I apologize for the long delay! From July 28th-August 1st I was watching two of my nephews (aged 10 & 8) and they were a handful and kept me exhausted. Then from August 2nd-August 8th, I was both on vacation up North in Wisconsin where we had limited wifi in the cabin as well I was participating in GISHWHES. If you don't know what it is, look it up and be amazed!

So, now I'm back to hopefully get this done before school starts! Let's go!

After another healing session in the morning, Mustang was in fighting form to help stop the invading forces. So far, the plan was that the group would ride on Appa at the crossroads between the Earth Kingdom and Northern Water Tribe to see which one the Fire Nation would attack. From there, their back-up forces who had fought and escaped in the day of black sun would form a line of defense on both fronts. Yes, it was spread out and slightly thin but they weren't sure what the actual plans of the Fire Lord were. Edward just knew that he had to lure the Fire Lord into his trap that would hopefully take care of both Mustang's problem and saving the bending world.

The Gaang was beginning to pack up camp for the last time when Edward pulled Mustang to the side.

"I noticed you were studying Zuko and I while we were training."

"Just noting the differences in control."

Edward stared at the Colonel as he considered the fight that was about to happen.

"I know that you've technically seen the Truth. We should test to see if you're able to transmute without a circle and if so, I would personally tamper with the air around their bending to cut off the supply. I've found that would work best with how firebending works since the bender has complete control over the element they are working with."

Mustang pulled off his gloves (which thankfully were in his pocket when he was attacked in Amestris so they weren't ripped) and clapped. He pressed his hands to the open earth next to him and focused. Slowly but surely, the transmutation began to form into a wall. Edward merely watched quietly.

"I believe it isn't at full strength because I never had a toll taken, therefore the equivalent exchange is not yet fulfilled." The Colonel commented when he stood back up and the blond shrugged.

"That's the best guess for me as well." He mused before looking at one of Mustang's gloves then over to Katara. "Hey Katara!" Edward called, catching her attention, "Do you still have that sewing kit?"

A half hour later with Edward, Mustang, and Katara working together they turned one of the Colonel's gloves from manipulation of fire to manipulation of air.

After a few quick test runs, the Gaang took to the skies with a fully functional Colonel, a master waterbender, a Southern Water Tribe Warrior, a master earthbender, a master firebender prince, and an Avatar who was ready to reveal himself to the world. They were fully confident.

Until they saw both the Fire Air Force as well as the Fire Navy.

Going in different directions.

Edward summed up the feelings of the entire group (excluding Toph at that particular moment) with one word.

"Fuck."

"What's happening?" Toph asked and Sokka groaned while Katara held her head in her hands.

"There's two invasion forces. One in the air and one from the water. They're attacking both the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom." Zuko muttered as he couldn't tear his eyes from the fleets. Toph's jaw dropped slightly at the news.

"Well…that's just peachy."

"Alright-" Edward cut in, "We're going to need to split up to do this. I'm assuming your crazy sister that I've heard about is leading one of the two fleets, whatever your dad isn't, right?"

Zuko nodded.

"It would make sense, basing this off of abilities and skills that Zuko, Katara, and Sokka take care of the naval fleet while Toph, Fullmetal, and I work on the air fleet." Mustang mused. Edward nodded.

"If I happen to be the lucky one to battle your sister?"

"She can shoot lightning. Actually, all of us in the royal family, my mother not included, can shoot lightning."

"Great." The blond drawled. "I'm sure that my arm and leg will love to be used as lightning rods." Katara flinched at the reference as it had been Azula's lightning that had led to Aang's demise.

"Is there anything else we need to know?" Mustang asked as he pulled on his gloves. Sokka looked thoughtful as he pulled on his armor whilst the others put on their battle gear.

"Well, I don't know if you covered this with Aang and the other Avatars, but there's the Avatar State."

"The what?"

Katara shook her head as she strapped her pouch onto her belt. "The Avatar State basically channels the power of all of your past lives, or in your case your inherited lives, into your body giving you immense power. It's when you're at your most powerful and when you're at your weakest. Aang was killed when he was in the Avatar State. From what we saw when Aang finally got a hang of it, it's a form of deep meditation."

"Got it. Meditate while under cover. Don't get killed while in it." Edward replied as he put on the final bits of his battle armor. It was a hodge-podge of all four nations as well as his Amestrian roots. He was decked out in Water Tribe base armor, over that were Earth Kingdom bracers and boots. To complete the look was his Fire Nation cloak with the flamel on the back while he carried Aang's staff that had survived the travel and his practice with it from when he was tossed off Appa in the past week. He had enough control to get places shakily but it still worked. Luckily his automail balanced out or he'd be veering all over the place.

With a quick but cautious dive, Appa in his battle armor dove closer towards the water near where the Water Tribe fleet stood. Katara leaped off and immediately created a platform out of ice. Zuko and Sokka soon joined her with ice pick like creations on their feet so they wouldn't slip as easily.

Mustang gave a salute and Edward nodded at the group that was going to hold their ground (technically ice) where they stood. They weren't even sure if they'd see each other again.

"Good luck." Edward called right before Appa took off with the customary "yip yip" and Sokka grinned and held up his sword.

"You too Avatar Edward!"

And with that, they were off into battle.

Also, I would like to mention this here since it does mean a lot to me: RIP Robin Williams.