"The Winter Solstice part 2"
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The moon was beginning to leave the sky as dawn approached while Daisuke, Veemon, Katara and Sokka walked outside to search for Aang who was missing.
Veemon's ears twitched when he heard the familiar groan of Appa and he ran ahead, leading the group over to where the six legged bison was located.
Aang was there as well pulling on his reins, trying to force the large creature to leave the island, but Appa was refusing.
"Let's go, Appa! Come on, boy!" Aang grunted as he tugged on the reins.
Appa simply growled in protest making the Airbender look at him sadly.
"Look, I'm sorry but Katara, Daisuke, Veemon and Sokka aren't coming to the Fire Nation with us. If they got hurt, I'd never forgive myself. So get your big butt off the ground and let's go!" Aang cried out as he pulled on the reins.
"I think his big butt is trying to tell ya something." Sokka drawled making the boy freeze as he looked over to where the group was standing.
"See, I told ya he was gonna try and ditch us." Daisuke placed a hand on her hip.
"How rude." Veemon clicked his tongue as he wagged a disaproving finger at the 12 year old.
"Please don't go, Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. Neither can I." Katara begged.
"But I have to talk to Avatar Roku to find out what my vision means! I need to get to the Fire Temple before the sun sets on the solstice!" Aang told them.
He then used his Airbender to lift himself up onto his bison's head.
"That's today!" he reminded.
Frowning at the boy; Daisuke, Veemon, Sokka and Katara then rushed to stand in front of the bison before their friend took off.
"We're not letting you go into the Fire Nation, Aang." Katara said firmly.
"At least, not without your friends. We got your back." Sokka smiled as Momo climbed onto Aang's shoulders.
Appa then licked Sokka, making the Water Tribe boy cringe at the slobber that covered his body.
"Ew!" he whined.
The village leader then walked over to the group as Sokka tried to shake the slobber off his body with Daisuke and Veemon giggling at him.
"It's a long journey to Crescent Island." he said as he handed the buddle he was carrying to Daisuke.
The villagers had learned that she was a Firebender, but had seen her kind nature and had accepted her since the Avatar trusted her.
"You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck." the leader smiled.
Sokka, Katara, Veemon and Daisuke all climbed into the saddle while the man was speaking as Aang looked down at the man.
"Thank you for your-" Aang was cut off.
"Go!" the man snapped as he pointed towards the ocean.
"Appa, yip-yip!" Aang snapped the reins and the bison shot off into the air.
The sun then started to rise as Appa continued to soar through the air and while everyone blocked their eyes from the harsh light, but Daisuke was soaking it up like a sponge.
Appa then flew higher into the clouds, but his pace wasn't fast enough for Aang's liking.
"C'mon boy, we've got a long way to go. Faster!" Aang encouraged and Appa groaned as he flapped his tail and his speed picked up.
"Aang, we've got trouble!" Katara called as she peered over the side of the saddle.
"Yeah! And it's gaining fast!" Sokka yelped.
"Prince Attitude Problem is back." Veemon quipped as everyone looked behind them to see the metal ship chasing after them.
They watched as what appeared to be a metal catapult rose onto the deck and whom they assumed to be Zuko lit a rock on fire and it was then catapulted at the bison.
"Fireball!" Katara yelled.
"I'm on it!" Aang said as he pulled at the reigns making Appa tilt to the side to avoid the fireball that sailed by them.
"We have to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot stinker at us." Katara said as Aang's face scrunched up at the stench of the fireball.
"Can't you make Appa go any faster?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah, but there's just one little problem." Aang said as he stared ahead.
"You mean besides Zuko?" Daisuke asked as she looked down at the ocean in front of them.
Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the Fire Navy ships that were blocking their path, each one equiped with a catapult.
"If we fly North, we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way." Aang said as he turned to his friends.
"There's no time!" Katara said.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. It's too dangerous." Aang retorted.
"Oh, so letting you come alone was a good idea? You'd be way too outnumbered! The Fire Nation would've taken you out like that." Daisuke said as she snapped her fingers.
"Face it, Airhead, you're not invincible. You need our help." Veemon told him.
"And that's exactly why we're here." Katara said.
"Let's run this blockade." Sokka smirked.
"Appa, yip-yip!" Aang called making Appa growl as he then surged forward.
The Fire Navy then launched the fireballs at the group making everyone scream as Appa started swerving to evade them.
Everyone clung to the saddle so they wouldn't fall off from the crooked twists and were blinded by the fireballs exploding in front of them.
Flames were left on Appa's fur and started to burn him so Momo, Veemon, Sokka, Daisuke and Katara all started patting the flames out.
"Appa, are you okay?" Aang asked and the bison growled in answer.
Turning her head to the side, Daisuke was stunned to see that Zuko and Iroh's ship was also being asaulted by the fireballs.
"They're attacking their own allies." she whispered.
Another round of fireballs was then launched at Appa making everyone cry out as one shot up right in front of the bison and Aang pulled on the reigns to swerve sharply to the side.
Appa growled as he tried to fly away from the attacks, but the smoke was making it difficult for him to see.
Just then, two fireballs exploded in front of him and Sokka then fell out of the saddle making everyone yell.
"Sokka!" Aang yelled.
"Veemon!" Daisuke cried out as her dragon nodded and jumped out of the saddle as blue light covered his body.
"Veemon digivolve too...EX-VEEMON!"
As Sokka drew closer to the water, Ex-Veemon swooped in and grabbed the boy around the waist and flew upwards towards the sky, the beat of his wings creating ripples in the water.
As a fireball came hurtling towards them, Ex-Veemon lifted Sokka onto his shoulder and used his V Laser on the fireball, making it explode as the dragon then continued towards the bison.
As one fireball came close to Appa, Aang jumped off the bison's head and kicked at the fireball, sending out a blast of air that shattered the fireball.
The remaining debris from the fireball started to hit Aang and he flew back into Appa as Katara and Daisuke grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
Ex-Veemon and Appa then safely flew through the blockade into calmer waters.
"We made it!" Aang cheered.
"We got into the Fire Nation. Great." Sokka said less enthusiastically as he rode on Ex-Veemon's back beside the bison.
"Get over it." Ex-Veemon drawled as he hovered above Appa and shrugged the young warrior off his back.
Sokka yelped as he fell into the saddle beside the girls as Ex-Veemon glowed yellow and returned to his Rookie form.
Everyone then settled back as Appa soared through the sky towards the island, but weren't sure where it was loacted.
Hours passed and the sun sunk in the sky turning it pink and orange as the group of humans and Digimon were close to falling asleep.
Daisuke was on her back while Veemon was using her stomach as a pillow as he snored away, Sokka and Katara were leaning against the saddle slumped over and Aang was leaning forward on the bison's head as Momo was lying on his master's head.
Just then, Momo perked up when he saw something and started jumping on Aang's head making the boy look over.
"There it is! The island where Roku's dragon took me." Aang announced making the others wake up and lift themselves up.
Moving over to the front of the saddle, the group looked down at the island and saw that it was in the shape of a crescent and had a temple on it along with an active volcano.
Appa then flew down towards the island and landed at the base of a stone bridge that led up to the temple.
"You did it, buddy!" Aang exclaimed as he hugged Appa's head.
"Nice flying." Veemon said as he lifted his fist up.
Seeing this, Appa lazily lifted his paw and bumped it against the dragon's, a trick that Veemon had been teaching him and Momo for the last few days.
Bellowing in satisfaction, the bison rolled onto his side, ready to take a nap.
"Oh, you poor baby." Daisuke cooed as she scratched the bison's chin.
"You must be tired." Katara cooed as she rubbed the bison's stomach.
"No, I'm good. Refreshed and ready to fight some Firebenders!" Sokka said as he stretched out and then ran in place.
The two girls then frowned over at him as they placed their hands on their hips.
"We were talking to Appa." Daisuke and Katara deadpanned making the boy stop his exercise.
"Well, I was talking to Momo." Sokka said as he gestured over to Momo who was hanging from a branch and looked over when his name was called.
"Sure, you were." Veemon drawled sarcastically.
(A few minutes later...)
"I don't see any guards. The Fire Nation must have abadoned the temple when Roku died." Sokka commented as he, Katara, Daisuke, Aang, Momo and Veemon walked up the steps towards the temple.
"Guys, it's almost sundown." Daisuke pointed to the sky that was turning orange.
"We better hurry!" Aang called as he started running to the door and everyone followed after him.
When they entered the temple, they quietly tip-toed through the red chambers to search for the room that the dragon had shown Aang.
"Wait. I think I heard something." Sokka whispered making everyone stop.
As the group turned around to check, they froze when they spotted a group of old men standing behind them dressed in red robes and wore tall hats.
"We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the temple of the Avatar." the man standing in front of the other four men stated.
"Great, I'm the Avatar!" Aang smiled as he walked forward.
"We know." the lead Sage said as he then inhaled and punched a blast of fire at the four teenagers.
Daisuke gasped as she jumped forward and thrusted her palm out, redirecting the flame into the wall and stunned the Sages stunned that a Firebender was with the Avatar.
"Okay, now would be a good time to run." she said as the five Sages all then blasted flames at the group and Aang jumped forward and used his Airbending to blast the flames back at the men.
"I'll hold them off. Run!" Aang called and the others started running down the hallway.
As the group ran down the hallway, they were stunned to see Aang jump out in front of them.
"Follow me!" he shouted as he started running and the others followed.
"Do you know where you're going?" Sokka asked as he, Daisuke, Katara and Veemon rushed after him.
"Nope!" Aang shouted back as he turned a corner, but skidded to a stop as he then turned around and ran.
"Wrong way!" he yelled which confused the otehrs until they saw one of the Sages step out from around the corner and they all ran in the opposite direction.
"Come back!" the Sage called as he chased after the group.
The group then turned another corner and charged down the hall with the Airbender leading them, but then eveyrone skidded to a stop when they found they had reached a deadend.
As they spun around to leave, they found themselves trapped when the Sage that chased after them was now blocking off their path.
"I don't want to fight you. I am a friend." the Sage held his hands up in a peaceful manner.
"Firebenders aren't our friends!" Sokka snapped as he stepped up beside Aang.
"Hey!" Daisuke snapped as she shot him a glare.
"Except Daisuke." Sokka relented as he tilted his head at the girl.
The Fire Sage then stepped up in front of the Airbender and dropped to his hands and knees in a bow which stunned the group.
"I know why you're here, Avatar." the Sage said as he remained bowing.
"You do?" Aang asked.
"Yes. You wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him." the Sage said as he stood up.
"What? Wait, just who the heck are you?" Daisuke asked as she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I am Shyu, young Firebender." the Sage nodded in greeting to the girl.
His eyes then strayed to the dragon standing at her side and wondered how it was possible that these creatures were still alive.
Shaking the thought from his mind, he then walked over to where a lamp was and he slid it back as the others watched his curiously as he placed his palm on the wall as he focussed the heat from his hand in that spot and a secrect passage then opened up.
"This way will lead you to Avatar Roku." Shyu informed as he walked into the passage.
The group hesitated, unsure if they should trust the man in case he was leading them into a trap.
"Time is running out. Quickly!" Shyu called and the group then decided to head inside and once they were all in, Shyu closed the passage behind them.
"Avatar Roku once called this temple his home. He formed these secret passages out of the magma." Shyu explained as he led the group to a staircase.
"Whoa." Daisuke exclaimed as she looked at the red walls.
"Can all Firebenders control magma?" Veemon asked the Sage who was surprised to hear the dragon speak.
"With years of training, they could. But some thought that Avatar Roku used Earthbending to control the magma." he answered.
"Did you know Avatar Roku?" Aang then asked.
"No, but my grandfather knew him. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this Fire Temple long before me. We have a strong spiritual connection to this place." Shyu explained.
"Is that how you knew I was coming?" Aang asked.
"A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku; its eyes began to glow!" Shyu said as the group started climbing the stairs.
"That's when we were at the Air Temple. Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there too!" Katara spoke up.
"At that moment, we knew you had returned to the world." Shyu said.
"If this is the Avatar's temple, why did the Sages attack me?" Aang asked.
"Things have changed. In the past, the Sages were loyal only tot he Avatar. When Roku died, the Sages eagerly awaited for the next Avatar to return. But he never came." Shyu said sadly.
"They were waiting for me." Aang stopped walking as he looked down guiltily.
"Hey, don't feel bad. You're only a hundred years late." Sokka placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Aang then scowled at the older boy as Veemon slapped a hand over his face as the two females in the group glared at the young warrior.
"Human boys are dumb. Nothing can change my mind about this." Veemon muttered as the group continued walking.
"They lost hope the Avatar would ever return. When Fire Lord Sozin began the war, my grandfather and the other Sages were forced to follow him. I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord. When I learned you were coming, I knew I would betray the other Sages." Shyu explained.
This made Daisuke smile as she realized that there were some Firebenders who still had the will of fire that Avatar Wan had spoke of.
"Thank you for helping me." Aang said sincerely making Shyu smile at the boy happily as the group continued to walk through the chamber.
They then reached a set of stairs that spiraled high aove them to the room where Roku's statue was located.
"We'll follow these stairs to the sanctuary." Shyu said.
(Later on...)
"Once you're inside, wait for the light to hit Avatar Roku's statue. Only then will you be able to speak with him." Shyu explained as the group walked up the never endign staircase.
When they finally reached the top, Shyu then slid back a tile and looked around cautiously and then he climbed out and into a large room with masisve columns with dragon statues on top of them and a large door that had five dragons with their mouths open.
The group then followed the Sage over to the door, but the man then gasped in horror.
"No!" he cried confusing the group as they looked at him.
"Shyu, what's wrong?" Aang asked as he apprached the door.
"The sanctuary doors, they are closed!" Shyu exclaimed.
Aang then pulled on the doors to try and open them, but they were sealed shut much to his dismay.
"Can't you just open them with Firebending? Like you opened that other door?" Katara asked the Sage.
"No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise, the Sages must open this door together with five simultaneous fire blasts." Shyu shook his head sadly.
"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka inquiered as he then looked at the lamps and he grinned as an idea came to him.
"I think I can help you out." he informed.
Everyone then gave him confused looks, wondering what he meant by that.
(A few minutes later...)
Everyone watched as Sokka as he poured lamp oil into a bag.
"This is a little trick I picked up from my father. I seal the lamp oil inside an animal skin casing, Shyu lights the oil-soaked twine and ta-da! Fake Firebending!" Sokka said as he tied off the bag.
"You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka." Katara said in an impressed tone.
"Yeah. Who knew you were smart?" Veemon shrugged making the boy scowl.
Sokka then stood up as he placed the oil filled bags into the mouths of the dragon statues.
"This might actually work." Shyu murmured with a small spark of hope.
"The Sages will hear the explosion. So as soon as they go off, you rush in." Shyu instructed Aang once the bags were all set into the statues.
Katara held Momo while Veemon jumped onto Daisuke's back as the two girls hid behind a colum that was in front of the door.
"It's almost sunset. Are you ready?" the Waterbender asked the Airbender who was hiding behind another colum as Sokka rushed over to hide and plugged his ears.
"Definnitely." Aang nodded as Shyu sent a blast of fire from his finger and it lit the twine as the flame burned and crawled up the twine.
Shyu then rushed behind a pillar and hid when the flame finally reached the bags and then five exploisons went off making everyone jump slightly at the sound and smoke filled the room.
Taking his chance, Aang rushed through the smoke towards the door and yanked on them, but they were sealed shut.
"It's still locked!" he called to the others.
"It didn't work." Shyu stated sadly as everyone walked over as Aang fell to his knees in defeat.
Standing up and feeling frustraded, Aang then started banging on the door with blasts of air as the others stood back and watched.
"Why. Won't. It. Open?" the boy shouted as the air also blew back at the other occupants of the room.
"Aang! Stop!" Katara said as she grabbed his arm to stop his relentless and useless attacks on the door.
"There's nothing else we can do." she told him.
"I'm sorry I put you through all this for nothing." Aang apologized to his friends.
"Hey. You didn't make us do anything. We came because we wanted too." Daisuke smiled comfortingly at the boy.
"Although, it may not have been a good idea considering the current circumstances." Veemon shrugged making his partner bop him over the head.
"I don't get it. That blast looked as strong as any Firebending I've seen." Sokka stood in front of the door as he touched the soot that was left on the door from the blast.
"Sokka, you're a genius!" Katara suddenly exclaimed making everyone look at her in confusion.
"He is?" Daisuke and Veemon asked.
"Wait. How is Sokka a genius? His plan didn,t even work." Aang said with a confused expression.
"Come on, Aang. Let her dream." Sokka quipped.
"You're right. Sokka's plan didn't work, but it looks like it did." Katara explained possitively.
Veemon, Daisuke, Aang and Sokka shared a look before they then stared at the girl with looks of disbelief.
"Did the definition of genius change over the last hundred years?" Aang asked.
"Maybe." Daisuke shrugged as Katara rubbed her chin with a sly smile and Shyu looked at the teenagers with a curious look.
(Later...)
"Come quickly! The Avatar has entered the sanctuary!" Shyu yelled as he led the other four Sages to the doors.
"How did he get in?" the lead Sage demanded and Shyu shrugged at him.
"I don't know. But look at the scorch marks!" Shyu then pointed at the black marks on the floor.
The four Sages then looked down at the scorch marks to observe them, but then gasped when they saw a shadow moving from under the doors.
"He's inside! Open the doors immediately before he contacts Avatar Roku!" the lead Sage ordered.
Unknown to the Sages, Aang was hiding behind a nearby colum, waiting for the doors to be opened as his friends stood by watching.
The Sages then blasted streams of fire into the dragons' mouths on the door and the sound of the lock clicking was heard.
As the opened slowly creaked open, the Sages waited for the Avatar to appear, ready to attack him.
To their surprise, they found a lemur-bat standing in the room as it stared at them innocently.
"It's the Avatar's lemur! He must've crawled through the pipes. We've been tricked!" the lead Sage cried out.
Just then, Momo jumped onto the lead Sage's head and clung to his hat while Katara ran out from behind the pillar and pulled the man's tunic over his head.
Daisuke and Sokka then rushed out and grabbed the robe of one of the Sages' and pulled it up over the man's head to blind him.
Veemon then jumped at one of the men tackled him to the ground, stopping him from helping his companions.
"Now, Aang!" Shyu yelled, but the boy didn't step out of his hiding place.
"Aang, now's your chance!" Katara shouted as she, Veemon, Daisuke and Sokka held the Sages down.
Just then, Zuko stepped out from behind the pillar and had Aang's arms twisted behind his back making everyone stare in shock.
"The Avatar is coming with me!" Zuko declared as he pushed Aang forward and the Sages pinned the three teenagers, Shyu and the dragon to the floor while Momo flew off with the lead Sage's hat.
"Close the doors! Quickly!" Zuko ordered as the group was chained up while he was moving the Avatar over to the secret tile to escape.
Growling in annoyance, Daisuke then looked over as she met eyes with Aang who watched his friends with a worried expression.
Twisting his arms free from the Prince's grasp, Aang then spun himself and Zuko around and kicked the 16 year old down the stairs with a kick of air.
"Aang, hurry! Get to the door! Now!" Daisuke yelled as she saw the boy hesitate.
Nodding, Aang then rushed towards the boy as it started to swing closed and he twisted away from teh flames blasted at him and flipped over the Sages and used the lead Sage's head as a springboard to push himself into the room just as the door slammed shut.
"He made it!" Katara cheered as a flash of light was seen under the door.
Zuko then ran over to the door as he and the four Sages then blasted fire into the dragons' mouths, but the doors remained sealed.
"Why isn't it working? It's sealed shut!" Zuko turned to the Sages with an angered look.
"It must have been the light. Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside." the lead Sage explained.
"Well, he has a good reason for it." Veemon spoke up making everyone look at the dragon.
The Sages all gasped when they took time to notice the creature and realized just what he was and were stunned.
"I mean, ya did just try to kill him. Or Aang. I'm confused. How does reincarnation work?" Veemon asked as he looked over at the Water Tribe siblings, the ex-Sage and the child of Miracles.
Shaking her head in amusement at her partner, the female Firebender then looked up into the narrowed gold eyes of the scarred Prince.
Zuko stared down into Daisuke's eyes, seeing them flashing red as they glared at each other before he then turned his attention to Shyu.
"Why did you help the Avatar?" Zuko questioned the man.
"Because it was once the Sages' duty. It is still our duty." Shyu stated.
Just then, clapping was heard and the Sages, Water Tribe siblings, Prince, dragon and Digidestined turned their attention to the side where the sound had come from.
A man with a top-knot and large sideburns was the one had clapped, but from the look on his face, it revealed that he was being sarcastic.
Standing behind him were six other soldiers.
"What a moving and heartfelt performance." the man mocked with a haughty look on his face.
"I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him." he said.
The four Sages then stepped forward and placed their fists on the palms of their others hands as they bowed their heads at the man in respect.
"Commander Zhao." the lead Sage greeted the man.
"And Prince Zuko." the man identified as Zhao ignored the Sages and turned his attention to the Prince who appeared angry at the man's appearance.
"It was a noble effort, but your little smokescreen didn't work. Two traitors in one day. The Fire Lord will be pleased." Zhao smirked as his soldiers then walked up behind Zuko to restrain him.
Zuko's face darkened as he stared at Zhao and the soldiers forced his arms behind his back.
"You're too late, Zhao! The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed." Zuko snapped as he struggled.
"No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out." Zhao said as he cast a glance over at the doors.
His eyes then caught something strange and he looked over at the prisoners and was curious by what he was seeing.
"Well, well. What is this?" he smirked as he walked over.
Veemon was being hidden behind Katara and Sokka since they were wearing blue and the color of the dragon's scales would allow him to blend in and hide.
Zhao stopped in front of Daisuke and peered down at the girl who gave him a look of defiance.
"I've never seen hair like this before. How odd." he said as he reached out and picked up a lock of the mahogany hair.
"Where I come from, this is normal." she retorted as she jerked her head back, her hair falling from the man's grip.
"Hmm. And where do you come from? Perhaps the Water Tribe? No, your eyes aren't right." Zhao sneered as he forcefully grabbed her chin and lifted her head up to meet his eyes.
"The Earth Kingdom then? You couldn't possibly be from the Fire Nation. You are dressed strangely. Orange...the color an Airbender wears. Did you return with the Avatar?" he asked.
Veemon wanted to jump out and punch this man for touching his human, but he knew that he needed to stay hidden for the time being.
Sokka and Katara were watching this with worried looks, unsure of what to do to help their friends as she glared heatedly up at the man gripping her face.
Letting go of her chin, Zhao then twisted his hand into the girl's hair, causing her elastic band to snap as the waves of mahogany fell around her shoulders.
"Hey!" Sokka yelped.
"No!" Katara gasped.
"Answer the question, girl! Who are you?" Zhao demanded as he leaned into the girl's face.
Feeling her body heat up, the girl sucked in a deep breath as she felt the chains around her arms begin to melt.
Jerking her head to make her bangs fall out of her eyes, the girl gave the Commander a cheerful smile.
"I'm Daisuke Motomiya. And you're toast." she said.
Yanking her arms apart, the chains snapped and she thrusted her hands forward, sending out a burst of gold fire that pushed Zhao backwards a few feet.
Zuko's eyes grew wide as he stared at the girl, stunned by her strange color of fire.
"You're a Firebender!" Zhao spat as he jumped to his feet.
"Gee, is old age making you dumb?" Daisuke joked as she smirked at the Commander as he glared at the girl.
"You imputent child! How dare you mock me?" Zhao yelled as he took a Firebending stance.
"Simple. I'm a teenager and you're a crabby old man. It's just that easy." Daisuke chirped.
Zuko stared at the girl, wondering if she had any sanity if she was purposly angering Zhao.
Growling, Zhao then punched a stream of flames at the girl and she moved her arms gracefully as she pushed the flames into the wall and she took in a breath as she did so.
Zhao was quick as he charged forward, kicking and punching flames at the girl who then dived to the ground and rolled away from the attacks.
Veemon whimpered as he struggled against his chains in vain to get free so that he could save his partner from the crazed Firebender who was attacking her.
As she was on her back, Daisuke then moved her hands under her shoulders and kicked her legs up as she flipped onto her feet, but then swerved to the side to cartwheel away from a barrage of flames that were shot after her.
"What's wrong, little girl? Can't you fight back? Or don't you know how?" Zhao mocked.
"Maybe I don't wanna waste my time on you." Daisuke sniped back.
Scoffing, Zhao then glanced at three of his men and nodded his head, making them step up beside him.
"Daisuke, watch out!" Katara cried.
The four men then sent out blasts of fire at the girl making her duck behind a pillar and she covered her head as she felt the flames trickle by her.
"Okay, come on. I can do this. I can do this. I'm not afraid any more. Just remember what Wan said. Oh, I'm dead." Daisuke groaned as she peeked out from behind the pillar, only to scream as a soldier jumped at her with a flame blade and she dived to the ground and rolled onto her feet to run away.
Unfortunately, she was trapped between a wall and four well trained Fire Nation soldiers who had all killed before and wouldn't think twice about ending her life.
"No where to run now. You're trapped. Come quietly and you'll be spared." Zhao chided.
"Go jump in a volcano!" Daisuke snapped as she tried to think of a way to escape.
"Have it your way." Zhao sneered as he and his soldiers then took a stance.
"Daisuke, run!" Katara shouted.
"Do something!" Sokka yelled.
"DAISUKE!" Veemon screamed.
Hearing her dragon's voice, Daisuke's eyes then grew wide as she remembered what Wan had told her while she was in the Spirit World.
"I mastered my skills further by copying the movements of a dragon. My fire then became an extension of my body, not just a tool."
Eyes falling shut, Daisuke then stepped forward as she took in a deep breath as she sensed for the heat in the room.
"Fire is an extension of my body." she whispered as she lifted her arms.
Just then, Zhao and his soldiers sent four blasts of flames at the girl who sensed out the heat rushing towards her as she continued breathing evenly.
"Fire is not destrucion and death." she whispered as she opened her eyes just as the flames were in front of her.
Thrusting her hands out in front of her, she then felt the flames lick at her flames harmlessly as she then spun her body around fluidly and whipped the wave of fire around her body and sent it surging towards the Fire Nation.
The four men were stunned as they were hit by the flames and were knocked off their feet, rolling on the ground a few feet away.
"Fire is light and life." Daisuke declared as she stood up straighter and more sure of herself.
Veemon, Katara, Sokka and Shyu all smiled at this while Zuko stared off at the female Firebender in wonderment from how easily she had bent the large wave of flame.
He had never seen anything like that before in his life!
Just then, the doors opened making everyone turn their attention to them as they saw light shining from the room as power surged forth.
"No. Quick, attack the Avatar!" Zhao ordered.
The soldiers and Sages then sent a blast fo fire at the figure they saw in the light, but were stunned when the fire circled around the figure and the flames faded to reveal Avatar Roku!
Zhao was stricken with terror as he stared into the glowing eyes of the former Avatar who was untouched by the flames.
"Avatar Roku..." Shyu whispered.
Roku then moved the flames in a similar motion that Daisuke had used and he then launched it forward in a powerful wave that seared the room and knocked his enemies off their feet.
The attack also melted the pillar and the chains that were binding Katara, Sokka, Shyu and Veemon much to their relief and Zuko rushed out of the room while he could still escape.
Roku then turned his furious gaze onto the four Sages who had turned their backs on the Avatar and they cowarded at the sight of the apparition and then fled.
"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu yelled.
"Not without Aang!" Daisuke called over the sound of the temple rumbling as it started to fall apart.
Before them, Roku then lifted his hand and caused the lava to bubble to the surface from the ground and it erupted into an explosion that tore through the temple.
Sokka shielded Katara behind a pillar while Veemon ran towards Daisuke as she tried to run away from the lava, knowing she couldn't Bend it.
"Daisuke!" Veemon yelled as his human jumped over the trail of lava and landed on the ground, her side hitting the ground roughly as she landed in front of her dragon.
Veemon grabbed his human's hand and hauled her to her feet as he led her over to the pillar just as Roku lowered his hands as the sunlight from the sanctuary faded from the Avatar's statue.
Smoke then covered the man as he then turned back into Aang, the boy being weak from the possession of the previous Avatar.
"Aang!" Katara called as the group rushed over to the Airbender.
"We got your back." Sokka said as he and his sister lifted Aang to help him onto his feet.
"Thanks. Where's Shyu?" Aang asked as he opened his eyes to look at his friends.
"I don't know." Katara said.
"This place is coming down. Veemon, we're gonna need air support." Daisuke said as she looked down at her partner.
"I'm all over it." Veemon lifted his arms as he nodded.
"Veemon digivolve too...EX-VEEMON!"
Everyone then climbed onto Ex-Veemon's back and held onto Daisuke as she tightened her grip on her dragon's shoulders.
"Hang on!" Ex-Veemon called as he flew upwards and lifted his fists.
He used his V Laser to blast a hole through the cieling and escape into the sky as the group left behind the crumbling temple.
Roaring was the heard making the group turn to see Appa flying towards them and Ex-Veemon met the bison half way.
As everyone jumped into the bison's saddle, Momo then poked his head up to reveal he was wearing one of the Sage's hat.
(That night...)
The Solstice had come to an end, but no one was of high spirits as they rode on Appa as they left Crescent Island where the temple of Avatar Roku now lay in rubble.
To be continued...