Yo everybody! Originally, I wasn't going to have this chapter up yet, but in the the last few weeks, it's gotten some major traffic which surprised me. Then I discovered that another site that lists popular fanfics for various series, has this story on the list. Which surprised me even more. I never thought something like that would happen for any of my stories. But it appears that I was mistaken about that. Anyway, that and the sudden influx of new readers urged me on. So enjoy.

Chapter Nine: Avatar Roku

Iroh watched as his nephew stood at the bow of the ship, once more staring out at the horizon as they drew ever closer to Crescent Island. The aging general could only imagine what Zuko was thinking at that moment. The fact that Ozai was now welcoming Zuko back without the Avatar filled Iroh with worry. He knew that Ozai held no true love for his son, or for his daughter for that matter. As far as Ozai was concerned, Zuko was a weak, pitiful disappoint, and Azula was his now former loyal tool.

The old firebender let out a wary sigh. More and more his thoughts seemed to drift back and forth between his nephew and niece. He had never been close to his niece. During much of the early years of her life, he had been off to war. …And a very different man. When he had visited the girl after she was out of diapers, Azula was already under Ozai's sway. Even more so after Ozai became Fire Lord. Iroh had tried to form a real relationship with her, but she proved to be too difficult to reach and he eventually gave up, focusing his attention on Zuko. Though a part of him had always regretted that he given up on her so quickly, especially after observing one of Ozai's firebending lessons…

"Again Azula," Ozai demanded as Iroh stared out over the courtyard from a balcony.

A pair of Royal Guard firebenders flanked the tiring nine year old, ready to unleash another attack on the girl. Azula, panting heavily as beads of sweat slid down her brow, moved back into the required stance for the exercise. The first firebender struck low, sending a stream of fire across the ground while the other struck high, throwing a fireball at her. Azula flipped into the air. As she soared over the stream, her hands urged the fire forward while her spinning legs forced the fireball around her. While the ground fire flew towards one of the firebenders, forcing them to leap out of the way, Azula's aim with the fireball was off and it scorched the ground a fair distance from the other bender.

"Wrong again!" the Fire Lord snapped.

"But-but I was almost perfect," Azula stammered, fearful of her father's anger.

Iron had to admit, for a nine year old, it was very, very impressive. Especially for one that was clearly fatigued nine year old. Unfortunately, Ozai didn't see it that way.

"Almost perfect?"

CRACK!

Azula flinched as the fire whip missed her by mere inches. "Almost perfect is never good enough Azula. You will not be a disappointment like Zuko. You will be perfect."

"Y-yes father," Azula uttered as she prostrated herself before Ozai, sounding completely and utterly desperate to please the man.

Iroh shook his head, pushing away the memories of the past. There was nothing that could be done to change the past; he needed to focus on the here and now.

With that, he began to approach his nephew. "Prince Zuko, are you sure that we should be doing this?"

Zuko looked over his shoulder as the elder firebender stopped next to him. "Uncle, you read the message yourself," he said. "Father wants to end my banishment."

Iroh shook his head. "No. He said he wanted to talk to you about ending your banishment, he never said that he was going to. I know my brother; he is not one to forgive lightly."

"Maybe he's changed. After everything that has happened, maybe he's had a change of heart," Zuko replied, a hopeful edge to his voice.

"Perhaps," Iroh admitted, scratching his beard. 'Or perhaps he's merely using you as shield against his enemies within the Fire Nation.'

Many, many years ago, when Iroh had been a much younger man, he had learned the ways of the politics of the Fire Nation Court. Unlike his brother, he despised the honorless tactics and games of the nobles of the Court. Back then, he had been a warrior and leader of men, not a man of Court politics and games, until it had cost him dearly. But from what he had learned of politics, a Fire Lord always needed to appear strong and always needed an equally strong heir, and preferably one that was held in high regard by the people. For the fires of passion burned brightest in the people of the Fire Nation. Their drive and ambition was far greater than that of the people of the other Nations, providing them with many advantages over their neighbors such as their superior industry, but it also had a downside. Excessive ambition had led to more than a few becoming obsessive, desiring more and more than what they had. Like a wild fire, consuming more and more as it grew into a raging inferno. And nowhere was that more personified than in the upper echelons of the Fire Nation nobility and military.

Iroh knew all too well that if his nephew was not careful, he would be swept up and devoured by the greedy and ambitious as a shield for a man who cared nothing for him.

But the ex-General knew that Zuko would not listen to him on this matter.

After all, how do you convince a son that his father despises him?


Fire Lord Ozai stood atop the observation deck of his personal ship, staring at Crescent Island as the ship drew closer to the island. There was no sign of Zuko's vessel yet. He had wanted to deal with Zuko as quickly as possible before turning his attention to the Fire Sages. Their incompetence in detecting the rebirth of the Avatar was unbelievable. At best, it proved that Fire Sages were liars and no longer useful to the Fire Nation, at worst, they were outright traitors.

He wasn't sure what angered him more, the incompetent Fire Sages or bring Zuko back. Had it been up to him, Ozai would have let the boy wander the world forever. But things had turned against him; first, with Azula and the revelation that she was the Avatar, followed with the plots and attempts by those within his Nation to remove him.

Like piranha-sharks that had caught the scent of blood of water, the powerful and ambitious nobles and military leaders of the Fire Nation were circling him, eager to strike him down and take his Throne. While he would like nothing more than to get rid of them all, unfortunately, he could not. He needed his admirals and generals to lead the military might of the Fire Nation while the war still reigned and he would need the nobles to rule as regional governors and administrators of the lands of the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes once the war was over. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed Zuko, if nothing more than to strengthen their dynasty and to ward off the potential usurpers.

At that moment, his newest advisor stepped onto the deck. "Tell me, have you ever heard of the Oracles of Senkensha?" he asked, not bothering to turn to him.

Shirada, a Lord Assassin of the Order of the Obsidian Flame, approached his side, bowing before him. "The daughters of the Great Seer?" he replied, looking up at the Fire Lord. "I had heard of them in myths and stories only."

"They are real. I have met them," Ozai said, motioning for him to rise. "Years ago, before I had met my wife, I was a Captain in the Navy. One night, my ship was ambushed by cowardly pirates, thinking that they could overwhelm and take a lone warship. They were gravely mistaken. But the vile rats managed to severely damage my ship, leaving us crippled in the middle of the ocean. Slowly limping back to the nearest port, we came across an uncharted island. The island seemed to call to me… I was compelled to set foot on it." Ozai paused, as though lost in his memories. "The Oracles were there, waiting for me."

"And what did they tell you?" his advisor asked.

"Many, many things. They told me that Iroh would have a single son, Lu Ten, and would lose his wife in childbirth, and that his son would die at Ba Sing Se as well as that he would never sit on the Throne. After they spoke of Iroh, they told of when I would first meet the woman would become my wife, of our two children, one of spectacular ability. They saw how my sacrifices would ultimately reward me with the Crown. All of which has since come true."

"But that wasn't all, was it my Lord?"

Ozai shook his head. "No. They told me things that have not yet come to pass. They told me that I would be the last Fire Lord before the end of this war. However, they prophesized that as I would take the throne from my father, Azulon; my firstborn would take the throne from me."

"Ah, so that's why you despised your son and eventually banished him."

"No, not entirely. He's a pathetic and weak child. Even had I not received that prophecy, I would have done the same. Zuko is unfit to be my son, much less my heir. I am only ending his banishment because it suits me at the moment. But as long as I draw breath, Zuko will never have the Throne."

Shirada bowed his head. "Of course my Lord." He paused for a moment before adding, "Was that all they told you?"

"At the end, the Seers told me that I would either bring about an Age of Order, or I would die by the Avatar's hand."

"Is that why you tried to capture Azula the instant you saw her waterbend?" Shirada asked.

"Yes. They told me that only the Avatar could stop the Age of Order I would bring," he answered. "Had they named Azula has the Avatar, I would strangled her years ago while she was still in the crib." He turned to Shirada. There was only cold truth in his eyes. Shirada didn't doubt for an instant that the Fire Lord's words true. "I will not let anyone stop the coming of my Age of Order."

"Nor will the Order of the Obsidian Flame, my Lord."


"So how much longer will it be?" Katara asked.

"We're nearly there," Azula answered, holding Sora's reins, guiding the beast towards the Fire Temple.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll be happy when this day is over," Sokka said. "The idea of setting foot on the Fire Nation with just the three of us-"

Tenzo loudly cleared his throat as he petted Hisaki. Unlike Sokka, the young wyvern liked the newest edition to their group.

"With just the four of us sounds more like suicide than anything else." Sokka then turned to Tenzo. "And why are you still with us?"

The teen shrugged. "I'm merely helping you guys out after you helped get me out of the Swamp," he replied. "I figured that you could use the help. If I'm wrong, I'll just get off the next time we're in the Earth Kingdom."

Katara shook her head. "No. I'm sure we could use the help," she said.

"Great. We're getting help from criminals now," her brother grumbled.

"You know that technically you're criminals as well," Tenzo replied.

Sokka rapidly opened and closed his mouth, trying to come up with something to say, earning giggles from his sister. "He does have a point Sokka," she said. "We are wanted by the Fire Nation."

However, before the Water Tribe teen could respond, Azula suddenly began to shout, shaking her head in denial. "No…no, no, no!"

Everyone turned to the Princess, wondering and worried about what could have set her off like that. "What is it?" Katara asked.

Azula pointed dead ahead, at the island that had been unnoticed by the three up until that point. Resting in the merger dock of Crescent Island was a small vessel, standing alongside a massive gilded Fire Nation warship. A vessel that Azula, Sokka and Katara recognized right away.

"That the Fire Lord's ship!" Sokka exclaimed, his voice filled with fear. "We got to get out of here before they see us!"

There was a moment of silence before Azula answered. "No."

Sokka's eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the girl. "Are you crazy? The Fire Lord's there, along with who knows how many hundreds of firebenders and soldiers!"

Azula said nothing.

"Hello? Are you listening?"

"Azula… Maybe we should rethink this," Katara added, worried about how this could all turn out.

"I know what I'm doing," the firebender replied, her tone leaving no room for argument as she urged Sora down towards the temple.

But even had one of them tried to argue with her, they wouldn't have gotten far as Azula leaped from Sora's head, falling down towards the temple. She thrust her arms forward, twin jets of fire streaking from her hands, slowing her fall. Azula hit the roof, briefly rolling as she landed. She got to her feet, rushing to the edge of the roof. Spinning as she dropped off the roof, Azula grabbed on to the ledge, allowing her to swing down onto the next level of the temple, giving her access to the open windows.

Overhead, Sora flew past the temple as Sokka climbed onto her head, grabbing the reins. "Wow… I didn't know firebenders could do that," Tenzo commented, looking back at the towering building.

Sokka breathed out a sigh of relief. "Finally, no more crazy Fire Princess bossing us around," he said, clearly pleased that Azula was gone. "Let's get out of here."

"No Sokka. We're not leaving her behind," Katara insisted. "Turn us around."

"What?" Sokka exclaimed, stunned by his sister's demand. "But that place is crawling with Fire Nation soldiers!"

"Set us down behind the temple, away from the port," she replied. "Hopefully, they won't spot us."


Silently and carefully, Azula crept through the halls of the temple, pressing her bodies against the walls and whatever shadows she came across. Fortunately, aside from a few of the younger sages-in-training there were no others in the upper levels of the temple. Unfortunately, she had no idea where she needed to go. While Azula suspected that she had to go into either the main shrine of the temple or the temple sanctuary, she had never set foot in the temple and had no idea where they were located.

And then were the soldiers within the temple. It was going to be difficult to say the least. Her only chance was to stay hidden.

Something she would not have been able to achieve with the others around her. They would only get in the way.


With their ship docked, Zuko and his uncle disembarked, leaving Jee and the rest of the crew behind. The Prince paused as he reached the end of the ramp. This would be the first time he had set foot on Fire Nation soil since his banishment, yet the Avatar was not in his custody. A part of him was actually a little afraid to place his foot on the dock, having never completed the task to regain his honor.

But that brief moment of hesitation passed and Zuko set his foot down.

He didn't feel any different. His honor was still lost.

Zuko began walk towards the towering Fire Temple, stopping shortly afterwards, realizing that his uncle was not following him. He glanced over his shoulder at Iroh, who stood at the end of the ramp looking up at the temple.

"Uncle, are you coming?" the teen asked.

"Hmm?" Iroh said, turning to nephew. "Oh, I was just admiring the temple. I haven't come here since… A very long time."

"Are you coming or not?"

The older firebender nodded. "Of course."

With that, the two headed for the long path that led to the temple, ignoring the soldiers that were standing guard.

When they finally reached the temple entrance, a group of Royal Guards greeted them, leading them to the doors to the central shrine of the Fire Temple. The doors were closed, with more Royal Guard holding watch. But there was one other with them. A man clad in unusual clothes.

The man was clad almost entirely in black. He wore black leather boots, black pants and shirt; however the details of his clothes and body were hidden beneath a black hooded cloak, held together by a metal clasp that had been shaped into a leering skull. His face was concealed by a white, grinning demon mask, trimmed in black with the symbol of a black dragon circling a black five-pronged fire on its forehead.

"Greetings Prince Zuko, General Iroh," the man greeted. "I am Shirada. An advisor to the Fire Lord."

"And since when has my brother sought aid from the Obsidian Flame?" Iroh asked, a tone in his voice that Zuko had never heard from him before.

Hatred.

It scared Zuko a little to hear that tone coming from his good-natured uncle. He could only imagine what had happened for his uncle to hate this man before them.

But Shirada ignored the retired general. "The Fire Lord is waiting for the Prince. I doubt we should keep him waiting."

Without saying another word, the two started approaching the large doors, only for Shirada to raise his hand, stopping the pair. "The Fire Lord wishes to speak with his son alone, General Iroh," he informed them. "However, you are free to wait here."

Zuko turned to his uncle who simply waved back. "No, that's alright," he said, his cheerful demeanor returning. "I think I shall wander around the temple for awhile. So don't worry about me."


"This is a bad idea," Sokka whispered as the trio hid behind a large pillar, waiting for a patrol to pass by them.

"Quiet," Tenzo ordered, keeping his voice low as he peered around the pillar.

Moments later, the two men had moved away from them. "Now," the thief said, sprinting towards a nearby side hallway, the Water Tribe siblings close behind him.

After ducking into the three paused for a moment, double-checking that the coast was clear. "I'm surprised that there aren't more soldiers here," Katara commented as they resumed sneaking into the temple.

"We're lucky," Tenzo replied, his tone serious. "The Fire Lord didn't know we were coming here. Otherwise there would have been more than just these few dozen guards here."

"Lucky? How's this lucky?" Sokka exclaimed, barely keeping his voice down.

"Keep it down," Tenzo snapped. "We are quite lucky as that ship could easily hold several hundred men, who could be patrolling every square inch of this place instead of waiting aboard the vessel. Besides, I've snuck into more heavily guarded places than this."

"Of course, I forgot. We're traveling with a glorious thief here," the Water Tribe teen said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Tenzo glared back at Sokka. "I suggest that you shut up and listen to me if you want us to get out of here in one piece. I know what I'm doing."

At that moment, a door in the hallway opened. The three teens froze as did the gray haired, red robed man who entered the hallway. For what seemed like an eternity, none of them said a word.

Tenzo was the first to react, reaching into his cloak for something when the Fire Sage raised his hands up in front of him. "Wait," he said. "I'm not an enemy. I know you're here with the Avatar and I want to help you."

"What do you mean?" Katara asked, standing ready for anything that the sage may try.

"My name is Shyu," he replied. "I am one of the Sages of this temple. And I have seen you and your brother in my dreams. Avatar Roku himself told me to help you and the current Avatar as best as I could."

"Wait. I thought you guys serve Fire Lord," Sokka said, practically accusing the man of crime from his tone. "So why do you want to help us?"

Shyu's expression saddened. "Most of my fellow Sages have long since sided with the Fire Lords, we did not always obey the will of our rulers. There was a time when we served the Avatar and the Spirits, like the priesthoods of the other Nations. But when the war started, we were bullied into serving the Fire Lords or face death. It's been so long that many have forgotten the old ways," he explained. "And we have been punished for our misdeeds."

The sounds of footsteps echoed through the hall. "Come, we must hurry before anyone spots us," Shyu urged, leading them down the corridor. "Where is the Avatar?"

"Azula snuck in ahead of us," Katara answered.

Shyu stroked his goatee, thinking things over. "Does she know where to go?"

"…I don't know," the waterbender admitted.

The elder shook his head. "This is bad. If she enters the main shrine, she'll only come face to face with the-"

"Intruders!" a man shouted from behind the group.

The four of them instantly spun around; standing there was a young dark haired man in red robes. However, before any of them could move, the man took off, screaming as he ran.

Tenzo let out a curse as he shook his head. "So much for staying out of sight."


As the doors closed behind him, Zuko approached the Fire Lord, who was standing before the main shrine of the temple. The shrine consisted of a large tablet that depicted Agni, the first Fire Lord and firebender. He held one hand up, the emblem of the Fire Nation resting in it. Around the ancient lord were flying dragons, the great beings who taught Agni firebending. Sitting before the tablet was an altar, made of two gold dragons coiling up around a flame. Surrounding the dragons were numerous candles and incense burners.

Upon reaching the man, Zuko bowed low. "Father."

Ozai turned around, facing his son. "Rise Zuko," he said. "I trust you are well, my son."

Zuko rose back up to his feet. "Yes father," he replied with a nod.

"Good. As you know, things have taken an unexpected turn. Azula has revealed herself to be the Avatar and a traitor," the Fire Lord said to the Prince. "I'm sure you've heard by now that she tried to kill me."

Zuko's eyes widened in surprised. He hadn't he about that. "…She did?"

"Yes. We were returning from an inspection of the Southern Fleet when a storm forced us to detour to the south. It was there that some raiders from the Water Tribe attacked our ship, throwing us further off course. As we did battle, Azula snuck up on me, a dagger of ice in her hands," Ozai explained. "She planned to kill me, blaming it on pirates while taking the crown for herself. But she was no match for me. Like a coward, Azula fled after attempt failed. We would have chased after her were it not for those filthy Water savages."

Zuko couldn't believe it. Azula had always seemed so devoted to their father. Had it been an act? Did she truly just desire the Throne to the Fire Nation?

"I always knew that Azula was ambitious, dangerously ambitious," his father continued. "And deep down, I always knew that one day she would try to take the throne. From me and from you."

The Fire Lord turned back to the shrine, studying the fire at its center for a moment. "You were always the one I intended to succeed me," he announced.

The Fire Nation Prince was taken back by his father's words. But he had little time to take it in as Ozai continued. "I know the things I done seemed hard and cruel, but they were necessary. Being Fire Lord is a truly difficult task. Our Nation needs a strong ruler. A Fire Lord must be strong, not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well."

Ozai turned back to his son, no trace of deception on his face. "I did not punish you for speaking out in the War Council meeting, I was testing you. You had the courage to voice your option, yet you lacked the strength to defend it against others. And you were rightly disciplined for it. Your exile was itself intended to be a test for you, one that you passed."

Zuko's mind was spinning from everything that he had been told thus far. A multitude of emotions raged within him. Anger, shock, sorrow, even joy; all together in one wild storm. He had no idea how to react.

"You were given a task that most believed was a fool's errand. Yet never did you give up. Never did you lose focus on your goal regardless of how impossible it seemed. A Fire Lord must never lose sight of his goals," the Fire Lord continued, his words filling Zuko with a new emotion, pride.

However, doubts began to creep into Zuko's mind. If he had been made to endure all of this, why hadn't Lu Ten as well? His cousin had been the most likely out of his generation to become Fire Lord. Yet he could think of nothing that Lu Ten had experienced that was similar to what he had gone through. So then why had he been subjected to all of this?

"I had not planned for you to return until this summer, before the return of Sozin's Comet. On that day, we would stand side by side, bringing an end to this war." Ozai placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder a look of pride in his eyes, silencing all of the Prince's doubts. "However, Azula's betrayal has changed things. But we will deal with her in time my son and then we will end this war and bring a lasting peace to the world. Will you stand by my side and finish what Sozin started, my son?"

Zuko bowed before his father. "Yes father."

However, before their conversation could continue, one of the Royal Guards opened the doors. "A thousand pardons my Lord," the man said as he prostrated himself. "But there are intruders within the temple. Two of them appear to match the descriptions of those that are said to be traveling with Azula."


Azula stood before the massive door, studying it carefully. Upon the door were five coiling dragons, their open mouths silently roaring at her. She knew it was fire lock. There were a few like within the Palace and the Capital, guarding royal vaults, secret libraries, treasuries and the like. Unfortunately, it required five simultaneous fire blasts. Azula herself was only able to do two, maybe three. She wouldn't be able to get in without at least one other firebender, a good one.

"Hello Azula," a voice called out. "After I saw you land on the roof, I figured that you'd come here. It's been a while."

The Fire Princess spun around, slipping into a fighting stance. "Uncle," she replied.

Though she would never admit it out loud, Azula a little impressed with the fact her overweight uncle could actually sneak up on her.

"When I was your age, I was sneaking out of the Palace all the time," Iroh said casually as he approached her.

"So where's Zuzu?" she asked, not dropping her guard for a second.

"Speaking with your father," he answered. "But I haven't come to fight you."

"Why is Zuko here? He's been banished from the homeland."

Iroh shook his head. "Not any longer. He's welcoming Zuko back."

Azula's stance dropped slightly. "You're lying. Father would never welcome that failure back."

"He would if he no longer had an heir," the aging man countered.

His words tore at Azula. It was yet another reminder of everything she had lost. Azula scowled. "If you're not here to fight me, then leave. I don't have time to waste on you," she said, turning back to the door and its fire locks.

"I doubt even a prodigy like yourself could open this lock without assistance," Iroh comment, moving alongside the girl. "Would you like some help?"

Azula stared at her uncle, eyeing the grinning fat man warily. "Why are you offering to help me?"

"Do I need a reason?"

The young firebender turn away from Iroh, growing increasingly annoyed at him. "Fine."

"I will handle the three on the right," Iroh said, rubbing his hands together. "You can take the two on the left."

The Princess merely nodded her head. Both slipped into firebending stances. Azula threw her arms forward, creating two streams of fire while Iroh showed why he had been nicknamed the Dragon of the West, fire erupting out of his mouth as well as his hands. The five jets of fire poured into the dragons' mouths, triggering the locks. The central head turned upside-down and locked into place. After that, the heads of the other dragons slid down. With the locks disengaged, the doors slowly slid apart.

Azula didn't spare her uncle a second glance as she rushed into the sanctuary.


"Halt!" one of the soldiers shouted as he and his squad chased after the group.

But the teens and the old man ignored, running even faster; earning several fireballs from the Fire Nation soldiers. Sokka grabbed his sister and dove to the ground, narrowly evading one of the fireballs while both Tenzo and Shyu leaped out of the way of others.

"We're not going to make it," Sokka exclaimed as he and Katara pulled themselves up.

Suddenly Tenzo stopped running. "Go! I got these guys!" he shouted, turning to the advancing soldiers.

"What?" Katara called out. "But-"

The Earth Kingdom teen waved her off. "Go! I'll be fine!"

With that, the three disappeared into a hallway, leaving Tenzo in the large chamber with the Fire Nation men.

Tenzo raised his hands as soldiers reached him. "If you're smart or you value your lives, you'd turn around," he said to them.

The soldiers just laughed, advancing towards him with their weapons. In an instant, Tenzo threw off his cloak and his hat before moving his hands to the back of his wrist. The men paused, staring at him. Tenzo wore a black sleeveless shirt, with brown leather vest. His legs were clad in brown baggy pants, with cloth bandages wrapped around his shins, a black leather belt around his waist and black socks and sandals on his feet. But it wasn't his clothes they were staring at; it was the gear on top of it. Along the front and sides of his belt were small gourds while on the back of the belt was a pair of odd-looking sheaths, where his hands were. While lengthwise, sheaths appeared to be the size of the ones for short swords, but their width was much greater, like they were holding multiple blades. There were a number of pouches on his vest, full with unknown contents. On both of his biceps were holsters holding a number of knives. Tenzo pulled his hands from the sheaths, moving them in front of him, revealing eight blades on his fingers, four on each hand.

The moment his hat and cloak hit the ground, Tenzo took off, running towards the soldiers.


"Alright! I'm here!" Azula called out, standing in the dimly lit circular chamber.

There was nothing of interest within the sanctuary, save for the statue of Avatar Roku and the large ruby through which light was shone onto the statue.

"You wanted me here, so here I am!" she continued to yell. "I demand that you answer me!"

As though answering her shouts, the eyes of the statue began to glow. Then, for the briefest of instances, Azula was blinded by an intense light.

When the light faded, she found herself no longer in the temple but on top of a mountain. And she wasn't alone. An elderly man in Fire Nation robes stood before her.

"Hello Azula," Avatar Roku greeted.


Iroh stood before the now closed sanctuary doors. He wondered why Azula was here. His suspicion was that one of her past lives, namely Roku, was seeking to contact her and needed Azula here to do so. All the other possible reasons seemed far too foolish for Azula to risk setting foot on the Fire Nation, even on Crescent Island. Especially with Ozai here.

With his deed done, Iroh left the hall; confident that whatever would happen today and the days to come, something good would come out of it.


"Roku," Azula said in a low voice, scowling at the old man.

The spirit of the deceased Avatar ignored her. "We have much to talk about, but unfortunately, precious little time to talk," he said. "I imagine that you have many, many questions for me that you want answered."

"No. All I want for all this nonsense you've tried to force on to be gone," Azula snapped. "Whatever you've done to me, take it away, now."

"What you want me to take away is not mine to take or to give," Roku calmly replied. "You are the Avatar, Master of the Four Elements, and one who will restore the balance to the world."

"No!" Azula shouted, vigorously shaking her head in denial. "This is some kind of sick trick designed to ruin my life. You wanted some kind of vengeance against Fire Lord Sozin, didn't you? But he's long dead, so you chose to play this twisted little game of yours on me, his great-granddaughter."

"No. While your ancestors are guilty of many things, but their sins are not yours," the elderly man replied. "Nor is what has happened to you some grand plot against you. And it is quite arrogant to think that."

"I don't care! I want you to make me normal again!" Azula screamed, her voice becoming desperate.

"Normal?" Roku shook his head. "You did not just miraculously gain the ability to bend water that day at the South Pole. You were born with that ability because you are the Avatar. Had it not happened in the South Pole, it would have happened elsewhere. It was inevitable."

"Stop calling me that!"

The old firebender sighed. "Denying the truth will get you nowhere Azula," he coldly stated. "You are the Avatar, and deep down, you know it too."

Azula was getting fed up with this, all of this. None of it made any sense! Why would anyone choose her, the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and loyal Princess of the Fire Nation to be the Avatar? It was completely insane! This whole situation had to be trick, some kind of plan to destroy the Fire Nation. No, it wasn't against the Fire Nation. It was a plot against her! "Shut up!" she angrily shouted at the old man. "It was bad enough when Zuko took mother from me, but now you've taken father, my crown, everything else I had! So why should I accept what you've thrown on me?"

For an instant, there was a look in Roku's eyes but Azula couldn't tell what it was. "Your father cares nothing for you. You were but a tool to him, to be shaped and used as he saw fit, then discarded when you served him no further purpose. Perhaps, one time, long ago, he was a good man and cared for you but his endless ambition and lust for power have long since destroyed any good in him," the Avatar spirit replied.

Azula's hands shot up, covering her ears as she tried to block out his words. "You're lying! Father loves me!" she yelled shutting her eyes, an almost pleading tone in her voice.

But Roku didn't let up. "Then why did he order your arrest upon the sight of you waterbending, after you saved his life? Is that the act of a loving father?" he questioned. "Is burning the face of your son and banishing him on what was intended to be a fool's errand, the act of a loving father?"

Instantly, Azula became enraged once more. "Don't you dare compare me to Zuko! I'm nothing like that weakling!"

"But can you deny that his actions against you are just like his actions against your brother?"

Azula froze, hesitating for a moment. The truth was, in the back of her mind, she knew her father's orders to arrest her were just like Zuko's banishment, that he had cast her out without even the slightest hesitation. But she had denied those thoughts, pushing them back rather than even acknowledging the slight possibility. "I-It's…it's…not like that," she stammered, trying to come up with a rationalization for his actions. "He thought I was an enemy, that's all. It was a mistake on his part. Father reacted in the heat of the moment."

However, her words had no affect on Roku. "Tell me, if he loves you, then why would he ever consider you an enemy?"


Finally, Katara, Sokka and Shyu managed to reach the doors to sanctuary, pausing to catch their breath. "I think we lost them," Sokka said, looking around carefully. "So what do we do know?"

"We have to find Azula," Katara replied. "If the soldiers find her first…"

It didn't need to be said.

Sokka shook his head. "Are you kidding? She could be anywhere in this place. All we know is here she's suppose to go."

"I think she may have beaten us here," Shyu commented as he stared at the massive door before them. "Look there, at the dragons' mouths."

The siblings looked up at the dragons. There were scorch marks around all five mouths. "This door is locked by a mechanism that can only be opened by firebending," the Sage explained. "These scorch marks means that someone has entered the sanctuary recently."

"How do you know it's her?" Katara asked. "Couldn't it be one of the other Sages?"

"No. It takes five Sages to open the door and we rarely ever use the sanctuary anymore," Shyu answered. "The Avatar is in there."

"Then all we have to do is wait," Katara said. "Once she exits the room, we can leave."

Shyu nodded his head in agreement. "Precisely."

However, at that moment, a large number of soldiers and Royal Guard entered the chamber, accompanied by the Fire Lord, his son and the other Fire Sages.


Azula was at a loss for words. Roku's simple question had shaken to the core. Her father loved her; he was the only person who did. Yet he declared her an enemy of the Fire Nation. How could he? She had never wavered in her loyalty, nor had she ever been a disappointment like Zuko. Why? Why did he do it?

Roku ignored her confusion. "You already know that Sozin's Comet is returning at the end of summer and that your father plans to harness its power to end the war. If you don't master the four elements and stop him, it will be the end of everything," he said. "You are the last hope for the world."

Azula let out a laugh, a bitter laugh. They wanted her to master the other elements when one of them was lost and then use them to defeat her father? It was a joke. It was all one big sick joke. "I hate to break it to you, but the Air Nomads are extinct," she replied. "Airbending has been lost. And correct me if I'm mistaken, but shouldn't the next element be Air? So how exactly is someone supposed to learn it when there is no one left to teach it? To me, it looks like you've already lost."

The elder firebender shook his head. "You are mistaken. Most believe that the Avatar must learn the elements in order of the Cycle. But that is merely the preferred order, born from the order the seasons and our comparison between them and the elements. It is not written in stone what order you must learn and master each of them in. There have been plenty of Avatars in the past that have learned the elements different orders for different reasons. Fire, Air, Water, Earth. They are all parts of a greater whole. Separate, yet together. It is up to you to master them all," he said. "Nor has airbending become a lost art, for as long as there is life, the Bending Arts will never be lost. It will not be an easy task, but you have a considerable advantage over your predecessor."

"My predecessor?"

"Yes. She was an earthbender, so naturally she struggled to learn her opposing element, Air. Before she died, she had only managed to achieve a basic level of airbending. You, born a firebender, will not have that same problem," Roku explained. "For Air is not your opposing element."


Tenzo whistled as he brushed a hand through his short dark brown hair before putting his straw hat back on. Behind him laid the bodies of the Fire Nation soldiers, injured and unconscious, but alive.

"You guys were good, but I was better," he commented as one of the battered soldiers pulled himself to his feet behind him.

The soldier roaring, charging at the teen with his sword raised. But Tenzo was faster, dropping down under the sword swing as he swept his leg, tripping the man. The soldier fell face first into the ground, his sword flying from his grasp. "See?" Tenzo said, bringing his foot down on the man's head. "There's only one person that can be me and you're not her."

With the soldiers taken out, Tenzo knew he had to find the others. First off, they were his ride off the island. There was no way he was going to get stuck on this little island. Second, they got him out of the Swamp, so he owed them one.

More footsteps began to echo in the chamber. There were more soldiers coming. "Well, it's time to get out of here. So long gentlemen," he said, sprinting away from the footsteps, towards where the others had gone.


"Sadly, our time is running out," Roku said, ending their conversation. "However before we part ways, I have a small gift for you. Something to ensure your escape from here."

Azula opened her mouth, but before she could speak a blinding light consumed her vision for an instant before darkness took her.


Ozai paced before the doors to the sanctuary. While they had easily captured the traitorous Sage and the two Water Tribe rats, none of them were talking. And he had not forgotten who those two brats were. The girl's death would be slow and agonizing.

"Azula is in the sanctuary, isn't she?" he said, turning to the two children.

Both only glared at him, answering his question. "Open the doors!" he ordered, stepping away from the prisoners.

Five of his firebenders lined up before the mouths of the dragon locks. Without saying a word, they moved in unison, streams of fire soaring into the mouths. The mechanism was tripped once more and the gate began to unlock.

However, a blinding light poured out from chamber. All of them were forced to shield their eyes from a moment as a figure emerged from the light. But it was not Azula. It was…

"Avatar Roku!" the Elder Sage exclaimed, terror in his eyes as he stared at the ghostly Avatar.

Others could only stare in fear and confusion at the lost Avatar. Had he somehow returned after a hundred years to punish them?

"Attack!" Ozai shouted, one of the few unaffected by the man's appearance. "Kill him!"

His Royal Guard and firebenders attacked, throwing fireball after fireball at the old man. But Roku was faster, slapping them his hands as they came at him, sending them away from him. The firebenders stopped for a second before striking as one, creating a huge stream of fire. Roku held his hands out. The flames struck his palms, pushing the fire around him.

The firebenders stopped their attack, unsure of how to actually harm the man. But Roku didn't stop. He raised his right arm up in the air for a second before slamming it down. Suddenly, the whole island began to shake violently. Cracks began to form in the walls and floor of the temple. In the distance, the volcano of Crescent Island erupted with a thundering explosion. The Avatar pulled his left arm up. The cracks in the temple grew wider. Geysers of magma began to force its way up all across the island and even in the temple itself.

"My Lord!" one of the Royal Guards called out. "The temple will not last against this! We must flee before it is too late!"

Ozai scowled at the ghostly figure for a second before turning and running, along with nearly everyone else. As the Fire Nation soldiers fled down the stairways with their Lord and his son, one person ran up, practically unnoticed by them.

"What's going on?" Tenzo exclaimed as he reached the Water Tribe siblings, who were staring wide-eyed at the form of Roku.

With the threat gone and his job done, Roku disappeared, leaving Azula's body standing where he stood. Azula fell to her hands and knees, blinking her eyes. Katara rushed to her, helping the Princess to her feet. "I'm starting to get really sick of that," Azula grumbled.

However, while Roku's spirit may have left, the island's volcano was still erupting.

"Come on!" Sokka yelled, heading for the nearest stairway. "We got to get out of here!"

But as he neared it, lava began to pour up through it. The teen cursed as he backed away from the stairs. "Ah great! How are we suppose to get out of here now?"

"Out of the way," Azula ordered, slipping into a firebending stance.

Sokka yelped, diving out of the way as Azula gathered fire into her hands, becoming a large fireball. She threw the ball of fire into the wall. It exploded, tearing a huge hole in the wall.

"How's that going to help?" Sokka exclaimed. "We're still several stories up!"

"The only thing we can do, jump!" Azula snapped. "Unless you'd like to stay here."

However, at that moment Sora appeared, flying towards the opening in the temple wall. Sokka let out a laugh. "I take back every bad thing I said about her!" he cheered, rushing to the hole.

The others followed after him, waiting at the edge of the hole as the Sky Bison came to a stop before it. One by one, they jumped onto the saddle, Sokka taking the reins. Once they were all on, he guided the beast up into the sky.

"Well, that was certainly interesting," Tenzo commented, looking back at the temple. "Is it like this all the time with you guys?"

"More or less," Sokka replied. He glanced over at Azula. "I trust this whole mess was worth it."

Azula scowled at him. "Just get us out of here," she said, a bitter tone in her voice.

"Come on Azula. What happened?" Katara asked, just as curious as the others were.

She didn't know why, but for some reason, Azula answered her. Maybe it was because that Azula could stand the naïve girl while she could only just tolerate her annoying moronic brother. "They want me to master the other elements and defeat the Fire Nation before the end of this summer," she answered halfheartedly. "Or else it's the end of the world."

Tenzo chuckled. "Well, you certainly seem to like difficult tasks. First, sneaking into that temple crawling with soldiers, now planning to take on the entire Fire Nation. You're certainly an interesting bunch."


And done. I can't believe just how long this chapter became. I would start writing a section and I just wouldn't stop. But it's done and I have to say, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

As always, hit that magic button at the bottom and submit a review.