Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the Four Nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an Airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world.

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER

Created by

Michael Dante DiMartino

&

Brian Konietzko

Book 4- Air

Chapter 1- The Banished Princess

It was cold, dark and damp, not something the new Fire Lord wanted to feel. But Zuko ignored the discomfort because the dungeon was the only place where he could get answers. He looked down at the prisoner before him and found it hard to believe that this mere shell was once a powerful man. The prisoner glanced at the Fire Lord. "I guess I should count myself lucky that the new Fire Lord would grace me with his presence," he hissed.

"You should consider yourself lucky that the Avatar spared your life!" Zuko countered. I know I wouldn't have, he thought as he studied the former Phoenix King. "Your banishing me was the best thing that ever happened to me. It set me on the right path," said Zuko. "Maybe your time in here will do the same for you." Ozai glared at his son. "Why are you really here?" he demanded. Zuko leaned forward until he was face to face with his father and replied, "Because you're going to tell me something. WHERE IS MY MOTHER?"

"I told you during the eclipse that I banished her," answered the former Phoenix King. "I know that you banished her!" the Fire Lord shouted. "What I want to know is where she is!" Ozai looked his son in the eye, and then asked, "Did you really think that I would just let her vanish? She knew how far I was willing to go to steal Iroh's birthright, and she knew how far I'd go to keep it!" Zuko's eyes went wide, as he feared what his father would say next. Seeing his son's reaction, Ozai let a small sneer creep across his lips. "I couldn't let her tell the truth about how I became Fire Lord, how she killed Azulon to save you. So, I had her assassinated."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Zuko bolted up. Confused and disoriented, he looked around the dark room he was in. Then, he looked down and saw his wife asleep beside him. Zuko got out of bed and walked to the balcony to look at the stars. There's so many of them, he thought. He liked watching the stars, especially when he needed to calm down. That bastard! I should have killed you when I had the chance! I should have burned clean through his throat! But Uncle stopped me. "No Fire Lord Zuko! This is not the way to restore the Fire nation's honor!" I didn't want to listen to him, I just wanted to plunge my blade of fire through his heart and neck and watch the life drain away from his eyes. "Zuko, there has been enough bloodshed in the world. Don't put blood on your hands out of vengeance."

"Hard to believe three years ago this used to be a war zone," a voice behind him said. Startled and yanked back to the present, Zuko spun around to find-"Mai! What are you doing up?" "I was going to ask you the same thing," said the Fire Lady. Zuko started to give her some lame excuse, but he knew she could read him like a book. He turned back to the stars and told her, "I couldn't sleep. Sorry if I woke you." "Your absence woke me," she said.

She draped her arms around her husband's shoulders. "Thinking about your mother?" she asked. "Yeah," he said. "I still can't believe my own father could kill her." "I can," said Mai. Zuko turned around and shot her a hurt and betrayed look. "Zuko, Ozai was a cruel and evil man. You know what he did to people who failed him." Zuko's hand shot up and touched his scar. "And we've been searching all over the world for her. Even the Avatar and the Kyoshi Warriors couldn't find her," Mai continued. Zuko sighed. "I know, it's just that, I mean, I never saw her die. I keep expecting her to just walk in the door one day. It just doesn't feel like she's really gone."

"Zuko, I know it hurts, but your mother isn't coming back." Mai said. Zuko lowered his eyes and started to turn away. Mai knew that look, so she pulled him back and forced him to look her in the eye. "I know you think that you let your mother down, that you failed her, but there was nothing you could do about it-" "I could've searched for her instead of hunting the Avatar!" Zuko interrupted. "No, you couldn't Zuko. She was already dead by the time you were exiled!" Mai shouted.

Seeing how hurt he was, she gave him a warm, tender kiss, then told him, "I know if I were to go missing, I wouldn't worry because I know you'd find me." "I wouldn't rest until I had, even if it took me the rest of my life," Zuko promised her. They leaned in and shared a long, passionate kiss. When they broke for air, Mai slowly began to lead Zuko back to their room. "Come back to bed, Zuko," she said. "I don't know Mai, I can't sleep right now." Mai leaned in close and flashed Zuko a mischievous smile and whispered, "who said anything about sleeping?"

Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Mike DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, and Nickelodeon