I never know what to say at the beginning of these.

Review please!

I awoke to the sounds of shouting above me on the deck. I couldn't hear details, but I could make out a few words here and there.

Stations

Prepare

Battle

Bison!

That's gotta be Appa! This is my chance! I stood and widened my stance, just as Gyatso taught me. I breathed in slowly and released the air all at once into a decisive cut against the metal bars. The metal gave way and I was free.

Okay, Step 1: Check.

Step 2: Find my staff.

I slashed through the door and zipped past the guards who fell from the gusts of wind. Hopping up onto the deck and ran straight towards the door and past the soldiers and used my air bending to open the lock with a whirlwind of air. Alarm bells sounded as I ran down the hallway opening every door, looking for my staff. As I turned a corner I was met with three soldiers armed with swords.

"Uh, you haven't seen my staff around, have you?"

The soldiers raised their eyebrows, confused as to why I would even ask. I took that as a no. I propelled myself using air to push me up and around the walls of the hallway around each of the soldiers. As I ran past I shouted back, "Thanks anyway!" Force of habit, I guess.

I jumped up to the second level of the ship and was met with yet another guard. This one immediately blasted a stream of fire straight my way. I flipped over both the fire and him, jumping off of his helmet to propel myself even further.

I continued my search, opening each and every room I passed. I even opened what looked like to be Iroh's room, where he was sleeping peacefully, albeit snoring loudly. I whispered, "Sorry!", as I closed the door as quietly as I could.

Running as fast as I could, I spotted an open door and peered inside. Sure enough, my staff was propped up against the wall. "My staff!" I ran inside but quickly realized my mistake. The door shut behind me and I turned to see Prince Zuko waiting for me.

"Looks like I underestimated you." He spat venomously. He shot balls of fire at me which I narrowly avoided. Trapped inside a small room with an angry firebender? Not good. I dodged fireball after fireball.

Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?!

I rolled under his legs and got behind his back, which I found out he does not like very much. I kept my center aligned with his back while he spun furiously shooting fire from his arms and legs. He finally spun fast enough to almost hit me, but I trapped his fire in a ball of air to put it out. This was getting too close for comfort, so I kicked from his chest to spin myself in the air, giving me a chance to form an air scooter. I rode the ball around the walls of the room, narrowly avoiding each wave of fire Prince Zuko sent my way. Eventually, he kicked fire straight at my air scooter, dissipating the ball and I fell against the wall. I grabbed the Fire Nation tapestry above my head and wrapped it around the volatile prince. Just as I reached my staff, the tapestry exploded and burned off of him as he let out a growl of rage.

Yikes.

From where he was standing, there was a mattress on the floor. I used my staff and sent a wave of air to the mattress, flinging it and Prince Zuko into the adjacent wall. For good measure, I sent another wave sending him and the mattress into the ceiling. He hit the metal ceiling with a loud clang and I ran out of there as fast as I could. HA! Who said airbenders couldn't fight?

I finally reached the helm of the ship and ran straight past the captain. Jumping out the window and onto my glider I was finally free and flying out of there to find Appa!

…

That is, until Prince Party Pooper jumped and grabbed my ankle, weighing me down like an anchor. We fell onto the deck of the ship, and Prince Zuko growled at me. Suddenly I heard Appa's own growl and I couldn't stop the smile on my face. Even Prince Zuko stopped and exclaimed, "What is that?!" I turned to see my trusted animal guide flying behind the ship, and even more of a surprise was that Katara and Sokka were with him, waving at me! But my lapse in concentration caused an opening for Prince Zuko, and he lashed out another ball of fire.

I twirled my staff again and again until the strength of the fire was too much and it pushed my staff from my hands and I was left to dodge the fireballs without it. I jumped and flipped, dodging every one of the fireballs, but each one pushed me towards the edge of the ships deck. Before I knew it, Prince Zuko sent one final ball of fire that I couldn't dodge, and it sent me over the edge.

I fell into the freezing water and I could just barely hear Katara screaming my name before my eyes closed.

"-ng!"

"-ang!"

"Aang!"

Suddenly I felt a surge of energy enter my body and my tattoos began to glow.