SWITCH

A large man cut an imposing silhouette seemingly guarding an entrance to a shell like dome. Zuko moved his hand from his side to impede Aang and Katara from moving forward and said "Hold on this guy looks shifty let me handle this stay here for now." "Are you sure? I mean the Avatar and the

two of us should be able to take that guy down no problem, even if he is a bit intimidating." Katara Responded and Aang nodded in agreement. "No offense but it's because you two are who you are, a couple of goody goodies. This guy seems more like the people i used to work with." "Fine. If you

insist but we're coming in at the first sign of danger." Katara replied. "Fair enough." And with that Zuko was off to engage the mysterious stranger. (So long as i keep calm and remain in control we should be able to work this out peacefully.) thought Zuko.

SWAPPED

(Those damn monsters weren't much of a challenge, whoever's coming shouldn't pose much of a threat for me like this. Hopefully we can get some information out of whoever they are.) Guts thought as three teenagers walked into clear view. One of them seemed to exchange some words with the

other two and continued walking toward Guts. "Hello, are you the bender who moved this earth here?" (Bender? moving earth?) "No" Guts said masking his uncertainty. "Then do you know who is, and where they are?" The scarred teenager. "No, sorry kid just got here." Guts replied

unceremoniously. [Schierke you picking up anything about this "Bending"?] - Guts

...

(Kid? He seems kind of oblivious and whats with that huge sword? How could anyone wield something so massive!) Zuko thought. "Excuse me but do you mind if my friends and i ask you some questions?" Zuko said gesturing to Aang and Katara "Those two and a couple of others." (I'm getting the feeling this guy's out of touch, maybe i'm wrong but if he doesn't recognize Aang either...)

...

[Guts i think we should hear them out, i'm not sensing any negative intent from him or the others he's talking about. We really need some more information about what's happening and they seem like a good place to start.] - Schierke. "Sure" Guts said to Schierke and the stranger, and he

moved to the side of the entrance. First Isidro ran out then Schierke, Serpico, Farnese with Casca and last Puck & Ivalera. The stranger signaled his friends while Guts moved from the entrance and was more than a little shocked to see the company Guts kept. Aang and Katara signaled Toph to bring

Sokka, Appa, and Momo by tapping the ground in three specific motion and set off to meet Zuko. "So you're not spirits but elves." Zuko said as the entire Avatar gang approached "Yeah. Of course, if we were spirits it'd be bad news for everybody." Puck said in his usually jovial tone. Aang and Katara

peered around a dumbfounded Zuko and found themselves in a similarly confounded state of mind "Why is there a little naked man flying around?!" Katara said somewhere between a shout and a cry. "Well that's rude!" Puck replied. "So's your choice of attire but you don't see us complaining."

Ivalera retorted. "Ahem, You wanted to ask us some questions, right?" Schierke interjected "Uh, yes... A lot." Aang replied. "Yes well, we have some questions of our own perhaps we can exchange some information." Farnese said. "Alright, well first, who are you guys?" Sokka questioned the strange

group of travelers. "I'm Puck, that ray of sunshine over there's Guts" Puck cheerfuly presented, while Guts stood silently watching. The Avatar gang gazed upon the stern man and felt waves of grim awe. "I am Farnese de Vandimion and this man is my attendant Serpico." Farnese continued

graciously while Serpico bowed on his cue. While noting the disparity between introductions the group nodded in acknowledgement with a palpable relief from Guts' intimidating figure. "And i'm Ivalera, this is Schierke, {Gesturing to the little witch.} and that wretched monkey, is Isidro." Ivalera said

continuing the introductions. A few moments passed and the Avatar gang started to look each of the travelers over expactantly noticing the left a peculiar girl out. Guts noticed the growing expectancty amoung not just the strangers but his party as well. "Her name's Casca" Guts said wistfully and

pointed at his former lover. In response Casca hid by Farnese's side and growled/hissed at Guts and swiped at the air. The avatar gang shared looks of jovial relief and turned back to the travelers smiling and began introducing themselves. "My name is Zuko nice to meet you." Zuko said bowing

"somebody's being oddly humble" Toph said under her breath. Zuko shot a look at toph, not quite a glare but some type of warning. (Sounds like he's supposed to be someone well known, and the didn't seem to recognize Farnese or her family's name that'd be rare for one person let alone five even

outside of midland.) Guts thought and judging by Serpico and Farnese's faces they were along the same train of thought. -The introductions followed Toph, Sokka Katara- "Hi i'm Aang" The young Avatar said cheerfully and awaited the usual reverent response that accompanied his introductions

nowadays. Guts picked a scar on his face and the rest of the travelers swapped pleasantries. Guts noticed that these former strangers seemed surprised at the common greetings the travelers exchanged with Aang. (Looks like we would've known him if we were from around here too.) Guts

thought. "That's quite the subdued reaction to meeting the Avatar." Zuko said skeptically. "Well, there is no such title where we are from so please forgive us" Serpico replied trying to navigate the situation without reveling too much. "Where are you guys from exactly?" Katara questioned

quizzically. "Uh Midland, duh." Isidro answered bluntly. Serpico cringed at the lad's response which sent his plan straight down the gutter. "Oh really, Midland, where is that?" Katara asked prying more and more vigorously. "Well it w-" Isidro started to say before Serpico prevented further detriment by

forcefully stopping Isidro from speaking. "Midland is quite a ways north." Serpico answered the best he could given the circumstances. "Oh, really because we've traveled all over the world and never heard of anywhere called Midland." Katara stated aggressively. "Well-" Serpico started trying to

save face. "Further more the 'title' as you put it, of Avatar is known throughout the world. That's like saying you've never heard of bending! Now tell us what's really going on here." Katara interjected before Serpico could continue."Look kid, we're just looking for a shipyard, so we'll just save our

questions for someone else and be on our way." Guts said intimidatingly."Sorry but we still have more questions for you so you can't leave just yet. Also don't call me 'kid' guy!" Katara retorted angrily. A growing unease began to spread through the Avatar and his party like a demon was readying to

strike at any moment. "Uh maybe we can help you get to where you're going and in return, you can tell us all you know about this... well everything that was going on around here before we got here." Aang said attempting to diffuse the troubling situation as quickly as possible."Thanks, but we can

handle travel ourselves." Guts said annoyed and not attempting to hide it. "Look sir i'm sure you can handle travel but we can offer you a once in a lifetime ride on a flying bison! And all i want is to ask you a few questions about the lights and this out of place plot of land." Aang pleaded with Guts

and brought out his lighter, sillier tone and attitude in full. Guts founded the barely not-children rather benign and non-threatening, so even if annoying the offer was not altogether unacceptable. Guts looked to Casca who was innocently toying with the teen aged entourage and inspected the

"Flying" bison the boy excitedly spoke of. The bison was a strange beast it stood around 14, feet tall 20 feet long and 7 feet wide, but what stuck out the most was it's six legs, long flat tail, and arrow design similar to Aang's. Guts saw a flash of Casa the women he loved and knew intimately, her

strained muscles, her cracked feet, and the many many scars which adorned her body. (Anything i can do to lighten the weight she carries.) Guts thought immensely forlorn. "Alright kid, but that thing probably won't be able to carry all of us so just let Farnese. Casca and the kids ride." Guts said

reluctantly. "Alright! See no one gets hurt and we all come out better for it, i love peaceful solutions." Aang said relieved. "Excuse me but you said 'flying' bison earlier can this magnificent beast actually fly?" Serpico asked curiously. A prideful smile crept across Aang face. "Appa! Yip Yip!" Aang

yelled and with one great slam of his tail the masssive beast took flight. "Astounding!" Serpico yelled with genuine exictement and awe. "Holy crap!" Isidro added. The rest of the Avatar's entourage laughed and smilled knowingly. Farnese smiled lightly however Serpico noticed a vague shiver. Guts

stared in stoic anxiety stopping himself from reaching to draw the gigantic Dragon Slayer. "It's not like we can fly or anything! no need to act so impressed!" Puck said pouting. Ivalera chuckled at the hurt expression on Puck's face. On the other hand Schierke stared in intense analysis of the

beast. "Are you, using magic on him?" Schierke blurted out accidentally. "MAGIC!?" Sokka yelled mockingly. "Little lady i don't know what you've been told but magic doesn't exist. That right there is bending,.. it is bending right Aang?" Sokka said starting confidently but petering out in the end. Aang

nodded and said "Appa is technically an airbender, but-" " SOKKA DON'T BE RUDE!" Katara yelled at her tactless brother. Schierke fought back a pout. She could tell that even though Katara spoke up in her defense she was just as skeptical as her brother. (She probably thinks i'm just a dumb kid like

the monkey.) "Master?" Farnese questioned Schierke's expression, which caught the Avatar gang off gaurd. "MASTER?!" Sokka squawked. Schierke fought back a grin. "What do you me master? Is she royalty or something?" Sokka spat out exasperated. "Actually, she is my magic teacher." Fanese

responded bluntly and proud. "What? Are you humoring her so she doesn't get upset?" Sokka said stubbornly. "Serpico, would you educate this boy in the art of magic for me?" Farnese requested. "As you wish mi'lady." Serpico replied promptly. In a second serpico was floating on the wind and

thanking his sylphs for obliging his master request. Serpico danced freely on the wind in a magnificent manner, and in mere seconds he caught up to Appa. (The slphys' power here is leagues above what it was in Midland) Serpico thought returning from his ascent. Aang stared in amazement and

shock at Serpico and said. "You're an airbender?!" "Airbender?" Serpico replied confused. "You know like Appa and... and me!" Aang clarified and formed his airball. He forced the air under him and balanced on it with. "See? Air bending like this!" Aang said. Serpico saw the excitement and

desperation on the boys face. He hesitated to tell Aang the truth, he knew what he did and what Aang did were very different. "Uh... no, i do not feel that is what i did. You see i called upon the Sylph spirits in this cloak of mine and channeled their power." Serpico said as delicately as possible. Aang

faces shrunk for a second all the grief, pain, and loneliness overwhelming his cheerful facade, but the expression changed as quickly as it came. Aang's new expression was quizzical and deeply interested. "You mean you can talk to spirits, and they let you bend... THAT'S AMAZING!" Serpico's display

gave Isidro the idea to take out his salamander dagger Isidro pulled out the dagger and the spirits obliged, all of the sudden the tiny blade coated itself in a roaring red flame. The flame extended to the length of a normal cutlass, a wide grin made it's way onto the boy's face. "Guys check it out. I'm a

Baddass!" Isidro yelled "You? Or your spirits?" Ivalera snarked off. "NO! This is obviously the fruit of his Elf-dimension style training." Puck yelled taking on the visage of a balding old man. Aang failed to stifle a laugh while Sokka Katara Toph and Zuko shrugged and shook their heads. "So you

know about spirits but not magic?" questioned Shierke.

(A quick explanation of magic, spirits and bending later)