Zuko looked around, confused for a moment. The blast of wind had knocked him off his feet and he'd lost his bearings. Sitting up, he found himself staring at his sister's back. She'd apparently shielded him reflexively. Looking at the shattered globe, Zuko saw the glowing figure from within the glass.

"Hold it!" Azula shouted as a warning to the stranger. Slipping into a defensive stance, she was ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.

Slowly, the glowing figure rose to its feet. As it did, the glow coming from its eyes and markings on its body began to fade until all that stood before them was… a boy. A young boy, scarcely Azula's age and completely bald. Adorning his body were simple, blue tattoos on his head and arms. He stood motionless for a moment before wobbling slightly. His legs gave way as he slid down the side of the shattered sphere. Lunging forward out of reflex, Azula grabbed the boy by his yellow and orange robes. She held him up before staring at him dumbly, but still looked ready to strike.

"Wait, Azula!" Zuko protested, leaping to his feet. It was enough to snap the young girl to her senses and lower her fist.

Laying the boy down gently on the grass, Azula peered at the tattooed boy. Both with confusion and curiosity. Gradually, the boy opened his eyes, looking back at her. A breeze passed through the meadow at that moment. It caught a few strands of the young girls hai that had come loose in all the excitement. Her hair waved gently in front of her face. The boy let out a breath and opened his mouth to speak.

"Can I ask you something?" he whispered to Azula.

"What is it?" she replied, still fascinated.

The boys eyes suddenly lit up, "Will play kuai ball with me?" he asked in an excited voice, no longer whispering.

Azula was taken aback. "Um… If you want?"

With that, a gust of wind seemed to rush from beneath the boy. It pushed him up into the air before he landed lightly on his feet.

"Woah!" exclaimed Zuko.

The boy looked around. "So, what's going on here?"

Rising to her feet, Azula's serious demeanor returned. "You tell us! What were you doing in there?" she demanded, waving a hand at the remnants of the glass rock, "How were you able to breathe?!"

Turning to look at the globe, the boy looked puzzled. "I'm… not sure." he confessed.

At that moment, a low, animal-like groan came from within the sphere, making the boy gasp. Before the siblings could react, the boy was scrambling up the side of the black glass. He leapt over the edge and back inside the crater within. Following the boy, Azula and Zuko watched as he landed softly atop a gigantic, furry creature. A creature much larger than any hippo cow.

"Appa!" the boy cried, "Are you okay? Wake up, buddy!"

Leaning down, the boy pulled one of the creatures eyes open, only to have it close again the moment he let go. Jumping deftly down, he positioned himself under its chin, attempting to lift it, but to no avail. Zuko and Azula stared in bewilderment at the massive animal. It opened its mouth, big enough to swallow the boy whole and… licked him. The boy laughed.

"Appa! Hahaha! You're okay!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around the monster. It had the horns of a steer and six legs, thick as most tree trunks. It was covered in soft, white fur save for its head. There, a brown arrow ran from its forehead, all the way to its huge, flat tail, much like the blue tattoos the boy had.

"What in the world is that?" Azula asked in shock.

"Appa. He's my flying bison." the answered simply, as if that didn't raise more questions.

"Sure," replied Azula, gesturing to her brother, "And this is Zuko, my levitating tiger monkey."

The boy opened his mouth as if to reply, but as he did the bison opened its own mouth. It let out a series of mighty coughs, showering the young girl in spittle.

"Ah! Aahh!" she cried out, wiping her face.

"I'm so sorry!" apologized the young, bald boy. Azula sighed in frustration. "So… you guys live around here?" he asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

"Don't answer that, Zuko!" Azula said, holding up a hand to silence her brother. "You saw that light, it was probably a signal flare for the Water Navy!"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Come on, Azula. The Water Navy? Does he look like anyone from the Water Navy to you?" The young firebender brushed past his sister, holding out his hand in greeting. "I'm Zuko, That's my sister, Azula. She's a little jumpy sometimes. Who are you?"

The tattooed boy reached out to shake Zuko's hand, "I'm A..." another breeze rolled through the meadow. The pollen that came with it tickled the boys nose. "Aaahhh... ahhh... aaah aaah aaah AAACHOOOO!" With a mighty sneeze, the boy rocketed into the air. He then plummeted back down t land in front of the stunned duo, sniffling and rubbing his nose. "I'm Aang."

Azula narrowed her eyes, incredulously. "You just… sneezed. And then flew ten feet into the air."

"Really?" Anng asked, looking up. "It felt like fifteen."

Zuko's mouth dropped open as realisation dawned on his face, "You're… You're an airbender!"

"Yup!" Aang replied, beaming.

Azula looked around, confused. "There has to be a gas geyser around here from one of the old lava flows. Airbenders with flying bison and huge beams of light? I must be losing my mind!" she turned to her brother "Zuko, can we go home now? None of this is making any sense."

"If you like, I can give you guys a ride!" Aang offered. Pushing himself into the air with a gust of wind. The young boy landed on the bison's head before leaping into a saddle positioned on its back. From there he grabbed a pair of reigns. Looking closer, the two siblings noticed they were tied around the creatures horns.

"Sure." Zuko answered, climbing up onto the animal's giant head and joining Aang in the saddle. "It beats walking home."

"What? No!" Azula protested, "I'm not getting on that thing!"

Zuko shrugged. "Would you rather walk back and hope you don't run into that hippo cow again?"

Azula opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again after a moment, sighing and climbing up to join the two boys. Once she had sat down, she crossed her arms. She pouted while looking around with a slight air of distrust. Zuko looked at Aang and nodded.

"Alright, if this is your first time flying, hold on tight!" Aang exclaimed. "Appa!" Yip yip!" The newcomer shook the reigns and the bison… yawned. Nothing happened.

"Wow. Such a majest- AAAh!" As Azula started to make her sarcastic comment, the bison rocketed into the air. It cleared the tree tops before flying away.

"Hold on!" Aang reminded the duo.