Avatar: The Last Airbender (Book Three Fire)

by KayleyK1472

The 3rd and final book is up and ready to go ) It's been an amazing expierience and I hope to write more things like this in the future. Thank you for all the love in support!

21. Chapter 21: Avatar Odette

p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred sent curved fire blasts towards it with his right and then left hand. He sent a straight fire blast towards the rock ball I was safely concealed in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I began perspiring inside the ball as I struggled to hold it together. Tiny rock pieces fell on impact with Mordred's blasts and I knew I wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer. I cringed as the rock ball shook and trembled violently./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Come on out Avatar, you can't hide in there forever!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Help me…/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"A lone firebender continued to send torrents of flame towards the ground from the airships. Some airships I sabotaged earlier were smoking and steadily descending./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I was running along an intact airship./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I grabbed Elise's hand as she ran with all her might behind me. Material from the ship's envelope flew around us in tiny red pieces as we charged forward./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Elise, metalbend the rudder so it's jammed in the turning position. The ship will spiral and slam into the others," I ordered hurriedly, my mind going into robot mode./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Kill your enemies. Keep Elise safe./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise nodded. "Got it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She placed her hands on my shoulders to move me out of the way. She proceeded to spit in both hands and let out a battle cry as she slammed her hands on the rudder, pulling the metal sheets back steadily. The rudder slowly turned into a perpendicular position. Cut to inside the cabin as the elite firebenders are thrown against the walls of the cabin since the airship changes course. The airship slowly turned and hit the neighboring ship. The one Elise and I were on tore through the neighboring airship as the roof of the airship passed by./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise and I staggered and then balanced ourselves from the impact./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I turned to her, surprised and joyful. "Have I ever mentioned how sweet it is that you invented metalbending?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She shrugged. "You could stand to mention it more."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Another airship shot flames towards the ground. The flames dissipated as the sabotaged airship slammed into it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked up to the roof of the airship as a trapdoor opened to reveal an elite firebender. Elise and I noticed the intrusion at the same time and sprang into action./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I grabbed Elise's arms as we ran off, narrowly missing a strong fire blast. The long and unwavering blast changed angles as Elise and I struggled to get out of the path of fire./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I aimed for an area just below the airship's envelope as Elise and I jumped off. I unsheathed my sword as I did so. The sword dug into the airship's envelope and sparked due to friction, slowing our descent somewhat. I looked at my sword with fear and Elise screamed before I looked down, realizing we were nearing the end of the envelope./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The sword didn't make contact with the envelope and both of us were thrown off the ship's surface. I lost my hold on the sword. I looked at the bottom of a wrench-shaped platform as I landed on the extension beam and my leg snapped to the side and a loud crack sounded as pain fired up and down the limb. I let out a sharp cry of pain as Elise fell through the U-shaped portion of the platform. I was still holding on to her as Elise slowly slipped down./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I glanced down at my left leg to see it bent at an awkward angle - the sight almost made me lose my stomach. My sword was punctured vertically into the balance beam near my legs./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I grimaced./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""My leg!" I looked through the U-shaped opening, shoving past the pain. "Hang on Elise!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She nodded, frightened. "Aye aye, Captain."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked over at a neighboring platform as an elite firebender attached to a safety harness came into view. I turned my head to find another firebender taking position on the other side. Perspiring, my head shifted from the right to the left as the firebender got into a stance. Thinking fast, I reached into my boomerang holder./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"As he started to firebend, I unsheathed my boomerang. The firebender on the right of me fell when I struck him with my boomerang. I used my uninjured leg to kick up the hilt of my sword, grabbing. I hurtled my sword and cuts the platform the remaining firebender was standing on. The harness prevented him from falling to his death./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked down to a space beneath the airship as my beloved sword fell away./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Bye Space Sword," I sighed sadly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked at the corridor leading to the platform we were on as a group of firebenders ran in and positioned themselves into a stance./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise's hand slipped out of my grip and I grabbed on to her fingers with my digits at the last moment, struggling to hold on to her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I don't think Boomerang is coming back, Elise," I grunted, losing hope. Elise teared up and she nodded. "It looks like this is the end."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I turned back to the corridor as the firebenders suddenly ran off as another airship headed towards us at high speed. The other airship slammed into the sabotaged airship and scraped through the bottom./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I let go off Elise and we landed on the other ship's roof with some debris. I winced from the pain as I landed on my injured leg. I fell down, grabbing my leg in agony./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""How did that happen? Did Boomerang come back?" Elise asked, completely confused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looking up and started smiling. "No, Tarren did."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I stared at a smiling Tarren as he hung from a harness near the rudder of the airship, grinning at me goofily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred sent a curved fireball with his left hand, a straight blast and then two curved blasts towards the ball with both hands. The impact lifted the rock ball off the ground. Another fire blast hit the ball, sending it back. Mordred flew up with his firebending rocket and headed towards the ball, firebending along the way. He landed and sends a torrent of flames at the ball with a burning intensity so hot I felt like I was baking inside the rocks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I cringed inside the ball, terrified. In the ball, I watched as the interior glowed and darkened rapidly. Cut to the surface of the ball as it glows red hot from the flames. As it took a few more vicious hits, the rocks began to fall apart, various parts of it crumbling away, revealing me as I formed a small shield of air around me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I was moved back by the impact and my back made contact with a jutted edge of a rock wall behind him, hitting my scar right on the mark. As I landed against it, my world flashed to white and my body was in black./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I saw an image of myself being shot with lightning. I looked at the past Avatars in The Avatar State as the line of Avatars came back. Avatar Kyoshi opened her glowing eyes. Previous Avatars opened their glowing eyes as well. Finally Avatar Koren opened his eyes. Inside my crystal shelter I remembered as I opened my eyes. I saw the line again before I opened my eyes underwater in a vast and stormy ocean. I saw the Avatar Spirit in my mind. It's arrows glowed with bright intensity and I reached out to touch it, feeling it's power flow into me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Come on out little girl, you're about to be-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"My glowing arm stuck out from the pile and grabbed Mordred's beard to his astonishment. Under the pile of rocks I looked up menacingly with glowing eyes and tattoos. I jumped out and stared hard at Mordred. The Phoenix King firebended his arm in an arc toward me. I released my hold on his beard and swiped him arm, his a large burst of flame directed to the air./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred looked up at his arm in dismay. I made several gestures around my head and thrust my palms out, airbending./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred was thrown back violently by the air. He rolled and collided against the ground like a rag doll. His back collided against a stone pillar and he grimaced in pain, landing in a crouch behind a mist of smoke. As the smoke cleared, he looked up and I descended onto Mordred with a sphere of air circling around me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I firebended with a roar through my mouth, putting all my rage and fury into the motion. I firebended out of my limbs as well, looking like a star. The sphere moved up towards the sky, moving near the shore as the five streams of fire looped about. Mordred moaned and struggled against the stinging air pressure as the pillars crumbled from the wind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The fire streams circled and tighten around the ball. At the same time, pieces of earth from the ground beneath me and remaining water from the ocean floor - which had mostly been burned away by Mordred's fire - slowly made their way towards the sphere. The fire streams gathered and formed a revolving ring near the center outside of the sphere. The pieces of earth flew up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I clenched my fist and then tightened them further. The pieces of earth were bent into a smaller size and they flew towards the sphere. A wide circle of air revolved below me and water slowly bent above the air circle./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I bended the earth into a North-West position around me, inside the sphere. The water got bent into a North-East position inside the sphere as well. The various elements continued to orbit around me as I did so./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred looked from behind his arms as his eyes widened in shock. Angrier than I had ever been before, I glared down at him inside my lethal sphere of elements./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Irah:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In an empty courtyard in Eralith, two columns of fire shot upwards from behind some houses. The ground shook and a sinkhole formed. Bumi jumped out from the hole and looked around and made a "Whoa" noise./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Five Fire Nation tanks rolled in and one started to firebend from the opening. Bumi raised a protective wall of earth. The wall came down and Bumi earthbended several chunks of earth from the ground and kicked them towards the tanks. A tank opened to firebend at Bumi but got quickly cut off by a chunk of rock that slammed against the opening./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The tanks as the neighboring tank started to firebend but suffered the same fate. Bumi turned and made several earthbending movements with his arms and he raised his arms up. A column of earth rose from beneath a tank, throwing it up. Two more columns rose up and the tanks flew./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked around to see a tank that had been turned turtle and more tanks flew by and they got stacked on top of each other. The base opening of the topmost tank opened to reveal a shaky Fire Nation soldier who moaned with discomfort. The other soldiers also came out of the tanks, not feeling well either./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I stood in front of the Earth King's palace. The Earth Kingdom symbol had been covered with a Fire Nation banner. A wave of water and a column of fire burst out from some houses behind me. I stuck out two fingers and firebended at the banner./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The Fire Nation banner caught fire and I smiled widely as the banner burned away to reveal the Earth Kingdom symbol once again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"My sphere dropped down towards Mordred./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He got hit by the sphere and got carried by it for a short distance before I airbended him away, throwing him upwards to the air. My sphere swiftly flew in towards him as he groaned in pain and looked ahead./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"As I caught up to him, Mordred firebended with his feet away from the sphere. His stream of fire moved away from the sphere and my sphere suddenly moved up towards the sky./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I made gestures with my arms and a piece of earth inside my sphere got broken apart into small earth bullets./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Furious, I sent the earth bullets towards the rock pillars, creating a huge plume of smoke. A small stream of fire flew away from the top of the smoke. Raging more than ever, I ran forward within my sphere towards my enemy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Kole:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In the ceremonial plaza in the Fire Nation, I stared in horror at Ren lying on the floor with some small flames burning the ground around him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Across the courtyard, I saw Ren shakily attempt to get up, but quickly slump back down, too weak to get up. I gasped as I saw that he was alive. In that moment, I forgot Athera. All I knew was Ren. He was alive, and I just had to help!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Once again, I bent a water glove around my hand and ran toward Ren, desperately wanting to repay him for what he had done for me. Just when I thought I would make it to his side, Athera again attacked me, laughing maniacally with each second. My heart fell as I realized that I wouldn't be able to help my friend./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"What if...what if he died because of me?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The fire cleared to reveal Athera laughing hysterically and jumping around, charging up with lightning./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I darted off quickly, taking cover./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren attempted to get up again and stretched his arms out helplessly as I ran around the perimeter of the plaza, narrowly missing Athera's lighting. I somersaulted away from the impact and turned back as Athera firebended herself onto the roof. She charged up with lightning./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked up as I got off the ground and turned away as Athera made wide arcs of lightning around her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I'd really rather our family physician look after little RenRen if you don't mind!" she taunted from the rooftop./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She sent the powerful bolt of lightning out and I threw a stream of water up to block the lightning. Athera as sent two blasts of fire with her hands./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I ran and hid behind a pillar, narrowly missing Athera's attacks again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I'm sorry, Ren./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I was determined to stop Athera, to do something, anything to stop her attacks. I would do whatever it took to put an end to the relentless firebender. But now I just needed to duck and dodge, to stay alive, until the opportune moment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Another fire blast hit the pillar and I cringed with my hands over my head. I opened my eyes and stood up. The ground in front of me was slightly on fire. Cautious, I peered from behind the pillar./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""RenRen you don't look so good!" Athera said with a mocking tone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked up to the roof to see Athera as she charged up with lightning and sent out a bolt. At the end of the corridor, I ran to hide behind another pillar as the lightning made contact with the previous pillar. Startled, I stared at the destroyed pillar./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"With a look of determination, I turned away and stretched my arms out. I bended a stream of water from a nearby fountain towards the roof./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Athera flew in behind me and I ran off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I ran and bended a wave of water from the same fountain. Athera continued to levitate behind me closely with her firebending jets as I surfed along water waves./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"A fire blast evaporated the water but I still had enough to continue surfing. Athera dropped to the ground in a roll. She firebended wildly towards me as I surfed away in time./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I spotted some drains inside the plaza and I stumbled into it. I looked down at the drain while the wall of fire dissipated behind me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"There was flowing water inside the drain. I looked up, filled with new strength at the sight of the rich water source. I spotted a metal chain looped around a handle and stood up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Athera's hand grabbed a pillar as I ran from behind a pillar with chain in my hands./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""There you are, filthy peasant!" Athera snarled, haggard and angry./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I stood at the end of the drain, standing stationary and looking at Athera as we walked towards me. I narrowed my eyes with determination, Athera's narrowing with hate./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I sent streams of water towards Athera who dodged them and rolled across the drain. I walked closer to her while she attempts to stand up. Athera thrust her fingers out as I moved backwards./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I bended water from the drain, freezing our movements. I stared at a surprised Athera as her eyes darted around but she was unable to move./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Athera's fingers were inches away from my face. Calming myself, I exhaled and the ice around me melted into water as I proceeded to chain Athera's arm. I floated through the water, chaining Athera's remaining arm. She glared, angry, as her head was brought down. I brought Athera to her knees as I floated behind her. My hands wrapped the chains her body and then around the drain gratings. When I was done, I waterbends the water back to the drain./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The water flowed away and both of us coughed and gasped for air. I grabbed the chains and tightened them around an annoyed Athera, making sure she wouldn't be able to escape. I tightened them for one last time before running off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren moaned with pain as I kneeled at his side./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I turned him over so the lightning wound was facing me. Parts of his robe around the wound site got burnt off and the usually smooth skin was not burned and ruined. I brought up a water gloved hand and pressed it on the wound and it spread out glowing blue./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren grimaced and moaned again for a moment more before he breathed out and relaxed. He opened his eyes and I smiled with relief as I looked at Ren./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He smiled slightly and whispered weakly. "Thank you, Kole."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I teared up, suddenly realizing what he had done for me…for all of us. "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In that moment, I realized it was time for me to let go of Odette. I was never meant to be hers or she mine. It was always destined to be Ren and Odette. And I was okay with that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I helped him sit up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly, an angry Athera exhaled uncontrollably, rapidly, and firebended out from her mouth. She struggled and continued to firebend at the drain, crazed and wild looking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren and I looked at her as she landed on her back. Her face practically broke my heart as she broke down into tears./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In shock and sickened at the sight of the once powerful bender, I had to look away. I looked up at Ren as a distraction who looked at his sister expressionlessly and I could image what was running through his mind as he saw her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"At the drain, Athera continued to whimper and flail around./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred flew away from me, dodging the rock pillars./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I flew closer and brought my arms together and two rock pillars closed together. Mordred stopped in front of the pillars and changed direction. I circled my arms around my body as he flew away but got hit by a blast of water. The water flowed off some of the pillars, revealing Mordred as he pressed his back against the pillar, looking up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I broke the top part of the pillar, descending towards him as he turned back and firebended. He flew away with his feet and his arm extended out towards me. As he moved off, my sphere crashed into the ground and I brought more chunks of earth with me. Mordred who flew behind a pillar, landed, and firebended with his feet. I brought my arms together and brought another two pillars together to block his attack. I proceeded to earthbend the pillars into an 'X' shape./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred flew off and I turned in my sphere and stopped in a stance with my arms up. Five streams of fire came out from the revolving circle of fire, chasing a flying Mordred who dodged them. Mordred stopped and realized a stream of fire coming up from behind him and he flew off as the fire stream hit a pillar that he just flew past. Mordred landed perpendicular to a pillar with his feet and extended his arms out as he sent three streams of fire towards me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I extended my arms out and three streams of water and a gust of air came out from my sphere. The water and air intercepted the flames, dissipating them. I then sent a strong gust of air that hit Mordred and he got flung to a pillar. The pillar eroded away rapidly and I flew by and the top part of the pillar collapsed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I chased Mordred as I knocked down a pillar. I gained up on Mordred and knocked down another pillar. Mordred changed direction and I followed, knocking another pillar again. He looked back fearfully at a plume of smoke as my sphere came through it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred gasped and desperately tried to get out of the way. My arms moved in a circular motion in front of my body. Clenching my jaw with anger, I closed my fist. Flames came out of Mordred's foot as a loop of water extinguishes it and curled around his calf and crept up to his body, sliding up his torso and creeping up to his head. Mordred was visibly terrified as he got pulled back by the water./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I waterbended the loop around and threw Mordred. He landed on his back forcefully with the water against the top of a pillar and the water flowed off. My sphere descended towards him and I extended my arms out and clenched them./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"At Mordred's feet, mounds of earth encased them. I stared at his face as he looked at his hand being encased in earth, his remaining hand quickly closed up as well. Mordred looked up in fear./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"My voice was mixed together with the previous Avatars before me. "Fire Lord Mordred, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now you shall pay the ultimate price."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I made a weaving motion across my body and a stream of fire interlaced with water, air and rocks extend out like a snake. I moved my arms in a slashing motion and the tip of elemental stream rapidly descended. Mordred widened his eyes in fear and he closed them./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Don't!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"A voice…my voice…rose above the caterwauls of all the other Avatars screaming inside my head./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"This isn't who you are…/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Immediately, my hand tattoos stopped glowing and the elemental stream fell apart. Water dropped onto Mordred's face and he looked up, surprised. I dropped my arms and shook my head as my tattoos and eyes ceased glowing./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I lowered my sphere of air onto the ground. The mounds of earth holding Mordred's limbs together broke apart as he looked on dumbfounded. He moaned and struggled to sit up. He got up into a kneeling position while I touched the floor, steadying myself as I came to terms with what I had almost done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred kneeled behind me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""No... I'm not going to end it like this," I told myself sternly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Even with all the power in the world," Mordred said and looked on slyly. "You are still weak." proceeds/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He began to move forward./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Through the earth, I felt Mordred's hand and the movement seemed to travel up my body towards his brain. Reacting instantly, I stuck out my leg behind me and earthbended a mini rock wall that directed Mordred's hand upwards so the flames didn't hit me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I ran forward and trapped Mordred's hand within the rock wall. He started to firebend with his free hand but I brought up my arms and trapped that hand in a rocky mound as well. I stepped in front of Mordred and lowered the mounds to bring Mordred to his knees. He tried to firebend out of his mouth but I sent out a gust of air to dissipate the flames and my right hand touched Mordred's forehead while my left hand touched his chest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Stunned, he became immobilized immediately under my touch./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The lion turtle's lesson flashed through my mind as I made my critical decision. I closed my eyes and concentrated, reflecting over my confrontation with the lion turtle./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""In the era before the Avatar, we bend not the elements, but the energy within ourselves."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He placed a claw on my forehead and chest and my eyes widened with realization as a green light illuminated the world around me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked into the lion turtle's eye as the green light shadowed it. There was a bright glowing light around the lion turtle's head and my body./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In the present day, I was still deep in concentration. I lifted my head and white-blue light streamed out from my eyes and mouth, the light seeming to stream on endlessly. Mordred's eyes had an orange light streaming out of them and his mouth. The two streams of each color mingled together the pillar rumbled and shook. White-blue light covered my head and traveled down my entire body. Orange light traveled down from Mordred's head towards his entire body as well. I was amazed by the intensity of the light. Half the sky was completely filled with white-blue light while the other half is filled with orange light./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The light from Mordred traveled up my body now./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""To bend another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted and destroyed."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I could feel that I was losing. Even though I was able to be back in the Avatar state once more, this was something completely different. I knew taking away someone's bending was going to be the hardest thing I would ever have to do, but I didn't think it would be this impossible./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I could feel the strong evil inside of Mordred, how it had built up in his chi, and was now bending me to his will. Darkness was taking me, and the world around me was fading away faster than I expected. I knew if I didn't fight back, everything that I and my friends fought for will have been for nothing, but it was too strong. I knew I had a good soul and even a loveable heart, and I remembered Ren telling me once how much he loved me, how proud he was of me, and how much he wished he could be better, more like me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"If only he could see him now...he would be disgusted at me right now./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I wanted to feel the softness of his lips once more. But no matter what, I promised myself that I would not let him live in a world where Mordred would kill every last bender...just like he did with Monk Athos and the other Air Nomads./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"It was in that instant I realized I might not ever be able to see Ren again. I knew I would take an arrow for him, but the fear was so strong in me that it was blinding me from doing my duty...not just as the Avatar but as a friend to Ren./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In that moment something inside of me snapped, I no longer cared if I lived or died, just as long as Ren and everyone else could live to see the comet fly by as if nothing had happened. I then made a promise to myself and Falcon. "If I live through this, and see Ren, I will spend the rest of my life showing him just how much he meant to me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"That was when I looked down at Mordred, and with everything that was good inside of me, I fought back. I could feel my heart beating fast, sweat pouring down on my body, and as tired as I was, my heart screamed "No!" It was like fighting against a tidal wave, gasping for air, but it kept knocking you down. I saw a small light before being consumed by Mordred's evil./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I screamed, "Ren!" and that was when my chi turned on Mordred. I could see the blue turning on Mordred's body, and when there was no more energy bending left, I let go. Mordred fell instantly and I staggered to stay on my feet./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I was sucking in air, as if I hadn't been breathing the entire time. I could feel the sweat stinging on my face where new cuts had been formed. While barely able to stand on his two feet, Mordred tried to get up, but failed miserably as he fell back hard on the ground./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""What...what did you do to me?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I took a deep breath and said, "I took away your fire bending. You can't use it to hurt or harm anyone else ever again."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I knew Mordred wouldn't be able to get up, and with what little strength I myself had, I needed to put out the fires all around me. I inhaled and exhaled, and entered into the Avatar state...as a fully realized Avatar./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Standing on a pillar, I turned towards the burning forest and raised my arms out. Mordred turned towards me furiously as I moved my arms up towards the sky. Water flooded the whole area of the forest, extinguishing the fires. Some flaming airships were cooled as the waves extinguished the embers. The burning trees were covered from top to toe and the fire dissipated. The last of the water flooded the area, extinguishing the remaining flames on the pillars and wherever else. I moved my arms and the water evaporated./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Fang ran over from somewhere and skidded to a halt beside me, wagging his tail happily. I smiled and patted his head weakly, exhausted./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Both of us looked out at the calm forest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I did it…/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In that instant, I fell to my knees, still gasping for air, and as I placed my hands on the rocks, I could see my hands bleeding. As I looked at myself more closely I could see burn marks all over myself, and deep enough cuts that would end up becoming a scars. I wasn't aware of a fire nation blimp approaching, nor did I care./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I did what he needed to do, and now if they wanted to kill me, then so be it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"As the comet passed by, we left our airship wedged on top of the rock pillars. I could see Odette's slumped over form as she lied unmoving in the dirt./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"At first I though the worst and was filled with dread, but relief washed through me as she stirred when she heard us approach and sat up, looking over her shoulder. When she recognized us, she staggered unsteadily to her feet and watched as Tarren and Elise supported me as we walk past the platform onto the pillar./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""You did it! You should have seen yourself, it was amazing!" I cried, still awed by the awesome sight I had witnessed. I lifted my arms from both my companion's shoulders and stand on one leg, lifting my bandaged leg off the ground. I proceeded to make several punching gestures. "You were all like, "pshoom, pfoom, pfoom, phish, whoom", and then the Fire Lord was all like, "eugh, eh, eh, eh, eugh, aye"."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I pretended to choke my self./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I took in Odette and started. She looked like she'd been trampled by a herd of angry rhinos but her pretty grey eyes sparkled with triumph. Her face was covered with blood and dirt and she had bruises dotting areas on her usually flawless skin. Her long, dark brown hair was matted and muddy and her clothes were torn and ragged. Her cheeks and forehead had a few scratches and some were still bleeding, trickling little red tracks down her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""You look terrible," I commented as she wiped some blood from a cut on her lip./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren carefully inspected Mordred who was slumped against a rock./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He pointed to him, wincing slightly. "So, did you…you know…finish the job?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred stirred angrily. "I'm still alive."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren drew his self back from the ex-Fire Lord in shock and looked at Odette, his green eyes large as moons./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I looked to Odette in surprise, completely confused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She shrugged. "I learned there was another way to defeat him and restore balance. I took his bending away."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise and I widened our eyes with surprise./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Wow, who taught you that?" Elise stammered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette shrugged matter-of-factly. "A giant Lion Turtle."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise crossed her arms and I walked off. "You have the craziest adventures when you disappear."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"So true./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I limped my way to Mordred./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I started mocking him, loving every minute of it. "Well, look at you buster. Now that your firebending is gone, I guess we should call you the "Loser Lord"."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred pulled his self up with the help from the rock behind him. "I am the Phoenix King!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He pointed his finger out warningly towards me but he dropped back to the floor, his eyes slightly dilated./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Oh sorry, didn't mean to offend you "Phoenix King of Getting His Butt Whupped."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren shook his head at the drooling Mordred. "Yeah, or how about "King of the Guys Who... Don't Win?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Mordred simply blinked, closed and opened his mouth. It seemed he had temporarily lost control of his body./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise and I shook our heads./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Leave the nicknames to us honey," Elise said as he shoulder drooped./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"As the comet slowly flew off into the horizon and left Earth, the red sky faded to night./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette turned toward me when it was gone, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She asked me one simple question./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Where is he?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In the Fire Nation capital the next day, I prepared for my coronation and awaited Odette's return eagerly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Some of the roofs of houses had been singed and destroyed last night during mine and Athera's Agni Kai./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I was currently in my room, standing near the windows as the morning sunlight streamed in. I put on my outer robe. After nearly being barbequed to death, I'd ended up with a pretty wicked scar and a bandaged torso. The wound still hurt like no tomorrow and I moaned and struggled to put my arm through the robe's sleeve as pain flashed through me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I wondered how long it would take for this sucker to heal?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""You need some help with that?" a familiar voice asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"My head shot up, surprised, and I turned to see none other than Naveen leaning against the doorway./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Uh oh./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She smiled slightly at my expression and walked towards me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Naveen!" I greeted happily but watched her warily. "You're ok."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I opened my arms out in a friendly hug./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""They let you out of prison?" I asked surprised./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Naveen walked behind me and lifted up my empty robe sleeve and I put my arm through gratefully./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""My uncle pulled some strings," she explained and proceeded to fasten my robe. "And it doesn't hurt when the new Fire Lord is your best friend."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She walked in front of me and punched my uninjured arm lightly, a small smile on her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I balked. "So does this mean you don't hate me anymore?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She blushed. "I'm really sorry about the way I acted before. I can see why you love her so much."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She looked to the side suddenly and I followed her gaze. My heart practically leapt out of my chest when I saw who it was./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She was in the hallways outside of my room, talking with Alana as the water tribe warrior helped her along the way. My face broke out in the biggest, happiest smile I had ever smiled and it took everything I had not to run over and scoop her up in my arms./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I suddenly realized that Naveen was staring up at me with an amused look on her face and I felt a twinge of guilt./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Naveen…I'm so, so sorry. For everything. I didn't me to-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Agh. Don't worry about it okay," she smiled slight and then shot another glance toward Odette. "She's special. Don't screw this one up, dumb dumb."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I smirked and walked away, leaving me smiling goofily after her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"My attention returned to Odette as she waved Alana off her with a smile, making her way toward my room unsteadily. Naveen and her met at the doorway and my friend bowed to her formally. Odette blushed in embarrassment and shook her head, bringing her back up and explaining how that was unnecessary. Naveen rolled her eyes and shot me a look that seemed to say "good luck."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Yeah…I was gonna need it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Naveen finally left and Odette turned to me. Seeing her again, it was like resurfacing, and I was finally able to breathe properly. She seemed to take a breath, her expression mirroring mine. She started to hobble forward unsteadily and I moved towards her, making the journey a little easier./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She practically flung herself at me and even though it hurt like hell I wrapped her up in a huge bear hug. She flinched suddenly and I loosened my grip, pulling back slightly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She looked horrid. Her long brown hair had been singed a little in some places and her face had cuts and scrapes all over it. Her arms were bruised with big purple stains and she had a bandage wrapped around one of her ankles./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Are you alright?" I asked worriedly, brushing a strand of hair from her beautiful grey eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She shrugged with a small smile. "Nothing Kole can't fix."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Her eyes darkened and I felt her fingers brush my own bandage. "Are you alright?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I nodded once, not really wanting to get into the details about that whole thing. I smiled again and leaned my forehead down until it touched hers. "I'm glad your back."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She sighed and closed her eyes. "Me too."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"We leaned in for a kiss and parted a few seconds later, looking into each other's eyes happily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Kole:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"In the coronation plaza, a crowd has gathered in front of the coronation platform. The Duke was there, embracing Elise with Pipsqueak, Hippo and The Boulder looking on. Haru had reunited with his father and both were chattering happily. The swamp benders had been freed and my sister and I stopped to chat with them for a few moments. They parted as we said our goodbyes and walked past them and look around the crowd. Alana was using a crutch to support her broken leg as she hobbled through the crowd./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Dad!" she suddenly gasped./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I spun around and spotted him, my heart leaping out of my chest. "Dad!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"He was talking to Cato as he turned his head towards our voices. We both ran at him and grabbed him in a huge group hug./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I heard what you two did," he said, rubbing our heads as he looked to Alana. "I am the proudest father in the world."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana smiled widely as he turned his attention to me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""And your mother would be proud too."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I touches the necklace that had impossibly remained with me through our entire journey and I teared up a bit./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"A familiar Kyoshi figure came over to us next. It was Tarren back in his Kyoshi garb with four other warriors flanked behind him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana was ecstatic. "There's my favorite warriors. I have to admit, I kind of missed the face paint. How does it feel to be back in uniform again?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""It feels great!" a familiar voice said and I froze in shock as Kenna popped up from behind the four warriors./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana was also shocked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She limped forward hurriedly and stood in front of Tarren protectively while pointing her crutch towards Kenna./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Careful Tarren! Kenna is pretending to be a Kyoshi Warrior again," she snapped./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren laughed and Alana relaxed slightly. "It's ok. She's one of us now."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana pointed to Kenna speechlessly and pointed back to Tarren./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Yeah, the girls and I really bonded in prison. And after a few Chi blocking lessons, they said I could join their group," Kenna explained and she stood in between two warriors and placed her arms around their shoulders. "We're going to be best friends forever."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Kenna pulled them closer to her as they looked on expressionlessly. She smiled widely and the two warriors smiled albeit hesitantly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Hey Tarren," I said, walking over to them. I looked at Kenna and nodded a hello./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Hey there handsome," she said with a wink and I stammered, blushing. She grinned at me, her eyes bright and happy and I smiled back./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Huh…she was actually pretty cute when she wasn't trying to kill you./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"We came to the end of a corridor inside the coronation building./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren was in his new Fire Lord outfit walking towards me were I sat beside the door. I was dressed in a blue and grey dress that supposedly complimented my eyes. My hair flowed loose and free down my shoulders in chocolate brown waves. Around my neck, I was wearing a necklace similar to Monk Athos's, just a little smaller and more elegant./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren stopped in front of the curtains and addressed me as I stood and adjusted his robes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I can't believe a year ago my purpose in life was hunting you down, and now…"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I smiled at him happily. "And now we're together?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Yeah...we are together," he replied, lacing his finger through mine./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I can't believe a year ago I was still frozen in a block of ice. The world's so different now," I sighed, a little sad as I thought about my lost kin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up. "And it's gonna be even more different, when we build it together."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I smiled and we kissed and separated as Ren parted the curtains and walked through them, his hand still curled around mine./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"We stood in front of the crowd in front of the coronation platform. They had been arranged into four groups: Swamp benders,earthbenders, Water Tribe warriors and Fire Nation citizens. I turned to one of the Fire Sages as one of them sounded a gong three times./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren let go of my hand and walked forward and they bowed in respect. He looked down at the cheering crowd and I felt pride swelling up in me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren raised his arm and moved aside as I walked towards him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Please, the real hero is the Avatar."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"As I took my place beside him, I spotted The Duke and Elise who were sitting on Pipsqueak and Hippo's shoulders respectively as all four of them cheered wildly. I scanned the crowd and found Kole, Alana, Kodah and Tarren who were looking on at me with the biggest smiles. I winked at Kole and Alana, who I owed so much to. They truly were the greatest friends anyone could ever have. We'd started our journey together, and now were finally finishing it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren stepped forward, continuing his speech. "Today, this war is finally over."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Haru, Tyro, Cash and The Mechanist smiled and the Fire Nation citizens behind them cheered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""This is a day not of celebration but of national memory. It's a day when we learn, and learn again, of the horror of purposeless war. It is a day for looking after your mates, cherishing your home, your neighborhood and family...It's a day for realizing how rare this wonderful country of ours is and how precious it is./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I promised my Uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. A hundred years of fighting has left the world scarred and divided." Ren and I turned towards each other and exchanged a smile. "But with the Avatar's help, we can get it back on the right path, and begin a new era of love and peace."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I bowed slightly to him and backed away as one of the Fire Sages holding the Fire Lord diadem in his hand walking forward. Ren kneeled down and I looked at the Fire Sage standing behind him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The Fire Sage inserted the diadem into his top knot. "All hail Fire Lord Ren!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The crowd cheered and Ren lifted his head up as the Fire Sage dismissed his self, keeping his head bowed as flowers rained down from somewhere above. Ren stood up and walked forward. He paused, turned, and gestured me to join him. I came over a split second later and we posed at the top of the steps. We looked at each other briefly before looking back at the crowd, staring straight ahead into our future./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I walked alone on the rocky path leading to the crater in the Fire Nation capital./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Eventually, I came to the outer cordon of the prison tower and made my way in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I walked along the corridor inside the prison and paused outside a door for a second before pushing it in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The door opened to reveal a disheveled Mordred in rags leaning against the wall of his cell. I stared darkly at Mordred's face as his eyes glanced to the side at my shadow./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I should count myself lucky," he growled as I looked in. "The new Fire Lord has graced me with his presence in my lonely prison cell."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""You should count yourself lucky that the Avatar spared your life," I snapped and he made a "Hmph" sound. "Banishing me was the best thing you could have done for my life. It put me on the right path; perhaps your time in here can do the same for you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Why are you really here?" he said, nonchalant./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Because you are going to tell me something." I kneeled down and pressed my face into the bars. "Where is my mother?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Odette:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"We returned to Eralith a few days later./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Fanindra took refuge outside Ira's tea shop, staying in the back and lounging about happily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Irah was wearing his tea shop outfit playing the sungi horn inside the shop with Fanindra looking at him through the window./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren was also in his tea shop outfit smiling and walking around as he handed out tea to customers. Elise was resting her feet on the table in her new Earth Kingdom outfit as she accepted the cup from him. I sat in front of the table manipulating a ball of air up and down as Fang tried to grab it. I was wearing my new dress from the coronation, finding it to be quite comfortable actually./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Alana was sitting at the table with us, writing something with a calligraphy brush and Naveen and Tarren were playing a game of Pai Sho with Kole looking on. All of them were wearing Earth Kingdom outfits. Ren walked towards the game table and Kole picked up a tea cup from the tray./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Ren, stop moving!" Alana suddenly snapped and Kole, Naveen, Tarren and Ren looked towards her in surprise. "I'm trying to capture the moment. I wanted to do a painting, so we always remember the good times together."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"She stuck her tongue out comically as her brother walked over./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""That's very thoughtful of you Alana," he said and he looked down and his expression changed into a deadpanned look. "Wait!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I leaned over slightly to see a crude drawing of a waterbending Kole with a tail sticking out of the back of his head. Elise looked like the drawing from her wanted poster and Ren has long spiky anime-like hair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Why did you give me Fang's ears?" Kole asked, annoyed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""That's you wolf's tail!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren, Tarren and Naveen came over to check out her drawing. Tarren and Ren looked at the painting, un-amused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""At least you don't look like a boarcupine," Ren grumbled. He was drawn next to an angry Naveen. Further to the right, Alana was depicted thrusting her sword into the air behind Tarren. "My hair's not that spiky!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I look like a man," Naveen sighed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren was firebending with his free hand while his other hand was holding a fan. In the background, there was a drawing of Fanindra with me seated on her head. Further to the right, there was a drawing of a big and tall Uncle clutching his large belly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Tarren frowned. "And why did you paint me firebending?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""I thought it looked more exciting that way," Alana said, shrugging./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Fang jumped onto the table and growled as I looked at our group in amusement./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Oh, you think you can do a better job, Fang?" Alana snapped, getting defensive./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Smiling and happier than I had ever been, I got up, wanting a little fresh air. Irah was already at the table while Elise was still walking towards it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;""Hey," he said, pointing at the painting. "My belly's not that big anymore, I've really trimmed down."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Elise raised her arms into the air. "Well, I think you all look perfect!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Everyone laughed as I walked out onto the back balcony, patting Fanindra's snout as I passed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Sighing, I looked out at a panoramic view of Eralith at dusk. I paused in front of a railing, staring out at the waves crashing in the distance./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I heard the door slide open and turned slightly to see Ren walking towards me. He smiled and had a pink flower in his hand as he approached. He joined me next to the railing and carefully slipped it into my hair carefully. I smiled at him and he pulled me into a gentle embrace./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"I had finally found everything I had ever wanted. Monk Athos and the others may have been gone, but Ren, and Kole, and Alana, and everyone else were still here. They were my family, and always would be. They were my present, and my future. It was time to let go of the past and embrace my destiny, whatever it may be./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"Ren leaned in for a kiss and I deepened it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"We continued to kiss under the orange and purple sky, knowing that whatever came at us, we would face it together from now on and till the end of forever./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"The End/p