A/N: Glad to hear you guys have been enjoying the story. I'll try to post these at a more humane time of night, even if it means a day later.


Book 1: The Return
Chapter 3: Among the Ashes


Katara
"So are you starting to remember anything?"
They were riding through the clouds on Appa. The skies were blue, the mountains loomed large in the distance, and Aang seemed upbeat after sleeping for several hours.
"Bits and pieces," he said back, turning from his spot on Appa's head to face her, "but I'm sure that it'll all come back once I get there. At least that's what I saw in my vision."
You also heard that it wouldn't be what you expected.

After saving them from the warship, Aang had been out for a while. Just as Katara was starting to worry he had sat up, and began to talk hurriedly.
"When I fell off the boat I started to see visions of the Southern Air Temple and a voice told me I'd get the answers I needed, although they might not be the ones I wanted and then I kinda blanked and woke up next to you guys on Appa but I was tired so I fell asleep and had some trippy dreams where-"
"-Aang, slow down!" Katara had interjected. He took a deep breath.
"Sorry guys, I'm just really excited to see my home again." he said, and had turned back to guiding Appa.
It might not be home anymore, she thought.

"Aang." She said, getting his attention.
How to go about this?
"I just... want you to be prepared for what you might see when we get to the temple. The fire nation has touched every corner of the globe, and they do horrible, horrible things. They raid villages, burn towns, and kill for fun." her fingers brushed her necklace. "I don't want you to be hurt by what you might see. A lot can change in 100 years."
Aang looked up at her, wheels turning in his head.
"I know that these soldiers, these monsters have done unspeakable things in the past, but the only way into the temples is on flying bison. So unless they managed to breed their own versions of Appa, there's no way they could have gotten here." He smiled weakly, but Katara didn't buy it.
Anything to hold onto hope. She thought, fingering her necklace again.


Zuko
"Give me a dragon's breath."
Zuko sat down at the bar, fists clenched.
That pathetic child and his water-peasant friends. How could they cause so much damage?
The warship had been so badly damaged that they were lucky to make it to port. Repairs were being done by the minute, but for now he was stuck in a dingy waterfront bar with the monk's face running through his head.
I will not underestimate him again, he thought.
The bartender showed up with the strong drink and Zuko downed it in one shot. Feeling the heat run through him he breathed out a burst of fire, then motioned for another drink.
"Prince Zuko. Always a touch for the theatrics." a cold voice said from behind him.
Zuko felt the hair raise on his neck, and turned.

"Zhao." he spat, voice dripping with venom.

"Now, now, Prince Zuko, I'm not here to exchange harsh words. I was simply passing through the town and couldn't help noticing your ship, and the state it was in. How in the world did you manage to take that much damage?" He sat down next to Zuko.
"We ran into trouble off the coast of the earth kingdom." Zuko lied, downing his second drink.

"Well that's strange, because I could have sworn the dock hands said they saw you arrive from the south, and there's not a single earth village until over 100 miles north of here. What with the rumors about the Avatar, I couldn't help but wonder..." he trailed off.
Zuko turned away.
"I hadn't heard anything about it."

Zhao stood up, moving to leave.
"That's a shame. What with your particular situation, I would have expected you to be the first to know that your only chance at restoring your honor had returned. I sincerely hope he doesn't elude you." He smirked, and said from the door, "Farewell, Prince Zuko."
Zuko looked back to the bar and stood up in disgust. Grabbing another drink he tossed a few coins down and left, slamming the door on his way out and storming off into the night.


Katara
From the tension in Aang's back, she knew they were getting close. They had reached a huge mountain a little while before and had climbed steadily ever since.
"Just through these clouds!" he shouted excitedly.
Katara braced herself as they burst through mist.

It had been beautiful, she could tell. There were four towers, one for each point of the compass, surrounding a central area. Below she saw levels upon levels of flat plains, and hidden alcoves, all bound together by a series of interweaving walkways and paths that made the temple look like a vast jigsaw puzzle. She could almost picture the vibrant life that must have existed here 100 years ago.
Now it was little more than a husk.

Ash marked the ground, long scars in the earth that hadn't healed over, and probably wouldn't. The beautiful spires that marked the skyline were in shambles, half keeled over and blackened. Fire nation armor littered the ground, prompting Sokka to speak up.
"It looks like they were able to kill quite a few soldiers," He said, picking up the helmet and tossing it back down, "but I thought monks were all pacifists?" he looked at Aang, who hadn't spoken. The young monk was staring at the skyline, and turned to face the warrior.

"The airbenders believe that all life is sacred, from the smallest donkey-fly to the oldest lion turtle. That's why we're all vegetarian. Or were." He too picked up a helmet, and threw it off the side of the mountain. "But even the most enlightened monk has to realize that in extreme circumstances the good of the one can not triumph over the good of the many." He turned, walking towards the center of the charred skeleton that used to be his home.
"Where are you going Aang?" Katara asked, "isn't this the answer you were looking for?"

"I was supposed to go into the sanctuary when I turned 18, when I was ready to learn the ways of the Avatar. I know it's been a long time, but I'm ready now. I have to do this." he continued walking.


Aang
This is wrong. This is so wrong! How could this happen while I was gone?
He hadn't been surprised to find the temple abandoned. After all, the nomads were constantly on the move and Katara had said the airbenders had vanished.
But all this ash and scorch marks, and the fallen towers. Why can't I remember?!
It felt familiar, like a memory bubbling just below the surface of his mind. He stopped for a moment, and examined the burnt door that led into the temple.

Get inside! Children first! Aang! Come with me!

Aang staggered, trying to dig deeper into the memory, but as soon as it had come it vanished. He opened the door into the temple, walking inside.

As he walked he began to be filled with new hope.
The airbenders probably got away, he reasoned. They're fast and quick and-
-then he saw the skeleton. It was covered in ash, the traditional airbending robes having long since rotted away. Half of its skull was melted, the remaining bits creating a disturbing smile.

We can't stop Aang! We have to get to the Sanctuary now! The Spirits have him!

Katara gasped.


Katara
She'd seen it before, when the men returned from battle, but she would never be used to it. Entire body parts blown off, the ones who came home crippled if they were lucky and little more than piles of ash if they weren't. She was disgusted by these, these monsters.
She was even more concerned for Aang. He'd been in the ice for 100 years, and these were his friends that had been killed.
He's been acting strange since we got here, she thought, I wonder how he's coping.
He stood up shaking his head, as if trying to get a bug away from his face, and continued onward.


Aang
He had been here before.
As he looked up at the intricate mechanism of the Sanctuary Gates he felt the now familiar flash of a vision.

Aang, get inside! Use your airbending to open the door! You'll know what to do once you're in there. I'll hold them off for now! Hurry!

Aang sized up the door.
Took a deep breath.
Leapt forward.
And blasted air into the locks.

The gate opened, revealing a room with thousands of statues inside. Aang walked forward, stopping at an old man with white hair. Looking at the man's eyes, he heard a voice.
"Hello Aang."
Looking around, he saw no one there, but the voice resonated in his mind.
"I am Avatar Roku. I would normally be your guide to mastering the ways of the Avatar, but this is no normal situation. Outside of the temple lies nothing but destruction. Fire Lord Sozin has made his move. You must escape. The Avatar must survive. When the time is right you will know. I must go. It takes a great deal of energy to talk to you for this long. Goodbye Aang."

Aang opened his eyes. He was on the ground. He hopped up to his feet, and noticed he was alone in the Sanctuary.
We meet again, Aang.
"Roku?"
Yes, but my time is short.
"But I have so many questions!"
All will be answered in time. I will send a messenger to retrieve you when the time is right.
"You've said that twice! I want some answers! What happened to everyone?!"
You need only to look to find those answers, but brace yourself, they will be difficult truths to deal with. Goodbye Aang, I will see you soon.
"Wait, Roku!"
But he was alone again. Alone in the dark.
He walked out of the Sanctuary.

He left the Sanctuary and ran to Gyatso, who was covered in ash but still smiling. Ignoring the unconscious firebenders around them, Aang hugged him, inadvertently squeezing Gyatso's burn. Panting, Gyatso stood up.
"We need to go Aang." he grabbed his young apprentice and began to move.
"To the sky-bison stables." he said and they began to run.

Aang began to jog, line between past and present blurring as he ran.
Dodging a fire blast, that left a
charred mark on the pillar behind him. Jumping over
a gap in the ground created by the fire nation's explosives. Muttering
a silent prayer for the fallen monks around him as he leapt over their
boiling bodies. Watching the flesh melt off of them as they writhed in pain.
Walking out over the sky-bison pens
expecting the pathway to freedom,
but there was nothing but
Blood and ashes.

He and Gyatso looked down across the field, the field where he had first bonded with Appa, where he had played as a child. It was a battle ground. Monks dueled firebenders across the yard, and the monks were losing badly. It almost seemed as if the firebenders has some sort of extra power. Watching his friends, his family fall under the vicious onslaught, Aang stood frozen. Gyatso acted quickly.
"Airbenders, to me!" he shouted, leaping down into the yard to the ground, sending a wave of air outward.
The airbenders quickly formed a protective circle around the airbending master.
"Aang, go get Appa, we'll hold them off!" he shouted, then "Now!"
The monks struck hard and fast, turning the tide slightly and allowing Aang to slip through enemy lines and into the stables. Hewn into the side of the mountains, they allowed for instant access to the skies.
Or they had, before they were set aflame.
Aang ran to Appa, hopping on and yelling, "Yip Yip!"
Appa flew quickly, only to stop at the flames, groaning in fear.
"We have to go Appa!" Aang pleaded, and blasted them through the flames with his airbending, burning Appa in the process.
As he flew out over the battlefield, he saw the airbenders backed into a circle, and Gyatso looked up. He smiled.
Aang disappeared over the edge of the mountain.

The scene Aang looked upon now was a lot less heroic.
Lying in piles on the ground were the bones of hundreds of airbenders. Adults and children, none had been spared from the hungry fires of the soldiers. Lying off to the side were the skeletons of dozens of Sky Bison, burned alive like their masters. And in the center of it all was Gyatso.

He was on a spike in the middle of the ground, the traditional chain of an airbending grand master wrapped around his neck. At his feet was an inscription, and Aang fell to his knees.
The last of the pathetic air nomads.
He killed many, so we killed his family.
While the others were granted the cleansing fire of death,
He burned slowly. May his soul never rest.
All Hail Fire Nation.

Aang closed his eyes, another vision coming on. He saw the nomads fall, one by one. He saw the friendly faces vanish, obscured by fire. He saw Gyatso burning, still smiling at him. Still smiling, a reminder of his failure.
Aang looked up.
Gyatso was smiling down at him.
And Aang was gone.


Zuko
He was walking back through the streets towards the ship when he saw Iroh standing behind a row of soldiers.
"Uncle," he slurred, "why are you out here?"
"Listen carefully Prince Zuko," his voice was hushed, "Zhao is on the ship talking to the crew. I fear he knows-"
"That you've found the Avatar." Zhao finished, stepping out of the hold and onto the deck.
"I found your crew members... difficult at first. With a little persuasion they told me all I needed to know." He motioned for two soldiers, who dumped a body into the ocean.
"My work is done here. Leave the banished prince to his chase. I've got an Avatar to capture." He pushed past Zuko, followed by his men.
"Agni Kai." Zuko whispered.

Zhao smiled.
"No Prince Zuko!" Iroh warned, "Remember what happened the last time you participated in one of those barbaric contests."
Zuko's hand instinctively went to his scar, but he continued.
"You heard me Zhao. Agni Kai at sunset, on the docks."
"Oh I'll be there Prince Zuko. I'll be there." Zhao turned with a smirk and walked off into the town.


Katara
She had been running with Sokka trying to catch Aang.
"He's gone crazy!" Sokka shouted, jumping over yet another dead airbender.
"He just found out he lost his family!" Katara shot back, leaping over a gap in the ground, "he's bound to be a little distraught!"
"But he's the Avatar! I get a little angry, fine, I go kick over some snowmen, maybe hunt a little bit. He can go kick over a fucking mountain."

"C'mon, Sokka, what's the worst that can happen?" she said, turning the corner and overlooking the battle ground.
"That." Sokka gulped, pointing to the figure slumped in the middle of the battleground. Aang looked up, eyes glowing with power. The wind picked up, swirling towards him faster and faster and faster.
I have got to stop saying that.

"We need to calm him down!" she shouted, running down the stairs towards him.
"You're fucking crazy!" Sokka shouted back, "I'm taking cover!" he leapt over an overturned pillar and got down.
The wind was swirling ever faster, creating an orb around Aang and lifting him into the air. Katara yelled at him.
"Aang, we know you're hurt. The fire nation is heinous. They took people you loved from you. They've taken people from us too. Our mom, our dad, they tore our family apart. But we are a family now, and we need to protect each other!" she fought closer, looking into those glowing eyes again, thinking she'd gotten through to him.

He lashed out, sending her flying backwards with a gust of air and into a wall. Sokka crawled over. Katara's vision swam as she sat up.
"He's not Aang right now! He's the Avatar! And he's really pissed! We need to get out of here until he calms down!" he grabbed her hand.
With one look back at the peaceful monk, they ran into the temple.


Zuko
The sun was setting to his right, the town to his left. His head had cleared by now, but not according to Iroh.
"Zhao will look to take advantage of any weakness he sees. If you give him one to target intentionally, you can shape this agni kai. I will not have a student of mine dying while I am here."
Zuko nodded. Traditionally the agni kai was a holy contest between two pure warriors to the death, a celebration of fire and its mastery. It was honorable to die in such a contest, rewarding both combatants with reincarnation as the greatest of firebenders. As dragons.

This was no honorable ritual. It would be a bitter fight to the death.
A gong sounded, and Zuko rose, shrugging off the traditional vest and taking a battle stance. At the end of the wharf, Zhao had done the same.
"You know prince Zuko, it's not too late to give in. Even the pathetic life you live is better than death by fire."
"I've already felt hellfire, Zhao," Zuko spat, "I haven't got anything left to lose."
And the fight began.


Sokka
Leaving the temple and rushing to Appa, the water tribers mounted up.
"We need to get up in the air!" Sokka shouted over the rush of wind and crumbling of the temple.
"Yip Yip!"
Appa took off into the cyclone, batted around like a ball, doing all he could to stay airborne in Aang's rage.
Aang!
The young monk was slowly moving through the temple, his personal tornado turning the structure around him to rubble. Sokka dodged a flying piece of stone, but immediately found himself blinded by something.

Clawing at his face for safety was a lemur of some sort. He pulled it off and laid it down in the saddle, where it collapsed in a heap.
"Katara! We need to go! NOW!" he grabbed Appa's reins, ready to fight his way out of the storm.
But it was stopping.
Looking below him he saw Aang floating slowly to the ground, before falling to his hands and knees. With a shared look, the siblings steered Appa down to the ground.


Zuko
He slid under a fire blast on his knees, coming up into an attack, working to get closer to Zhao.

Use your speed against an older opponent. They will be more powerful over the distance, so you must be quick and agile to defeat them.
Zhao saw him coming, and eagerly stepped closer, bringing his fists down in an arc.
Zuko rolled out of the way, popping back on to his feet, but wobbling.
Zhao smiled and lunged forward, bringing a wave of fire down on Zuko and sending him flying back onto the ground. Filled with blood lust, he leapt off the ground, propelled by fire, flying down for the finishing blow, savoring the look of fear on the prince's face.
But Zuko smiled.

Half a second too late Zhao realized he had been tricked as Zuko kicked out, sending a concentrated fire blast into Zhao, dropping him to the ground. Zuko was above him in a flash, hands flaming.
"Do it." Zhao spat.
Zuko raised his hands, and blasted fire-
-straight into the ground.

"You're not worth it." he hissed, and stood to walk away.
Zhao had other plans, leaping up and pouring all of his fire into a killing blow.
Iroh caught his arm in mid air, and brought him to the ground. Zuko turned, ready to exact vengeance on Zhao.
"No, Prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory." he turned to Zhao. "I expected better from a fire navy captain." he left Zhao on the ground.
"Come, prince Zuko. It's time we were off."


Katara
Aang was kneeling in front of a statue of an airbender, head hanging.
"He was like a father to me." he said, to no one in particular. "he was like a father to me and I let him down. I let them all down. I've failed my duty as Avatar."
"Aang, you haven't failed." Katara sat down next to him. "There's nothing you could have done. Even the avatar couldn't stand up to the entire fire army. But one thing you can do is make it right." He looked up at her.
"You said you've failed, but someone very close to me once said that as long as you have hope you will always have a chance." She felt for her necklace. "We still have a chance. You, me, and Sokka. But to even have a prayer we need you to master the elements. There's a water tribe at the North Pole where we can learn waterbending."

"We?" Aang looked confused.
"I've never had a teacher," she said, more than a little embarrassed, "everything I know I've taught myself."
"So we can learn together." he said, giving her a real smile for the first time since she found him. Her heart jumped for half a second before she shook herself.
What was that?


Aang
Sokka walked in, a flying lemur perched on one shoulder. It immediately leapt to Aang, large ears flopping in the wind.
"Hey little guy." he said, and sat down next to the statue.
"We're gonna go pack up Aang." Sokka said, pulling Katara away.
"Alright..." Aang murmured, looking from the lemur to the statue of Gyatso. Memories came flooding back.

Making pies on the roof.
Shooting pies off the roof.
Running from the older monks.
Playing Airball with his friends.
Feeding the lemurs.
Riding sky bison.
"You and me are all that's left little guy." he said.
I guess he needs a name.
"I'll call you Momo." he decided, standing up and looking one more time at Gyatso.
I couldn't help you then, but I'll make it right. By all the spirits in the goddamn universe I'll make things right.
And he walked out after the siblings.