they had been blown back by some force. As they continued, Katara noticed a horrifying sight that she at once hoped Aang had missed: some walls were blackened as if by fire, a silhouette of a human form burned into the wall. Some forms looked as if they were cringing in terror, hands up in a futile defense against an enemy's onslaught. Aang's gaze lingered on every skeleton that he passed, but he never once stared at the walls, and Katara silently prayed he wouldn't notice.

Aang finally stopped at the foot of a statue of a man, and Katara guessed he knew him by the way Aang looked longingly at the statue. "Who's this?" Katara asked.

"This was my mentor," Aang said. "Monk Gayatso. Since I didn't know my real parents, he was a father figure to me." Aang smiled sadly. "He taught me everything I know, from martial arts to airbending to making fruit pies." Aang pondered at some memory of his past, and Katara and Sokka could only guess what he was remembering. Aang turned to them, eyes distant. "He was the second strongest airbender in the world at the time."

"Who was the strongest?" Katara asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Aang looked at her. "I was. I am…" He looked down at nothing, his mind elsewhere for a time, before eventually looking back up and beckoning the two to follow him. "I have to see one more thing." The two didn't ask, merely following the airbender as the man walked through the evidence of his people's genocide, staying strong for the sake of the world in light of the overwhelming sadness threatening to break him down.


"And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se, will be under the Fire Lord's rule." Commander Zhao turned to look at his two guests, proud of the victory planned for the Fire Nation. The battle plans were largely his brainchild. He was honored the Fire Lord had given it great consideration and had decided to use it as the winning strategy. He wondered how it felt for the prince to see that a commander's voice was louder to the Fire Lord than his own son's.

As he thought, Prince Zuko hated the plan. "If my father thinks that the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zuko turned his gaze to Zhao as the man smiled smugly at the prince's outburst. "And you are a fool for believing that Ba Sing Se will fall so easily. The wall has only been breached once, and then it took a man more capable than you."

Zhao frowned as Iroh smiled, the statement an insult for the former and a compliment for the latter. "Ten years at sea have done little to temper your tongue." Zhao glared at Zuko as the latter refused to comment, simply content to drink his tea. Eventually, Zhao smiled coldly. "So, how goes your search for the Avatar? Any luck?"

"We haven't found him," Zuko answered dejectedly, and Zhao smiled evilly at Zuko's failure.

"Did you really expect to? The Avatar has been dead for over one hundred years, along with the rest of the airbenders." He didn't miss Zuko's thoughtful look at the mention of this, and Zhao considered the prince more carefully. "Unless you've found some evidence that confirms the Avatar is still alive…?"

Just as expected, the prince shook his head. "No. I'm beginning to think this errand Father sent me on years ago was simply to remove me from his presence entirely."

Zhao shook his head as he stood. "Perhaps. But that doesn't change anything. The Avatar is the only being capable of stopping the Fire Nation from ruling the world." He leaned in closer to Zuko, his voice dangerous as he continued. "If you have an ounce of loyalty left to your nation, you'll tell me what you've found."

Zuko glared at Zhao as he replied, "I haven't found anything." He stood, his face a foot from Zhao's as he wordlessly challenged him to deny his claim. "It's like you said. The Avatar must have died a long time ago." Zuko and Zhao held each other's gaze for a moment before Zuko stepped away, beckoning his uncle to follow. Even as he did so, Zhao noticed a soldier had entered the confines of the tent and was awaiting an opportunity to report to him. Zuko neither noticed nor cared as he looked at Iroh. "C'mon Uncle. We're leaving. The crew has had plenty of time to resupply." As he made to pass between the guards flanking the tent flaps, they crossed lances, refusing him passage. The soldier took this as the opportunity to address Zhao.

"Commander Zhao, we've interrogated the crew as you instructed." Zhao smiled coldly as he noticed Zuko's eyes widened. The soldier continued. "They confirmed the Avatar is alive. Prince Zuko and General Iroh attempted to apprehend the Avatar, but he was too strong. He overwhelmed eight firebenders, including the general and the prince, before disabling their ship long enough to escape."

At this, Zhao frowned. He had been expecting a blunder on the prince's part, but the prince had apparently come through. At least, he had attempted to capture the Avatar. And Iroh was still a respected member of the royal family, as well as one of the most powerful firebenders alive. If he was unable to stop the Avatar, perhaps Zhao could work with them to find and disable the Avatar next time. It would benefit him if he did so, as he would gain favor with the prince in the event the Fire Lord allowed him to return home, and if he failed, he could blame the prince for their failure.

Zhao looked to Zuko as the prince's shoulders slouched. "There's no shame in admitting defeat, young prince. A wise man knows his limits. A stronger man exceeds them so he will not lose a second time." The prince looked at Zhao as the latter gestured for him to sit. "If you are to have any hope of capturing the Avatar, you'll need more men than your ship currently holds. And I'm ready to offer my services to bring this criminal under heel to save our great nation, and to restore your honor."


Aang stared silently at the skeleton in front of him, his eyes not wanting to see, but his mind already having made the connection. The skeleton had tattered remains of airbender robes draped across its bones, but the one artifact that marked the identity of the remains was the necklace that was hung around the shoulders. Called a "Mala," it was a string of beads the Head Monk would use to count prayers during the Morning Meditation with all the airbender students of the monastery. In the middle of the beads hung a wooden circle, the airbender symbol painted on the front. Seeing the mala, Aang knew who this was.

Gayatso.

The skeletal remains of the head monk of the monastery was surrounded with the skeletons of Fire Nation soldiers, great rents in their armor. Aang knew that, though Gayatso had valued life above all else, he had killed these men in the interest of preserving the Air Nomads. Though the firebenders were made extraordinarily strong because of the comet, Gayatso had taken at least a dozen or more soldiers with him before he succumbed to their attacks. Aang allowed himself to feel a small amount of pride at that, but that pride was soon overwhelmed with an incredible sadness that his friend and mentor had died in battle rather than of old age, as he always suspected he would. Even worse, Aang hadn't been able to stop it. If he had been here instead of on an ambassadorial trip to the Southern Water Tribe, he might have been able to stop this war in the very beginning.

Though sadness threatened to overwhelm him, he forced his feelings down, knowing that though Gayatso and the other airbenders were gone, they had gone on to a better place, watching over him from the Spirit Realm. He smiled at the memories he and Gayatso had shared, resolving to remember those memories in place of this sight. Aang picked his way across the skeletal remains of the Fire Nation soldiers, making his way to his mentor's corpse as Katara and Sokka watched in sadness. The airbender knelt at the remains of the Head Monk, bowing his head and forming a sign of eternal respect with his hands. He uttered a short, Air Nomad prayer before gently removing the mala from around Gayatso's neck. "I will represent our people as you would have, mentor," Aang said, bowing his head in deference again before rising and walking back to the two Water Tribesmen. He stopped before them, staring at the mala for a moment before placing around his neck. He looked at both of them as he sighed sadly. "I suppose I truly am the last of the airbenders." Though he controlled his sorrow, a single tear escaped his eyes, sliding down his cheek.

Katara, on instinct, wrapped Aang in an embrace, one the airbender returned with fervor. "I'm sorry," was all she said, knowing there wasn't anything to say. Sokka placed his hand on Aang's shoulder to show support for the airbender, and Aang pulled away from Katara, nodding at both of them with gratitude.

"I'm thankful for your support." He sighed. "There's nothing for me here now." He looked back at Gayatso before turning to Katara and Sokka. "Let's go. I've seen enough of this place." The three returned to Appa, the sky bison readily accepting them on his back before turning to take off into the air. As they left behind the Southern Air Temple, Aang looked back one more time, knowing he wouldn't return home for a long time. As the temple faded from view, he turned back to steering Appa, his thoughts lingering on the Fire Nation. What they had done, his inner self screamed for vengeance. But another part of him knew he should forgive. An Avatar bent on hatred wouldn't bring balance back to the world. And there was every possibility the nation itself was innocent, acting only under the rule of a corrupt Fire Lord. Aang resolved to discover the truth behind the Fire Nation's sudden and violent transformation since he last knew them. He would restore the balance.

No matter the cost.