Naru sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor, tears threatening to fall. This was her last day. Her last day at the temple, the last day she would talk with her friends, the last day she would be here until she was done with her journey.

The last day she would see Kazar. In all her life, she had never had a better friend. Besides Seia that is. Certainly never a friend that was a guy, though.

She looked at the backs of her hands. The redness of her skin which had been acquired when she first got her tattoos was now completely gone, as well as the soreness.

An anger began burning within her chest. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes, tears pressing against the lids. The flame of her anger rose into her head and drowned out her senses. She opened her eyes and glared at her fists. A faint white light seemed to emanate from them, growing brighter. Before it got to bright though, Naru realized what was happening and calmed herself. The glowing ceased.

She blinked and stared at the backs of her hands, wondering what had just happened.

"That's called the Avatar State." Said Seia, who was leaning against the jam of the door to Naru's cell. Naru had not noticed she was there. She looked at her.

"What is it?" She asked Seia.

Seia came and sat down next to her, "It's a defense mechanism, usually activated when you feel extreme anger or sadness. It's designed to empower you with all of the knowledge, skills and power of all the past avatars. I myself do not know much about it, but I'm sure you will learn more about it on your journey."

Naru looked back at her hands, "Is it dangerous?"

Seia chuckled, "Very, to the people around you. If you trigger the Avatar State when you are fighting, it could hurt both your enemies and the people fighting along side you. So you should be careful. Every single past avatar that has ever existed has channeled their energy into your body, so you will be able to do incredible things, things that you would never be able to do normally, even with a hundred years of training."

"Is there a way I can control it?" Naru asked.

Seia's brow furrowed, "I'm not really sure. I would think so, but I'm not really sure how it would work."

Seia stood, "Come on, they are waiting for you."

Naru reluctantly got up and followed her, still staring at the arrows on the backs of her hands.

They walked all the way out to the main courtyard, where everyone from the air temple, including the people from the Fire Nation, were gathered. As Naru entered the courtyard, everyone fixed their gazes on her. She walked toward them. Yuda stepped in front of her and gave her a hug, holding her close.

"I am so very proud of you, Naru," said Yuda, stroking her hair. Naru returned the hug and said, "Thank you, Sifu Yuda. I will never ever forget you," she pulled away from their embrace gently and looked at her teacher, "You have been so kind to me. I am forever in your debt. You… you have been like a mother to me, and I shall never ever forget you."

Yuda nodded, a single tear running down her cheek. She hugged Naru again, then let her go. Naru approached Ambassador Sama, who said, "Two of my finest firebenders will accompany you to the South Pole, then will return to me. We wish you a safe journey, Avatar." He bowed to her. Naru bowed in return.

Seia came up to her, "I will also be going with you, as well as my Master. We will stay with you throughout your training, no matter how long it takes."

Naru felt a pang of pain in her heart. Seia had done a very hard thing by volunteering to accompany Naru throughout her training. A very kind thing, too. She would leave behind her home, just to make sure Naru was safe.

Naru tried to push back the tears as she said, "Thank you, Seia. You don't know what this means to me."

Seia hugged her.

Then Naru turned to Kazar. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and a stern expression on his face.

"I hope you have a safe journey, Naru, and I hope that we shall meet again."

Naru nodded, then, almost against her will, she threw her arms around him. He seemed surprised at first, then gently wrapped his arms around her too, holding her close.

"I'll miss you, Kazar." Said Naru, not able to hold back the tears any longer, "You have been such a good friend to me. I'll miss you so much."

Kazar hugged her a little tighter, "I'll miss you too, Naru. I know you will become the greatest Avatar that ever lived, and I am so honored just to even know you."

Naru pulled away from him and held him in her gaze for a moment. He smiled.

Then she turned away. Two tall firebenders in full uniform, Seia, and her master followed her.

There was a path winding down the side of the mountain, leading to the bottom, and then wound a secret and narrow path through the rest of the mountains.

As Naru and the others walked out the main gate of the temple, Naru stopped. She turned and looked at Kazar for one last time. He nodded and smiled at her.

Something passed between them for a moment, then Naru turned and again faced the road. A tear rolled down her cheek.

Then she took the fateful step forward, into an unknown future, unknown roads, unknown trials and tribulations, not knowing if she would succeed or fail. The step forward, the step that would lead her to her destiny.

The last thing in her mind was an image of Kazar, smiling at her.

Before nightfall they reached the south-west shore of the island. Beyond the ocean they would sail on an Earth Kingdom Junk, (Note to reader: this is a type of Chinese boat, often used for trade, transport or sometimes war if needed.), to an island to the south-west. They would cross that island, then sail to yet another island, and then another after that. Then they sailed a little more south straight to the Southern Water Tribe.

The Junk was a tall vessel with a dark red hull and a gray-green sail. The small Earth Kingdom town's port where the Junk was located was bustling with activity. Men were loading crates and barrels of supplies onto the ship, whilst others were making sure everything on the ship was in working order, whilst still others were shouting orders at them.

Naru had been to Earth Kingdom villages just like this one before, but never as someone of great importance. The firebenders who were accompanying her were speaking to the captain and first mate of the ship, haggling a price to get them to the next island. Seia and Naru were sitting on a crate, watching all of the happenings. Seia nudged Naru with her elbow and pointed, "Look Naru, a pirate ship!" Naru looked at the small ship she was pointing at. It was unlike the other ships that were in the port. It had two rows for cannons in the hull for one thing, but it also had a black flag with a skull and crossbones that was fluttering in the wind on the top of the main mast.

Naru started to feel afraid, "Do you think they're friendly?"

Seia shrugged, "I don't see any other reason for them to be in port here. They must just be trading."

Naru chuckled slightly, "Trading things that they stole."

"Lets go check it out!" Said Seia, and got up off the crate and began walking toward the ship. Naru followed, still unsure.

There was a gang plank that led into the cargo area of the ship, which was lit with lanterns. Seia and Naru walked across the gang plank and into the ship, where there were shelves, chests, and barrels filled with unusual and eye catching things. Naru stood for a moment, looking around, while Seia walked to a shelf that was filled with scrolls. Naru was startled when she heard a voice; "Why, welcome, young travelers!" Naru turned and saw a man with a large tri-cornered hat with a blue plume sticking out of it, and dressed in a long green coat with brass buttons.

He smiled, exposing rows of pearl-white teeth and one that was of bright gold, "Thar be anything that you ladies be looking fer in particular?" He asked in a kindly tone.

Naru smiled nervously, "No, we're just browsing, thank you."

The pirate grinned again, then walked to his counter and began counting gold, silver and bronze coins that were littered about it.

Naru walked over to where Seia was sitting, reading a scroll. She sat down next to her.

"Check this out, Naru," Said Seia, handing the scroll to Naru. She took it. It was a scroll that told how Avatar Aang defeated the Fire Lord so many years ago. It had an illustration of a giant lion-turtle, floating in the ocean. In front of him was a cliff with a tiny person standing on it, facing the creature.

"Neat," said Naru, and handed the scroll back to Seia. Seia pointed at the scroll, "It says here he used something called 'Spirit Bending', which is some way to bend another person's spirit, changing it's make-up entirely. Avatar Aang used it to take the Fire Lord's firebending away."

Naru nodded, then reached for another scroll on the shelf and opened it. Instead of words, it had sequencing drawings of some kind of bending move. The person in the illustration didn't seem to be bending anything, though. It looked vaguely like waterbending, but Naru wasn't sure. She showed it to Seia.

"I have no idea what they are doing in this," admitted Seia, "It could probably just be a fighting style for non-benders."

Naru nodded. After looking around a little while longer, they walked off of the pirate ship.

"Have ye a nice day, ladies!" called the pirate that Naru had spoken to earlier. Naru waved at him, then walked down the gangplank.

Naru's firebender escorts had just settled on a price for transporting them, and were shaking hands with the captain. Seia's master came up to Naru and Seia, "We've just settled on a price. Get on board."

They walked up the gangplank of the Junk and stood by it for a moment, until finally everyone and everything was onboard.

The captain began shouting orders at the crew, and they began hoisting the sail, raising the anchor, and running about doing everything else that must be done for a ship to leave harbor.

The captain walked up to Seia and Naru. He wore a large belt studded with gold dots, heavy leather boots and vest, dark green pants that fell to his feet and a dark green shirt that left his arms bare. He bowed to Naru, "Avatar Naru, it is an honor to have you aboard my humble vessel. I understand you are heading to the South Pole to learn waterbending."

Naru nodded, "Thank you, and yes, I am. Word came to my people about some strange disturbances here in the Earth Kingdom, and I have come to set things right." Naru felt her heart rise into her throat as she said that, still unsure if she would actually be able to save everyone from what was happening.

The captain dipped his head in a nod, "Yes, we are very grateful. If there is anything you need, just let us know." He bowed, and Naru dipped her head in return.

Seia looked at Naru after the captain had strode away, "Are you ok? Your face is red."

Naru put her hands on her cheeks, "I… I guess I'm just nervous. I don't know if I'll be able to do this."

Seia put an arm around her shoulder, "Don't worry, whatever happens, I'll be here for you."

Naru smiled at her, "Thanks, Seia."

After a final order from the captain, the gangplank was raised into the deck, ropes were unfastened, and the Junk began moving away from the wharf. Oars protruded from the side of the boat, dipped into the water, then moved back in a single movement, pushing the boat farther out into the ocean.

Returning Peril