Chapter 1

As Kairu and I walked down the pathway, I replayed Akito's last lesson in my head.

"When I visited the Avatar's world, the Dimensional Angels were plenty. We traveled to new and exciting worlds, helping restore balance and order to crumbling worlds. For example, Ophelia Evans, my mentor when I was an angel, helped Avatar Kyoshi when the world was in trouble. Ophelia taught me about angels in the Avatar's realm when she was training me." Akito took a second to finish a sentence he was writing before he continued. "Angels usually hold the power to control one element. As you probably know, only the avatar can master all for elements. Not all angels, however, have the power to control any elements. Only a select few angels can enter the spirit world, and those who can, will not be able to hold the power of an element."

"Did you have an elemental power?" I asked Akito.

He nodded. "I could control fire. That's why I was a friend to Prince Iroh. Ophelia was gifted with airbending and couldn't help me, so she brought me to find a firebending teacher. And we happened across Iroh. That's how we met."

"How rare is the spirit bender-person-type-thing?" Kairu asked.

"Very rare," Akito appraised her. "So rare that only one angel can hold that power throughout the population. Like the Avatar. It passes through the death of angels."

Kairu nodded. "What about our clothes? Our clothes wouldn't exactly blend into civilian population."

"An angel's clothing changes with the worlds. So when you travel to the Avatar's world, your school clothing will most likely turn into a tunic of some sort. And when you come back to this world, you will once again be wearing your current clothes."

"What else do we need to know?" I asked Akito.

"I shouldn't have to express the seriousness of helping other worlds." Akito said, staring intently at the both of us. "Millions and millions of lives lay in your hands when you enter a world. If you fail in restoring the balance, that world will cease to exist and you will eventually succumb to the darkness. That's how Hunter turned against his own kind."

Akito carefully rolled up his now finished letter. "Enough of him. Now it is time."

Kairu and I stopped right in front of the abandoned town. It was completely silent, so we knew that the fighting hadn't started just yet.

"We should hide in the buildings and wait for the fighting to start. Then, we help them fight Azula." I told Kairu, looking out for Aang's arrival.

"Yeah. And we might want to hurry," Kairu said, pointing at the sky. "Because here comes Aang."

Sure enough, there was a black speck in the fading sky growing. We quickly ran into a crumbling room.

I sincerely hope we don't mess this world up.

Hours later, it seemed, the fighting finally began. I was lightly dozing in the corner of the room when the ceiling suddenly started caving in. Kairu shook me awake and we quickly ran outside. Azula was a little down the street, throwing fireballs at Aang, who was climbing a building. Aang just barely managed to grab the edge when Azula cut off part of the building, throwing Aang into a fiery room.

"You check on Zuko! I'll distract Azula!" I yelled as I raced towards the oblivious princess, who was just about to burn the Avatar to death. I picked up a piece of fallen debris and threw it at Azula's head, sending her face first into the ground.

"Run!" I shouted at Aang as he pushed off the wood holding him down.

He air bended through the ceiling, leaving me with a very pissed off princess. Azula ran at me, eyes aflame, and I dodged a blue fireball. As we passed a small alleyway, suddenly, a water whip knocked her a few paces back.

"Thanks!" I exclaimed to Katara, who grunted back. Everyone fought Azula fiercely until we had backed her into a corner. Kairu stood next to Sokka while I stood next to Iroh in the circle, our fists raised, ready to fight.

"Well, look at this." Azula said tauntingly. "Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done; I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."

I narrowed my eyes. I could not let General Iroh take Azula's blow. He was the only hope we had right now. I watched Azula's face carefully so I would know when to step in front of Iroh. Akito was counting on me...

Azula made her move and I stepped in front of the incoming blue ball. Suddenly, I was on the ground, but I didn't hurt. Had Azula missed? No... I heard a cry of fear, and suddenly there was an explosion.

"Kairi! Are you okay?" Kairu's panicked face appeared before me.

Groaning, I pulled myself to my feet and checked myself. No. I hadn't been hit. Iroh must have shoved me out of the way and sacrificed himself.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. Remember the plan." I saw the Gaang backing away from Zuko and Iroh. "Go. Before they get away."

Kairu hesitated before drawing me into hug. Then, she leapt away and ran after the Avatar.

Son of a bitch. That man can push hard.

I pulled myself off the ground and limped toward the grieving prince. He angrily turned toward me and got off the ground.

"I said LEAVE!" He screamed, throwing a fireball at me. It grazed me as I dodged and moved even closer.

"Shut up," I growled. "I'm going to help him whether you like it or not. I won't leave."

Zuko turned away angrily back to his uncle.

I drew a calming breath and turned to Iroh, examining him. "I need you to help me move him," I told Zuko. "Do you have any place that you know of that he can't be disturbed?"

Zuko nodded warily and helped me bring him to a broken down house. I tried making Iroh as comfortable as I could, but there was only so much I could do until I healed him. Drawing in another calming breath, I set to work. About an hour later, I sat back, completely exhausted.

"That's all I can do for him." I told Zuko, wiping the sweat from my face. "His wound is completely healed."

"Why isn't he awake then?" Zuko spat.

"He's sleeping." I said while curling into the corner of the room so I could sleep. "It's all up to him as to when he awakes. Now, I'm going to bed. I will check on him in the morning to make sure everything is all right. Goodnight."

The next morning, I awoke to Zuko shaking me violently.

"He's up."

I groggily got to my feet and stumbled over to the now conscious Iroh. "General Iroh. Pleased to finally meet you." I quickly checked his bandages. "Well, it looks like everything healed properly. Good, that means I can give you your letter now."

"A letter?" Iroh asked suspiciously. "Who from?"

"My teacher." I responded, handing him the letter from my tunic.

The three of us sat quietly as Iroh read Akito's letter. I awkwardly stared around until he put the letter down. "So Akito is alive." Iroh said quietly, staring intently at me.

I nodded. "Yes. He had to return to his home because of his sickness. And," I coughed awkwardly. "He has sent me to deliver his letter. He was very sad he never got to tell you what happened."

"So what took him this long," Zuko muttered angrily. "He could have sent that letter ages ago."

"Akito lives extremely far away." I said, grinding my teeth together.

"You must stay with us, Kairi." Iroh said, smiling at me. "We would be honored to have your presence."

"Thank you, General Iroh." I said, bowing my head respectfully.

"No, no Kairi. Thank you. And please, call me Uncle."

"Thank you... Uncle."