Chapter 1

Aang slowly woke up, and he found out that his hands were chained to a wall. He felt weak, too weak to even move. Aang looked around with his blurred eyesight, and discovered that he was imprisoned in a dungeon like room. He looked closely in a corner and made out a skull. Shivers ran through his spine as he thought of the current fate of the world. He did not want to, but had to blame Katara for this. Surrendering at such a time was to change everything. He wondered what the leader of the joint freedom fighters, Forjan would think of it. They would all blame him, and he would be recognized as a failure. All because of Katara's foolish and unhealthy decision…..thought Aang.

Soon, he fell asleep, but was woken up by the noise of footsteps.

He is awake! Shall we take him to the Master?

Yeah, he can't even bend his hands in that state! Hahahaa

Aang couldn't make out the faces of the figures, but he recognized their outfits. They were the same from his previous fight. The two men unlocked Aang's chains and dragged him along the hard floor towards a location which Aang expected to be dreadful. He tried to speak, but only faint sounds escaped his mouth. One of the men looked at him and declared loudly –

So, the drugs worked on you eh Avatar?

But the great Avatar can fight his way out can't he? After all, bending is his thing right?!

What is your name you little brat?!

Aang couldn't make out most of the words being exchanged, but he ignored the men. Soon, sunlight fell upon Aang, and it almost blinded him. Suddenly, he felt hungry as if he had not eaten for days. He expected nothing more.

Soon, they came to a room with huge doors. One of the men knocked heavily in a strange pattern. The doors immediately swung open and Aang found two soldiers pointing fire at him. It indicated to him not to try anything, and he knew that he would not, and also, he could not try to attempt such a feat at that situation. The room was richly furnished and the hard ground changed to a soft one. Aang saw statues of previous Fire Lords on each side of the great room. In front of him, he saw what he thought he would never see again. Katara was near the leader of the group which previously attacked him, and she was wearing a Fire Nation outfit. There were many guards around and Aang recognized the one whom he fought with previously.

Welcome Avatar! I thought you would never make it here. I guess you would have many questions that would need answering. Well, I will be glad to help you with that, specially when you have lost the strength to bend!

K...K….Katara!

Aang said the name with grief and hatred combined, and he didn't know how Katara could have done such a thing.

Aang!

Katara exclaimed and ran towards him. But soldiers came immediately and prevented her from getting nearer. The leader stepped forward and continued his speech towards Aang.

So that is your name! Aang! What can that possibly mean? Anyway…Aang, about this whole thing, I am Heden, Ozai's stepson!

WHAT!?

Surprised eh Avatar!? Let me explain. After Ursa gave birth to Zuko, Ozai secretly married another woman, my mother, Jayna. She gave birth to me long before Azula was born, and Ozai had a good purpose for making me his greatest asset. He knew that the rule of the Fire Nation could not last long, and he wanted me to kill you IF you managed to defeat him. I was given the best training anybody could ever get, and soon, I surpassed the skills of my own father….the 'great fire lord' hahahaa

I was to lead a secret force, destined to take control of the world again if the Fire Nation lost to the other nations. And here I am, with a captured Avatar and a powerful enough army to fight the so-called Freedom Fighters! I always knew that all the Air Benders could not have been killed in Sozin's attacks. Now, I am going to declare to give us back the Fire Nation's cities back, or the Avatar shall die! Also Aang, capturing you was made easier with the help of your beautiful 'girlfriend' Katara! Hahahaa! Well, you can say goodbye to her forever, because this might be the last time you would see her. Also, you might be wondering where we are right now……well, that is a secret…..Avatar!

Wait, Heden, let me speak to Aang for a few minutes, only once…

No Katara! Why would I want to speak to you after what you have done!? You have ruined everything! I don't know how I could forgive you and also, how the people of the world would forgive me!

No Aang! It is not the way how you think it is! This is all wrong! Just let me….

Enough! Shut up water bender. Guards, take the Avatar back to his cell. Everybody, leave! I want a privat word with Katara.

Aang then saw the men drag him away from the room and then back towards his so-called cell, where he knew that he would not survive for long.

Meanwhile, back at Heden's room, he stepped towards Katara and smiled at her. He brushed his hand against her cheek and Katara shrugged with distaste. Heden held her hips and brought her closer to him. Katara looked away with a frown on her face. She trembled with anger.

Katara, what's wrong? Why are you reacting like that? Aang couldn't protect you. Anyway, I am a better man for a beautiful young lady like you. Don't look towards the floor. Look at me!

Aang couldn't protect me? You know the truth you maniac! Let go off me!

Oh Katara, Aang is going to die soon. And we will gain hold of the world once more. It's just a matter of time Katara. Then, we will rule the whole world! You will have everything you ever dreamt of having! We will live the happiest life in the entire universe Katara. Understand what I am saying Katara. Only then will you know what I am talking about.

Heden pulled Katara towards him and kissed her. Katara tried to fight back, but Heden held her so tightly that she found it even harder to move. In her final attempt, she broke free and slapped Heden as hard as she could. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she started to cry, thinking of her fate. She saw an angry Heden march out of the room, ordering the guards at the door to lock the room.

Back at the fire nation palace, the greatest leaders and elders of all the nations were holding a meeting around a table, previously used by Fire Nation generals. Forjan stood at the end of the table, Sokka and Zuko on both his sides. Suki stood near Sokka, along with Iroh near Zuko. Forjan addressed everybody slowly.

Thank you everybody for coming to this very urgent and important meeting. A messenger hawk arrived about two hours ago, and it contained a message which might affect the whole aim of this mission for freedom.

There were gasps from many around the table, and some shifted uncomfortably on their seats.

The message is from a group named Sozin's Warriors. It claims to have captured The Avatar, and his companions Katara and Toph. It also says that they would kill the Avatar and his companions if we don't agree to give back all the cities of the Fire Nation to them, two weeks from now. As a proof of the avatar being captured, they have sent a hand print of The Avatar himself. They also say that they will send diplomats to us to negotiate, if they send the messenger hawk back with a message from us.In my opinion, this message is indeed true. It can't be false, Sokka here had recognized Aang's hand print on first sight.I think these so called warriors had planned this the whole time. Somehow, they have got something very precious to us with them.

Hold on there Forjan, don't even think about giving up the Fire Nation! This mission had cost us a great deal of lives, and this victory is one the whole world had been seeking for over a hundred years. Don't expect us to give in to some…..warriors!

The man to say this was an Earth Bender, who most probably had a high rank among everybody. Next stood an Air Bender, who agreed to give up the cities in order to save Aang. Sometime later, everybody had spoken, except one man. He stood up from his seat, and presented his view.

I have a proposal which would benefit us by getting us back the Avatar and also, maintaining the control over the cities the Freedom Fighters have taken over. But this plan is very risky, and will need volunteers with great ability and courage for it to work out.

The man to speak was none other than Ozai's brother, Iroh…..