"Who is this Zuko you speak of?" Zuko asked, puffing out his chest. "I be the mighty pirate Zheng, dreaded from the Southern Water Tribe to Ba Sing Se!"

"Would you drop the act Prince Zuko?" The large sergeant asked. "Look it. The name's Chang." He held out his hand. "I'd like to thank you for saving my friend Jia."

Zuko stared at the hand. "You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm Zheng. I-"

Chang shook his hand. "It takes an honorable man to save an enemy as you did, Prince. But I cannot let the Fire Nation into my city."

And the old soldier strolled back through the gates, leaving Zuko staring once again at the impenetrable walls of Omashu.


The, the thing was… It wasn't… It wasn't right. It wasn't acceptable. Its eyes were shiny, reflective, and compound, Its face covered in white fur, and Its legs were… Its legs were human. Then Its features blurred, coalesced, rippled, and slithered into the soft face of a beautiful gray-eyed woman. Its body was now entirely human, but if anything It was even worse, even more disturbing, because no matter what form It chose, Sokka could find no soul behind Its eyes. Intelligence certainly, but no consciousness. This was nature given will, a violation against the universe, and the most powerful form of bending Sokka had ever seen: Life Bending. It raised a hand, and gently called Sokka forth. His legs moved on their own, against his will, against the command of his very soul, and Sokka found himself bowing before It.

It placed a cold hand on Sokka's head, and covered him in soft flames that seeped through his skin, and ignited his soul. A fire exploded from Sokka's palm. It was a miracle. He was firebending.

No.

No!

NO!

Sokka wasn't one of those horrible, disgraceful, selfish human beings who called themselves benders. He would never ever be a self-absorbed piece of shit like his father! It was simply firebending through him. Nothing more. Sokka would forever and always be a nonbender. He broke from whatever trance that little chimera abomination had held over him, and took a long look at his prey. Its arm still bled from where he'd smashed It with his boomerang. If he could make It bleed he could make It die.

"Teo," Sokka said sharply. "Give me your firespitter."

The chimera tilted Its head, and raised a finger, wiggling it back and forth as if to say come here. But, to Sokka at least, Its form was rippling once again, Its skin starting to melt like wax.

Teo stumbled towards the abomination, his eyes betraying madness and desperation.

"Mother? Mother is that really you? It's me! Teo! I'm here to rescue you!"

It continued to melt and various eyes opened throughout Its body as if they were bursting pimples. The irises contracted, focusing on Sokka with their deep emptiness.

"Everyone told me I was mad. They told me you'd be dead. But here you are Mother, alive and well!" Teo giggled like a child. "Isn't that right Mother? Mother? Mother, come back," Teo pawed at the abomination as It slithered towards Sokka. "Come back! Tell me what you need, and I'll give it to you." He fell to the ground, crying. "Do you need my soul? You can have it. Take it!"

Although Its body now resembled a slug-toad, It kept Its face unchanged. Then It flickered, and lunged. Sokka stuck It with his spear, and sidestepped out of the way. The Thing writhed and coiled and continued to bleed. There. Not so hard. Definitely easier than killing a polar wolf-bear. Sokka tightened his grip on his spear, and stalked forward to end the hunt.

And was slammed to the ground. Teo straddled him, and slammed a fist into his eye. His head bounced off the ground, and Sokka felt his brain jiggle, but it wasn't so bad, not really, he'd needed to get close anywa- Teo punched him again.

And again.

And again.

Until Sokka knocked him off.

"How dare you," Teo said, his face contorted and twisted by madness and insanity but still distinctly human. "How dare you hurt Mother!"

Sokka pointed the firespitter he'd just stolen at It and pulled the trigger. A good old-fashioned flame- consistent with the natural laws of physics and chemistry- erupted from Teo's invention, and burned It alive.

"No," Teo screamed, running to the abomination, desperately trying to smother the flickering red flames with his cloak. "Mother! You can't die! You can't leave us! Not again!"

The fire had lit the room well, and it had an eerie beauty. It was circular, with two statues on both ends, one in darkness and one in light. Opposing forces. Yin and- holy shit, the walls were dripping inky shadows. Containing red eyes. What the fuck! Why the fuck had he thought it would be a good fuckin' idea to come down to this fuckin' crazy cult fuckin' temple, with all these evil fuckin' whatevers?

"You killed Mother!" Teo seethed in place, as the shadows crawled closer, the abomination still burning. "I'll never forgive you!"

Yeah.

Sokka was done here.

He ran. Sprinted. Up the spiral staircase. To the maze. Now he understood where the skeletons had come from. Fools who'd had their skins stolen. Fools who'd taken a wrong turn. He had to go through all the rooms in the correct order, and-he-had-to-do-it-right…

He took a breath. Then another. He felt the shadows behind him, he knew evil penetrated his mind, but he needed to be beyond that. If he were a bender like Aang or his sister perhaps he could survive through magic and destiny, but he was just Sokka. An insignificant nothing to the universe, an easily disposable side character. The only weapon he had was logic. He'd need to use it it or he'd become an evil puppet like Teo's mother… Teo's mother had left directions. What were they?

The door was made of an aged, polished, wood. It even had a little- Why-was-it-visible?

Teo's mother, Teo's mother, what were the words, what were the words? Think, think, think! And then they came to him, conveniently appearing in his memory: Lap full road rest fun lock leap fill. He pushed the door open, red eyes on his heel, turned left, and pushed his way through another door. Forward. Right. Right... Sokka panted heavily, and forced open another heavy door. His lungs burned, his skin tingled, and his heart hammered. Left… Sokka dug down deep, put his head down, and heaved his way through another door. One more, one more, then he'd take a quick-

Something pinched his right hand. Just slightly. He barely felt it. And yet his skin had been punctured. Blood leaked. The world started to… Memories flashed. Him and Katara, a quick stream of fire, horror, a flash of water. The secret. Shared between them. Chief Bato. The tribe...

Sokka couldn't stop them. He couldn't control his memories. His darkest fantasies, his deepest secrets, his strongest convictions were all viewed and shared without his consent. The battleship. A toy steamboat. Pride. Rejection. Failure. Katara gone. Anger. Rage. Isolation. Full moon. Iceberg. Splitting. Aang. Lies- No, his will, his will, Sokka still had control of his will. Without logic, without thought, he forged on.

He pushed open another door and ran like his very soul depended on it.


Stars and a purple striped sky above them, the beautiful Northern Air Temple below them, his Avatar quest before him, tonight was gonna be a great night. Aang just knew it.

"... And earthbending is the element of will… Aang are you listening?"

Aang always loved being in the sky, but just this once he wished he was on the ground. Exploring the Temple, discovering its mysteries, going on an adventure. He was an air bender to his core, and the essence of airbending was so much more than the bending itself: air was the element of freedom.

"This is how you bend a rock!"

Aang bobbed around what must've been a bird or something. It was strange, back in Kyoshi Island a nice group of girls had followed him around. It had been because he'd been the Avatar. He'd had his fans among the Air Nomads too, but he'd always found it annoying to be fawned over by boys and monks, and yet… And yet when a group of cute girls thought he was awesome it was just amazing! Why the difference?

"Aang please… It was your idea to learn earthbending! If you pay attention for five minutes we can take a ten minute break!"

Ah well… perhaps he'd never know. The world was still mysterious to Aang. He just had to keep his eyes and ears open and there was no telling what he could learn!

"I left my home for you Aang! I left my father after I'd just met him, I left my mother before I could say goodbye, all to teach you just a bit of earthbending!"

He shouldn't have let Sokka boss him out of the fun part of the adventure. Now he was stuck out here with Haru just killing time. Boring! "What do you think was wrong with Sokka? Why do you think he went coo-coo in there?"

Haru sighed. "To protect us. You were in there. You must have felt It pressing on your mind."

He'd felt… Something… They'd all been drawn to go deeper inside and meet the being's calling. "I'm the Avatar though, I don't need to be protected!"

"You'd be just as helpless as the rest of us," Haru said. "Right now you're just an airbender."

Then Aang remembered. He'd asked Haru to teach him to earthbend, but then well… There'd been a lot of stuttering and back tracking and Aang had gotten confused and stopped listening. Aang didn't want to be mean, but it didn't seem like Haru knew what he was doing. "Sorry Master," Aang said confidently, wiggling his ears. "I'm ready now. Teach away!"

Haru chuckled weakly. "Right. So earthbending is the element of…" Haru trailed off, and muttered under his breath, "Am I doing this right? What does it even matter? Maybe later? No basics first, but what if…"

"Can you teach me how to bend a rock," Aang suggested.

"Right here's a stone," Haru said, handing Aang a pebble. "Now bend it!"

"Um," Aang said, twirling the stone between his fingers. "How?"

Haru blushed. "So um… You reach out, with us, your um… Senses? And you just kind of make it move? Does that make sense?"

Aang scratched his head. No it didn't, but Haru looked like he was about to cry. "I think I get it." He tossed the stone in the air, it was picked up by the wind, and pelted Appa's tail. His big buddy shook his head, and glared back at his two passengers.

Aang tried a few more times, but was never even close to being successful. "Maybe I don't get it as well as I thought," Aang said. "Can you explain it to me again?"

"Um it's like I said earlier," said Haru. "Wait what did I say earlier? Um, move the stone- Uh, let's just start over okay?"

"Sure!" said Aang.

"So first you try and, um, feel the stone. With, uh, your senses… That's not really helpful is it? It's kind of like you hear the stone, but also not like that at all. You know when you choke on food, and realize you can feel way deeper in your throat than you thought you could? The rock is like that only it's outside you, and you can't really feel it."

Aang rubbed the rock between his fingers. It felt dry and coarse, like a rock. "I'm definitely feeling the rock pretty good. I still don't get how to bend it though. Why don't you show me, and explain what you're doing as you do it?"

"Right," Haru brightened. He held a pebble between his fingers, and narrowed his eyes. "First you… You get a… A feel for the rock… Alright, I'm having a tough time trying to talk while I do it, so let me just show you and then describe what I'm doing afterwards?"

"Okay Master," said Aang.

Haru held the pebble between his fingers, giving it a solid deathglare that eight out of six Avatars would rate as very intimidating (Or something like that, numbers were more Sokka's thing), let go of the pebble and watched it fly into the wind- Was that supposed to happen? It kinda looked like he'd just dropped it. Was Aang missing the earthbending? Was this some kind of weird out there lesson on life? Apparently not. Haru held out another pebble, but the same thing happened: when he let go it was carried away by the wind.

"Dammit!" Haru swore, crying. "Why am I even here? Who are we trying to fool Aang? I don't belong here! I'm not good enough to teach you earthbending, I'm not brave like Sokka, and I'm not smart like Teo. I'm just holding you all back!"

"Sure," Aang said. "Maybe you are. It's no problem. Keep on practicing your earthbending, get better and better, and the next time you teach me you'll do a lot better."

"Easy for you to say," Haru said. "You're the Avatar, and every Avatar is a bending prodigy. I've been trying to earthbend since I was a kid, and I can still barely do it!"

"So we'll find you an earthbending master," Aang said cheerfully. "And we'll learn how to earthbend together. Besides, if you leave I'll be the only bender!" Aang put an arm around Haru's shoulder, and whispered urgently. "Sokka has already started threatening me with math lessons, and Teo has brought up thermometer-dynamisms or something like three times! You can't leave me with those two!"

"Thanks Aang," Haru said sheepishly. "You're right. I am what I am. I just have to get better. It's as simple as that."

Aang creased his eyebrows. Haru still didn't get it. Aang wanted Haru to be on the team because he liked Haru. It didn't matter that he wasn't the best bender. "There is more to a relationship than how useful the two people are to each other," Aang said. "I don't see you as a tool Haru. I see you as a fri-"

A flash of light exploded halfway down a spire. "That must be Sokka!" Haru said. "We've gotta go find him."

He was right. But this… He'd have to talk with Haru later. Aang took Appa's reins and guided his buddy towards the explosion. There was a little ledge on the spire, and a figure waved at them, jumping up and down.

"Where's Sokka?" Aang asked, jumping onto the ledge. He searched the masonry for a door, but couldn't find one. How had Teo even gotten here?

"If you're looking for a door you won't find one. I lost Them for a bit, and I was able to glide down over here." Teo wiped his eyes, and stared at his feet. "Me and Sokka got seperated and I… We've got to go Aang. We awakened something when we entered there, and I… I think it's gonna leave the Temple now that it knows the Avatar is near. It's only a matter of time before it finds us, and you're not gonna be able to face it."

"What about Sokka?" Haru asked. "He's still inside! We've got to go save him!"

"We can't," Teo said. "We go inside we lose the Avatar for sure! The Dark Phoenix is more powerful than I thought. We're not ready!"

"Sokka wouldn't leave us!" Haru shouted. "When I got captured by the Fire Nation he tried to save me!"

"That was the…" Teo took a deep breath, and calmed himself. "Sokka would tell us to leave. He'd tell us that we can't risk the tribe for one man. It's a hard decision Avatar, but it's one a wise leader must make. We've got to go. We can't risk the entire world for a single savage who is already dead."

"Aang you're not seriously-"

"When I say the entire world I mean the entire world. What I saw in there…" Teo shuttered. "It was pure evil, and It could steal a person's soul. Everything from their personality to their bending. If It gets the power of the Avatar nobody is gonna be able to stop It."

"That's enough," Aang said. "Everyone get on Appa. I've made my decision."


"You haven't heard of me?" Zuko asked the soldier, Jia, incredulously. "I'm Kun, the greatest merchant in Gaoling!"

"That so?" Asked the short portly soldier named Chao. "I've never heard of you, and if you were someone so famous I'd know you, after all, I am called Chao the Knowledgeable."

"Oh?" asked Jia. "Who calls you that?"

"The people," Chao insisted stubbornly. "You know how I know the people Jia. You're just out of touch with the common folk."

"What do you sell, mister uh…" The sergeant Chang trailed off.

"Kun," Zuko said smoothly. "I sell all matters of products. But for now, I'm just here to find a place to-"

"So you're a merchant?" Asked Chao with a smile. "Then sell me this quill."

Zuko took the quill, and stared at it for a moment. It was frayed on the edges and half out of ink. It seemed usable though, if nothing special. He actually kind of liked Chao. The soldier was hungry to prove himself. "Why are you carrying this around soldier? Who are you trying to fool? You can't use it."

"I can," Chao frowned. "You're only saying that because I'm short! If I were a few inches taller I'd be rich and famous and you'd be speaking with a little more respect. Also women would-"

"He's also saying that because you're ugly," Jia said helpfully. "And why are you carrying a quill Chao? Are you using it to try and pick up women, because I know a girl with a um… Great personality who is in the market for a boyfriend."

"I know how to write," Chao spluttered. "I'm smart, I'm handsome, and gee-whiz people like me!"

"Prove it then," said Zuko. "Buy this quill and write your name. Show us just how smart you are Whiz-Kid."

Chang and Jia laughed, and the Whiz-Kid blushed and handed Zuko a few coppers. He signed his name on the ground.

"There, see?" Asked the Whiz-Kid proudly. "Cee-aich-eye-oh. Chao. Maybe I should've written a bit more. My true name is afterall Chao the Handso-"

"That's not how you spell your name," Chang said sadly. "You should've told me you were illiterate. I'd have been more than happy to teach you." Chang shook his head. "That's not how you spell Whiz-Kid at all."

"My name isn't Whiz-Kid," said the Whiz-Kid. "It's Chao! Chao! Believe it!"

"Are you feeling alright Whiz?" Asked Jia. "If you've forgotten your name we might have to send you to the doctors."

"Argh," scowled the Whiz-Kid. "Look what you've done Zuko! Now I'm gonna be stuck with this stupid name forever."

For some reason, despite being turned away from Omashu again, Zuko was in a good mood when he got back to the ship. "How are the kids Captain?" Zuko asked.

"Are you feeling alright Prince?" Asked the Captain.

"Feelin' fine," Zuko said, whistling to a jaunty tune. He danced back to his private quarters to find what costume he'd be using next. He shook his head when he saw it: Uncle had really outdone himself this time. "The guys are gonna love this one."

He was right.

"What's your name young lady?" Asked the Jia.

"Maiko," said Zuko in his most feminine voice. It was a perfect cover, simply perfect. See what he'd done was combine the name of both himself and the girl he'd had a crush on before he'd been… The name was genius, a perfect cover, the boys would never see through it and he'd finally get his chance to capture the Avatar.

He was decked from head to toe in a long flowing dress, and wore a beautiful black wig with long silky hair.

"Impossible," the Whiz-Kid spluttered.

Zuko frowned. For all the shit everyone gave him the Whiz-Kid was the smartest of the guards. Was there a hole in his perfect cover?

"See girl names always end with an 'ah' sound," the Whiz-Kid said proudly. "Think about it, you've got Princess Azula, the notorious firebender Katara, and my sister Terra. A man's name will always end with the more masculine 'oh' sound. You've got Prince Zuko, and even Chao the Masculine."

Zuko nodded. His name did end with an 'oh', and his sister's name did end with an 'ah'. It was quite simply flawless logic. Blast, his cover was blown. A smile touched his lips.

"So that leads us to one inevitable conclusion," said the Whiz-Kid, wiggling his finger in the air for emphasis. Zuko gulped, it looked like the jig was up. "Jia must've been a girl all along."

"No," Jia grumbled. "Are you still angry about the nickname? Get over it Whiz-Kid."

"It's alright Jia," said sergeant Chang kindly. "Omashu is a progressive city. We accept females into the military. You don't have to hide who you are."

Jia grumbled angrily.

"Zuko, loan Jia your dress will you," the Sergeant said. "You won't need it. The Avatar has moved on from Omashu. Rumor has it that he's headed to Senlin Village."

"Thank you sir," Zuko said, feeling strangely… Disappointed? Why was he disappointed? Senlin Village was small and unprotected, he'd finally get his shot at the Avatar. Then he'd head home and get to see all his family and friends. Well, maybe not all of them… "I'll miss you guys." As soon as he said it he knew it was true.

"No need to thank me," Sergeant Chang said in a low rumble. "Just strip."


Sokka cowered behind one of the Avatar Statues. He'd made it through the maze somehow, but he'd heard… He'd heard…

Footsteps. He'd heard them just behind him the entire way. Always following.

"Come out friend," said a terrible something, using… Using… Using Sokka's voice. "You've nothing to fear. We're not going to hurt you."

Sokka felt something leak from him. Other than his blood. Other than his memories. Other than his soul. Urine. He was pissing his pants. The other hunters would have had a field day. They'd have never let him live it down. Sokka the Coward they'd call him. Sokka the Spineless they'd taunt. Sokka the Boy they'd tease. But at least he wouldn't be Sokka, Hakoda's son, a chip off the ole' block.

"He's quite interested in you now. He already has a partner, but unlike the… Other, Father must always be on the lookout for replacements," said the abomination, using Sokka's voice. "I won't take you. So stop hiding behind the Avatar and come. Join us."

Sokka hid.

The room lit up, and a fire blast decimated one of the Avatar statues. "Ahh. If only it were Aang, don't you think Sokka? We've always hated the Avatar. It's so rare to find a human who rejects Father's gifts." The abomination smiled, and whipped a statue to jagged pieces with a string of water.

It was bending water. It had already bent fire. Only the Avatar could bend multiple elements. The Avatar, and this… Sokka realized something more important. This Thing, perhaps it was taking his soul from his wound. Perhaps if-

"Fine." Sokka could hear the smile in the imitation's voice. "Hide. Die. I'll eat your memories and join your friends. I'll act just like you, I'll think I am you, but I will always carryout Father's will. It is better this way. I can use your face to bring about the Avatar's demise. Besides, there are other replacements. Others who have the right… Mentality to host Father. Like perhaps your dear little sister Katara."

Sokka twitched. He searched his belt for his knife. There! His fingers tightened around its hilt.

"Father's always watched over her," said the abomination, Its footsteps creeping closer and closer. "Ever since she was born. He's guided her on her journey, and they've grown closer and closer. Everything she does, she does for Him."

It stopped as Sokka choked down screams, and he could hear the pleasure in Its voice at It delivered Its last line.

"Even leaving you."


The Hippo's eyes went wide and funny, like a bug that realized it was about to be crushed beneath Saff's heel. And even though she knew she was supposed to take a dive, that she had to if she wanted to find Zuko and learn lightning bending, she found that it simply wasn't in her nature. No, all her thoughts screamed one thing: Kill, kill, kill!

The Hippo flailed and sent a boulder her way, muscles straining, the attack laughably telegraphed. Saff scooted around it, took a whistling breath, and bent herself a fire-whip. She uncoiled it, and cast it like a fishing line. Oh that brought back memories, but she'd only caught something a few times, and certainly not- Saff grinned savagely- something as large and juicy as this. "Its a big one on the line," she laughed. Her whip tangled around one of The Hippo's fat ankles. The fat man screamed and flailed like a... like a big ole' fish. This was perfect! "He's fighting hard, but I think I'll be able to reel him in!" She made a show of coiling up her whip, bringing The Hippo closer and closer to his doom. She ignited her left hand, and The Hippo scratched and clawed at the ground, trying to break free from her fiery clutches.

She leapt aside, narrowly dodging a big hunk of granite, that exploded in the front row of the stony stands.

"This wasn't the deal," The Boulder growled quietly, helping up The Hippo. "You're the villain of this production. Your job is to lose."

"Hmm," said Saff. "You're the one with information on The Avatar right?"

"Yes," said The Boulder, eyes softening. "I don't care about the war. Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, it makes no difference to me who wins. I just want to be a star so I can send money back to my village. Please, I need this to work. I need you to play your part and lose. If you do, I'll be more than happy to tell you where the Avatar will be heading next."

Saff inspected a perfectly… Um pedicured, was that the word? Fingernail, and answered with an arrogant drawl. "You hear that? The Boulder is begging me for mercy! He'll tell me where the Avatar is if I move on peacefully."

It was almost like the crowd was a single person. A weak, contemptible, and stupid single person. Katara could hear the boos come down on her like heavy snow, could feel the pulsating hatred of thousands of Earth Kingdom citizens, and sense their complete and utter rejection of everything Katara represented. And of Katara herself. For the first time though, Katara didn't mind the isolation, because right now she wasn't Katara, she was Saff Fire: The most powerful firebender in the Western region of the North Shore of the Southern Isle's Easternmost Island. All her life Katara had looked for love, companionship, and above all acceptance for who she was. But those were worthless traits to Saff Fire, who'd grown up in a Fire Nation family proud to have a firebender in the family. Saff Fire only wanted three things from people: fear, respect, and submission.

"But see, I'm not going to do that." Saff drawled. "I don't accept surrender. If he knows where the Avatar is I'll just torture the information out of him." Saff giggled. "Let me do all you losers a big favor! I'm sure you've all wondered what happens when an earthbender meets a firebender in combat. I'll show you why the Earth Kingdom is losing the war."

"That wasn't the deal!" Xin Fu stepped into the rink. "Nobody takes me for a fool!"

Saff Fire grinned, and bent all the fire in the stadium- every torch and every candle- into a single giant bonfire. It was now the only source of light in the stadium. Saff stepped into it, and felt the fire mold and curl around her skin forming a protective armor that would burn any who dared lay a finger on her. Her old move had a flaw though, one that had been exploited in her fight with King Bumi: it offered her no protection against physical attacks. But she'd fixed that.

Out of the fire walked three Saffs. One was real. The others were perfect clones. Bending the fire into the right shape had been easy, when shrouded in her fire armor she looked like one big flame, it was making the clones copy her movement that was hard. The Boulder hefted a big boulder at one of the Saffs. The wrong one. Not needing to counter or dodge, Saff was free to tag the muscle man with a fireball. He went down in a heap. Easy.

Her clones held up a finger for the crowd. One down.

"Fire Nation Man, Gopher, Gekko, get down here," Xin Fu ordered. Three men burrowed out onto the arena. One was fat, the other two were wiry, but there looks didn't matter. Saff was gonna cook 'em all. "Nobody messes with-"

Saff shut the carnival barker up with a fireball, and held up two fingers for the crowd. One of the wiry men burrowed into the ground, and another leapt into the air, hopping from floating stone to floating stone. Towards the wrong Saff Fire. She found the fat man levitating the stones and smoked him with her fire whip. The Gekko landed near a fire clone, and performed an extraordinary flipping jumpy kick thing, pummeling her fiery creation with his foot. Of course her clone had no mass, and he only succeeded in badly burning himself, but it was a very good effort nonetheless. Another man screamed behind her. The one who'd burrowed himself underground had tried to grab one of her clones. He was done. Which left only The Hippo. She held up five fingers for the crowd. Just one left.

Saff pulled her fire copies back to her, and let them surround her, caress her skin, and bud off her, creating two new clones. The three Saffs fanned out and surrounded The Hippo. Then they started to advance, drawing closer and closer and closer to the wounded man. The Hippo's attention darted from one clone to the next, trying to find the real Saff underneath the heavy shroud. Eventually he shrugged, and ripped a huge chunk of granite from the arena's stone floor. Then he howled and collapsed, hands on the red, blistery burn around his ankle which Saff had given him earlier. "People think that torture is all about pain, but it's not. Effective torture requires fear. I've got to find some way for The Boulder to take my threats seriously. But how can I do that?" Saff let the fire die around her fingers, and used them to gently point the Hippo's chin towards her face. "I could kill you, but…" She grabbed his ear and hauled them both towards The Boulders fallen form. "Get up. I know you're faking. Now tell me where the Avatar is, or your friend is gonna-" Saff ducked under a chunk of rock that whistled above her.

"I don't know what your problem is Lemon Cake, but you can't go around hurting people because you've got an inferiority complex from being kicked out of the Fire Nation Army," said a short little blind girl, dressed in an expensive silk dress.

"I wasn't kicked out of the army," Katara spluttered. Wait a second. She had been hadn't she? But she certainly didn't have an inferiority… Well she wasn't hurting people just to help boost her own eg… "Lemon Cake? My name isn't Lemon Cake. That's completely ridiculous!"

"Isn't it though?" The blind girl smirked. "I thought it was a lot better than your stupid nick-"

"Besides," Katara interrupted. "I've only done this once. You've been beating up on these thugs for years. If anyone's got an outsized ego it's you, little miss "I'm the greatest earthbender in the entire world!""

"It ain't bragging if you can back it up!" The blind girl smirked. "You ready to get rocked my bitter little-"

Katara shot a fireball at the blind girl. The Bandit stomped on the ground, and a huge clay tile flew into the air, deflecting the blast. The blind girl scratched the bottom of the floating tile, and flung three dirt bullets at Katara. She skirted around two of 'em, but the third one clipped her side.

Katara spun to the ground and hacked and coughed and lost control of her breathing. Her fires extinguished immediately drenching the stadium in darkness. The dirt beside her groaned and creaked and grew into huge vertical pillars. They formed a hallway, and Katara had no doubt that she would find the little blind girl smirking on the other end. Her battle instincts roared, and she ducked under a boulder that would've taken her head off.

"Ready to surrender little Lemon Cake?" The blind girl chirped.

Katara answered with a flickering fire blast that swept against the ground like a sheet of water. The blind girl leapt over the strike, wedging herself into one of the two vertical rock walls, her arms burying into it as if the wall were made of water instead of solid granite.

Katara blasted the girl with fire, but the blind girl crawled around each blast like an insect. And as soon as Katara took a few breaths, the blind girl countered with a hail of rocks. Katara danced back and forth, wriggling around each strike, but just barely, constricted by the hallways. It was frustrating. If Katara was fully healthy, if broken ribs weren't pressing on inflamed lungs, she could simply blast all the blind girl's little attacks down with overwhelming power. But no. Here she was being forced to dance around attacks like an amateur. She knew the fight was getting away from her, and if she didn't do something drastic she was bound to lose.

She'd heard about it from soldiers. Separate yin from yang in the body, while spinning the arms in near symmetrical motion, and finally releasing and directing the cold energy to a single point. Control and precision were what was most important, and students drilled the motion and bending of each separate step for years under the watchful eye of a Master. A single mistake could be fatal, or just as easily damage someone so badly that any bending in the future would be impossible. But of course, Mai had helped teach Katara to read using a lightning bending scroll so she was like totally prepared.

Katara began the long windup of a lightning strike. First she took a deep breath, then she split her arms and separated… Two energies? What in the moon did that mean? There was only one fire in her belly, and fire didn't have any yin or yang, it was just fire. Fricking Fire Nation voodoo, magic, bull-

A rock took her in the stomach, and molded itself around her. Dirt sprayed up around her, hardening and collecting near her sides, weighing her down until she couldn't move her arms or legs. She was trapped, restrained, and- no she wasn't defeated yet. There had to be a way out, she couldn't possibly lose her second fight in a row. She just had to think, find some missing path to victory-

Open your eyes Katara.

She sighed. She'd lost. Again.

Slowly, very slowly, one torch was lit. Then another. Until light returned, and the whole stadium could see Katara imprisoned by heavy rocks, completely defanged. They cheered their overrated Blind Bandit, booed Katara, and now dared to throw food and rocks down at her.

"Bandit, bandit, bandit!" They chanted.

The Blind Bandit raised her arms, and a slight smile turned into the cockiest smirk Katara had ever seen. The Bandit must've known that this battle had been different. This time she'd actually fought for real. This time she'd defended her home. And despite herself, Katara couldn't help but share in the other girl's euphoria, at least a little.

Well. It was probably time to beg for her life.

"I was at half strength, but a win is a win," Katara said graciously. "Congratulations on beating the most powerful firebender in the Western region of the North Shore of the Southern Isle's Easternmost Island."

"Half strength?" The blind girl asked, digging her index finger around inside her nostril. "What do you mean by that?"

"I cracked my ribs in another fight, so I could barely generate any flames today," Katara whispered. "If I was at full power I'd have beaten you easily."

The blind girl inspected a wet green booger. Then she shrugged, and wiped it on… Eww, eww, eww- she did not just do that! The booger was- it was- Katara blew desperately on her cheek, but the booger's stickiness kept it stubbornly latched. Oh my god! Gross, gross, gross!

GROSS!

So gross. The Blind Bandit must've found Xin Fu, because the man's voice boomed across the stadium, "Congratulations Blind Bandit, it appears you've won again. How many times in a row is this?"

"Five," the Bandit replied with an obnoxious drawl. "Each time it gets a little easier. When will you find some real fighters who can maybe, you know, provide a bit of a challenge? Don't get me wrong I appreciate the effort this time- even though she was a total pushover- the new girl was at least different. Who was she? It was kinda refreshing fighting a firebender."

"She was the nefarious Saff-"

"I'm asking for her real name Xin Fu."

"What do you mean?" Xin Fu asked incredulously. "That is her real- My god, oh goodness no, it appears that the nefarious Sapphire has broken free!"

Huh? Katara found herself falling through an unseen hole in the ground. She dropped straight into Xin Fu's office where she was hugged by a huge hulking wrestler.

"That was one helluva performance Saff," The Hippo said proudly. "You're quite the natural act-ore. Have you considered a career in the thee-awe-tur?"

"Easy Hippo," said Fire Nation Man, sipping on a tiny cup of tea, pinky fully extended. "Don't scare the poor girl."

"Maybe you could learn a thing or two about playing the heel," said the Gekko. "Eh Fire Nation Man? You've been going to far down the comedic route my good man, and while I can see what you're aiming for, I can't help but suspect that the audience wants good old fashioned storytelling: with an antagonist who provides legitimate threat."

The Fire Nation Man chortled politely as he sipped on his tea. "Nonsense my good man. The modern audience wants wish-fulfillment. This is why they so enjoy the Blind Bandit and her never-ending stream of flawless victories. She is an utterly perfect blank face on which they can project themselves onto. Today's antagonist must be entertaining, but should not scare the audience overly much and whose primary purpose is to highlight the hero's superiority."

"Aw yes," said the Gopher, pouring Gekko a cup of tea. "My good man, you're right that the antagonist must highlight the hero's superiority, but I do believe that your argument does not land where you intend. The antagonist has always been meant to highlight the hero's superiority. But the antagonist must be in a position of power, so that the hero's victory proves their moral or ideological superior-"

Katara cleared her throat, and rubber her fingers together.

"Xin Fu is pleased with your marvelous work." The Boulder grinned, and handed her her gold. "The Avatar's chivalry will demand he investigate Senlin Village. I do believe he'll be going there quite soon indeed. I am utterly confident in this proclamation, but I must ask: are you so convinced that you must leave so soon? I speak for everyone when we say that we'd love to welcome you aboard this merry ship."

For a moment she was tempted. It was fun acting like Saff Fire, and the actors seemed welcoming and kind. All she'd ever wanted was to be accepted. To have a home like everyone else. But in the end she could not. Her destiny was to take her bending as far as she could. Simple maybe, but Katara had let bending dictate every choice she'd made since she was fourteen, and things had turned out alright so far. So she would leave and improve her bending, fight the strongest opponents in the world and someday… Well, she wasn't really sure. She didn't have a plan for after fighting.

As she neared the door, Katara found that she couldn't help herself. "You've all got it wrong. If you don't have villains you don't have heroes. A villain's job is to force an ordinary person to become the hero they were always meant to be."


Light burst out from underneath the heavy doors to the Avatar room. Within a few moments someone was banging on the wall. Teo had told them that even if they found Sokka, he'd probably be a puppet of the phoenix. Aang knew if that was the case he'd be able to tell right away. He could tell the difference between a friend and a monster.

"Aang? Haru?" Sokka called. "Anybody? Somebody help! They're coming!"

Aang bent two currents into the air horns on the doors, and waited as the air traveled slowly through the winding pipes, as the locks and levers and mechanisms meticulously clicked into place, and the door crawled open.

Red-eyed shadows poured from the eyes of the Avatar statues, covering the floor, and rapidly morphing into… Aang didn't wait to find out, blasting them with his strongest airbending. The wind tore the statues from the ground, and slammed them through the spires walls, but did nothing to the demon shadows. Actually it made them grow faster, into terrible soulless airbenders with no spirit. Something was just wrong about them. Aang bent another strong gust at them, trying to make them just go away, but those Things opened their mouths, and sucked the magic right out of the sky. Bending wasn't working. It wasn't working!

Bending wasn't working!

Aang grabbed Sokka around the waist and ran to Appa. His buddy waited for him to get onto his saddle, and then charged away. Why wasn't his airbending working? Was that why Appa wasn't flying? And where were- The demon shadows, still in the stolen skins of airbenders, chased them on gliders. Appa ran faster, charged out of the temple, across the landing strip, and jumped off the side of the mountain. Aang became weightless as he hurdled to the ground, just trying to keep a hold of Appa. And then in a lurch, they were flying again and Aang had his bending back.

Aang trembled. The demon shadows had followed them into the sky. They never should've come here. He wasn't ready for this. And deep down, Aang knew he never would be.

"See," said Teo, pointing at the Them. "They look human on the outside. They steal people's faces and wear them as their own. That Thing on Appa isn't Sokka. And they're using It to track us."

But He- It? Looked like Sokka. Like, exactly the same. Except with no right hand, and no boomerang. Aang couldn't imagine Sokka ever abandoning one of his precious tools…

"Didn't he seem different once we got into the Temple?" Teo asked. "He yelled at you two, he started making accusations that we were being possessed." Teo looked down and played with his fingers, a sad smile touching his lips. "I think that one of those Things had already burrowed into his mind. We explored, but as we went deeper he started acting strange. He started talking about his sister. How much he missed her. And when we got to the bottom of the temple, one of those things took her face. That was what finished him off. I can't say I blame him, if it had been focused on me and not Sokka, it would've showed me my mother's face which would have…" Teo stopped, and glanced at the demons chasing them. He frowned and shook his head. "I tried to kill the Thing, I thought it might break him out of his trance, but Sokka attacked me. I knew he was done for, and after I'd finished the monster off Sokka vowed vengeance on me for killing his sister. I ran, but I think… I think the Sokka we used to know died as soon as we went into that temple. I'm sorry Aang."

It didn't sound possible. But here they were being chased by evil shadows who now looked exactly like airbenders.

"Sokka," Aang said, shaking his friend. "Wake up!"

Sokka's eyes blinked opened. They looked duller than normal, flat and reflective. But Sokka in general looked in bad shape, his skin was sallow, he had a black eye, and his hand was… His right hand was missing. He'd wrapped the stump in furs. "Aang? That you buddy?"

"Sokka, Teo says you attacked him in the dungeon? He says you've been possessed. Crazy right?" Aang laughed nervously.

Sokka stared at the stars. "We're moving pretty fast aren't we Aang? Are we being chased?"

"Tell me he's wrong Sokka," Aang said, trying not to sound like he was pleading. "Tell me he's wrong and I'll believe you."

"Bring us down," Sokka said. "I can get us out of this."

"Don't listen to him," Teo barked. "That's not Sokka! He's trying to get us killed!"

Why wouldn't he deny it? If he'd just deny it Aang would believe him! Sokka just shrugged. "He might be right. It's not like I'd know if I were one of Them."

Appa flew down, and Sokka slid off the side of the saddle. "Everyone give me your cherry bombs. These Things seem to like me, and they're vulnerable to conventional weaponry. Teo says he killed the Thing down there, and I… I remember… Everything is fuzzy, but I do seem to remember one of Them getting speared." Sokka's breathing was heavy and wheezing, and his legs were wobbling like they were about to fall over. "You guys ride Appa away. Don't fly. They're attracted to bending."

One of the creatures howled from above. Spotting them.

"Guys," Sokka said, standing tall. "Make sure you find my sister. Her name is Katara and she's a fire-"

"No!" Haru said, jumping off Appa. He hauled Sokka back into the saddle. "Maybe they'll come to you maybe they won't. We have to be sure! We need a bender to act as bait, and it can't be Aang! This is my destiny. Right here. Right now."

Everyone stared at Haru. He'd been so mild, so polite, so unconfident. But right now, for once, he seemed so sure of himself.

Teo was the first to hand him his cherry bombs. "It's a good plan," he said weakly.

"I know," said Haru.

And as the non-living creatures screamed above them, Sokka handed his bombs over as well. "You've got balls man. Thanks Haru."

Haru nodded.

Aang was last. And one thought rang through his head as he handed death to a friend: Thank goodness it isn't me. Aang looked away. "I'll find you in the spirit world." Haru's rough hands snatched his honor from him.

"Avatar?" Haru asked, fear back in his voice for the first time. "Do you know what happens to us after we die?"

"I think that-" Appa galloped away, cutting off the rest of Aang's response. He began to shake. He was a coward. A coward. He'd tried so hard to overcome it, but here he was, letting people die for him. It was in the moment right now, he could still turn back, they could try and fight those horrible Things together. Haru didn't have to- Who was he kidding? He was to afraid to even turn around and watch. He couldn't even smile and give reassurance to the man who was dying for him. Maybe he was chasing after them, maybe every man was a coward, perhaps Sokka and Teo were just as- They were both facing the opposite direction, staring back at Haru.

Aang was a coward.

He heard the explosion. He saw the pigeon-gulls fly from the trees. But he didn't honor Haru's sacrifice properly. He didn't even see it.

Sokka rested a hand on his shoulder. "We've got to stop that Thing. We can't stop trying."

"Then we have to go to Senlin Village," said Teo. "And don't think I trust you now. I know you're not actually Sokka."

"And I don't think you're actually-"

"Stop," whispered Aang. "Please. Just stop. We're gonna go to Senlin Village and we're gonna act like a family. No more accusations from either of you."

The funny thing was that Aang didn't want to go to Senlin Village. He was through with the Phoenix. It was a demon for the next Avatar. He desperately wanted to go to the North Pole and just do some good, familiar waterbending. Learn something new, play with the locals, just have fun. But he'd finally found something that truly horrified him.

Maybe one of Them had stolen Sokka's soul, maybe They had taken Teo's. Aang would go to Senlin Village because he was afraid that maybe those monsters hadn't replaced his friends with soulless demons. He was terrified that the two of them were honest, brave, men who would discover the only truth that he was sure of.

Aang was the only fraud here.


Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Next time in The First Firebender: "Huh," said Sokka, scratching his head. "I never thought that spirits existed. But I guess…"

"I know what you mean," said Teo. "Mo- I was always told that spirits were holy creatures. Proud and more magnificent than I could possibly imagine. I never expected them to do something like this."

Aang couldn't believe it either.