Author's note: This is my first story in a long time. Ironically, it's in same fandom as my last story which was written over 5 years ago. I hope you guys enjoy/

Chapter 1: The Island

He had enjoyed ten years of being totally irresponsible. Some would argue that the young Avatar was owed as much after defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the Hundred Year War, but others, including his closest friends, thought he really needed to get back to restoring balance in the world. Since the war ended, the new Fire Lord, Zuko, had worked hard to reestablish the Fire Nation for a time of peace. Meanwhile Sokka had become the leading representative of the Southern Water Tribe and continued to support the Northern Tribe in international negotiations as well. The Earth Kingdom was being ruled by a now well-traveled Earth King who counted Toph Bei Fong and the inestimable General Iroh among his most trusted advisors.

With all of his friends taking prime roles in the future of the world, Aang sometimes felt guilty for the past decade. After all, where had he been when the Fire Nation colonies were uprooted? Where had he been as the Fire Nation experienced massive rebellions demanding Ozai be reinstated or when the rural regions of the Earth Kingdom had largely been overrun by bandits that the army was still too weak to fight off? His friends had banded together but he had been largely absent. Just like last time.

Aang sighed looking down at the clear ocean from Appa's saddle. He loved watching the ocean. It reminded him of a simpler time when she had still been there. After the first year of constant travel and sightseeing, his dear Katara had left. She said they needed to do something to rebuild and support their friends. But he hadn't been willing to listen. Instead of following her back to civilization he'd dropped her off on Kyoshi Island and flown away. The next week he'd had nightmares where she drowned or was burned and he was unable to save her, but he couldn't go back. He couldn't bear to see her disappointment. Not again.

Since then he'd been on his own. He'd traveled across the continents pursuing spirits and legends. Truthfully, he didn't know how he fit into this new world. Now that his attention was no longer fixed on Ozai and defeating the Fire Nation's schemes, Aang realized he was living in a world that had lived without the Avatar, without him, for a hundred years. This world didn't need the Avatar, and there was no Air Nomad nation to rebuild in the wake of the war. There was nothing left of his own childhood.

Rather than face the emptiness, Aang had begun running. He'd fled from those who'd known him and from those he felt he couldn't help. And now, just like last time, he was alone with Appa.

As Aang sat, consumed by his thoughts, his bison noticed what he didn't—land. It was the first land they'd seen in over a day as they'd flown east over unknown waters. Most people assumed there was no land this far east but Aang was never one to take the word of most people over a hunch. It was only as Appa began his grateful decent that Aang noticed the small island surrounded by the sea.

"What do we have here, boy? Hopefully we can find some fresh water and food." Appa roared in agreement and touched down gently on the white sand of the beach.

Aang leapt lightly off his back, still as nimble at twenty-two as he'd been at twelve, and stretched. They hadn't landed in almost two days, and man and bison were both ready for a break. Before beginning to explore, Aang bent some fresh water from the sea for himself and Appa. Then as the beast began his well-deserved rest, Aang set off to see what sort of island they'd found. The island had appeared vaguely circular from the sky, with beaches on one side and cliffs on the other three. The middle of the island was densely forested, and this is where Aang began his exploration.

As he delved into the trees, he felt a familiar pang in the absence of Katara's exhortation to be careful. He firmed his jaw and continued deeper. At first, Aang was cautious, worried that there could be wild animals or pirates somewhere, but as he walked farther without seeing any other life, he wondered if the island was inhabited at all. The trees were silent and still, no rustle of leaves from wind or birds. After half an hour of this, Aang stopped and began searching the ground for bugs. There was nothing but dirt.

The eerie silence was beginning to get to him, but the Avatar was also intrigued. What sort of island had trees but no animal life at all? Aang looked pensively up into the tree cover, and then began hopping up into the branches. From the trees maybe he'd be able to see something different—something not visible from the ground.

When Aang's head finally broke through the canopy, his first thought was that there was still no wind. Only then did he notice the larger trees looming ahead of him, at what he thought was the center of the island. They were darker than the surrounding trees and seemed to be growing in a small circle up ahead. Aang descended back to the path and continued on his way with renewed interest. The trees around him now were typical of this latitude in the Earth Kingdom, but the ones up ahead seemed different somehow.

When Aang reached the first of the larger trees, he knew at an instant that he'd found something. The tree was dark and gaunt. Its bark was a dark grey with leathery leaves that were almost black from afar. The trees were also taller than any Aang had seen on any island, where most plants

usually stayed smaller. Aang hesitated for a moment at the edge of the grove, the lack of other life weighing heavily on his spirit. But these questions of nature and spirit were ones he was comfortable with. This was his element and he was the Avatar. With a calming breath, He stepped past the tree.

Immediately Aang was struck by a wave of cold. The balmy late summer heat was replaced by a frosty nip that wouldn't be natural for another three months. The silence was oppressive now, even his own footsteps sounded muffled. Aang swallowed hard and kept walking.

In front of him, the trees opened up into a clearing. The light from above was still blocked by the leaves, but for almost twenty paces there was nothing growing. Not a single blade of grass rose from the black soil. Instead, a symbol in glowing green cast a ghoulish glow on the enormous trees. Aang stepped back, feeling suddenly sick. Whatever this place was, it wasn't natural. He knew he had only two choices—he could return to Appa and fly away or he could cross to the spirit world and find out what this place was.

Once again wishing he had his friends here to help him, Aang stepped back amongst the trees and sat down. Meditating was hard in the unseasonal cold but Aang was a firebender, so he was able to draw on his internal flame for warmth. Soon his breath leveled, and Aang felt himself float away from his body.

Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw. Crossing into the spirit world from the physical world usually takes one initially to a point that looks like that spot in the physical world. From there one travels further into the spiritual realm to places that look nothing like home. However, the landscape around Aang was impossibly different from the one he'd left. The forest he sat among had become towering cliffs surrounding a glowing crater. There in the middle, through the mist, he could vaguely make out the same symbol, brighter than before and somehow more menacing.

Aang looked behind him and saw black beaches falling swiftly to the ocean. There was no life here, not even the trees that had inhabited the physical island. For a moment Aang stood still, wondering if he should turn around. This was a far more dangerous destination than he'd really had in mind when he'd flown away from the Earth Kingdom. He'd really been hoping for a coral reef or more Unagi. But as he gazed down into the pit he suddenly noticed something new. There was another light down there besides the green symbol. Something cold and blue drifted through the fog, looking lost. Perhaps a spirit had gotten trapped in the fog?

Aang moved tentatively toward the edge of the cliff and noticed what could have been a trail, faintly descending into the crater. He'd have to edge sideways along it to reach the bottom, but Aang was confident in his balance. He crossed to the beginning of the trail and put a foot on it.

"I wouldn't go there if I were you," said a lilting and almost oily voice.

Aang spun around, schooling his face to stillness. "Koh." There in front of him reared up the serpentine body of the Face Stealer, one of the eldest spirits.

"Even the spirits do not tread this ground lightly, and no mortal has ever come here." Koh said again, smug in his superior knowledge.

"You're here," Aang replied stoically.

"Yessss." Koh said slowly, drawing out the word into a hiss. "Your past life, Roku, asked me to come when he realized where you were."

"Roku sent you?" Aang asked, feeling the hope spread across his face. As Koh whirled to face him, Aang regained control of his features. He hadn't been able to make contact with the past Avatars in several years now, another reason for his reluctance to return to the world.

Koh frowned, his face transforming into a young woman, pouting at Aang with eyes too blue. He recognized Ummi, the young lover of Avatar Kuruk, and reminded himself of the dangers in this conversation. Cautiously, he spoke again. "Why did Roku send you instead of coming himself?"

"How should I know?" Koh drawled. "Maybe he was afraid. If so he's wiser than you are."

"Why? You still haven't told me where we are." Aang said slowly, thinking back, searching his memories for anything like this place.

"You don't know it?" Koh gasped, mock surprise making the blue eyes grow wide. "It's the End."

"End of what?" Aang asked carefully.

Koh laughed. "The End. It's where spirits die. Human spirits who pass into it are never reborn. It's the End of the worlds, both yours and mine."

Aang struggled to hold back a frown. He knew that there was a place, a burial ground for spirits if you will. But the glyph and the lights were not mentioned in any history or myth he'd heard. "Then what's the blue light? It looks like someone is down there."

Koh rolled his body in a sort of shrug. "Probably a trapped soul. It's far too late for you to help if so." Replacing the Ummi's face with a mask, Koh turned to leave, crawling toward a hole in the cliff that Aang had not noticed. "If you focus you can probably see whoever it is. The mist isn't real, it's only in your mind."

Aang looked thoughtfully down again, then turned back to see that Koh had vanished. He sighed. Why had Roku sent Koh? Why had he started avoiding Aang in the first place? There was nobody left to answer these questions, so Aang turned back to the crater. He sat back on the cliffs and began to focus. Many things in the spirit world appear as one expects. So perhaps if he cleared the fog from his mind, he'd be able to see the crater better.

When he opened his eyes a few minutes later, Aang gasped. Below was a massive circle, inscribed with dozens of other shapes to create a woven appearance. The lines glowed green and in the middle was a vast darkness like a pit. Then Aang found the source of the blue light. Huddled against the wall of the cliff was a figure in blue with long dark hair.

Aang jumped up and began running around the lip of the crater to get a better look. The closer he got the more sure he was. "Katara!" He screamed, throwing himself at the edge of the cliff above her. The figure didn't move, but continued to huddle in place, a small spot of blue surrounded by glowing green.

Aang looked around, frantic for something he could use to help her. He had suspected for years that Katara was the reincarnation of Roku's wife and likely had been with many other Avatars as well. If she was sucked into the gate down there, he just knew that he'd be alone in every future life. Blinking back tears he stood, and circled back to the beginning of the path. Slowly, Aang began the descent into the pit.

As he slowly moved closer to the circle, he felt a sort of pull, guiding him closer to the center. He fought it back and continued to move across the wall toward where blue figure huddled. By the time Aang reached the bottom, he felt like he was swimming against the tide to avoid the magnetism of the gate.

Finally he reached her. "Katara, how did you get here? You have to come with me. We have to get out!"

She continued clawing at the wall, ignoring him. He grabbed her shoulder, spinning her to face him, and found nothing. Her face was blank and featureless, large eyes unseeing and empty.

Aang jumped back. Koh. How had he gotten to Katara? Was this even Katara? Without her features, and after nine years, he couldn't be certain. Either way, he couldn't leave her. He grabbed her hand and began pulling her up the path to the edge of the cliff.

If he'd thought the magnetic pull was bad on the way down, he now realized how wrong he'd been. He could barely walk, and he had to pull the woman with him every step. As he walked he grew exhausted. Each step they took was smaller and slower. They weren't even halfway up the cliff yet.

The only warning Aang had was a slight tightening of her hand. Then the wall behind his ear exploded. There was nothing to grab and they plummeted down to the floor together.

When Aang looked up, he saw the glowing green line mere inches from his face. He pushed himself up and back away from it, but the effort was exhausting. The woman next to him was huddled against the cliff wall again, whimpering now. Aang looked around, trying to find what had interrupted their climb.

"I don't take kindly to mortals stealing from me." A quiet voice said from everywhere at once. "Even the spirits are wise enough to know that what enters my domain is mine."

Aang shuddered. The voice was cold and soft and deadly. "I am the Avatar. This woman is a friend. She is coming with me."

The voice laughed, a sound like a dying rasping breath. "I know who you are. But she is mine and now you are too."

"Who are you?" Aang asked hesitantly. "I thought this was the End."

"I am the End." The voice roared. "I am the eater of worlds and the final resting place of spirits. You are a stranger, a trespasser. And you will be devoured."

As the voice spoke, the mist returned, swirling now into a funnel atop the gate. Aang could feel the wind of it pulling at him, drawing him in. In a sudden fit of fear Aang turned and tried to find a handhold on the wall. There was nothing to grab.

Turning back, Aang saw that the funnel was growing taller. It had colors swirling. Still mostly green but white and black and yellow as well. It looked like rot, like death.

Taking a breath and focusing, Aang tried to call on the Avatar state. He hadn't been able to do it in years, but he knew of no other way out. He couldn't fight whatever this thing was on his own. Rather than the unfeeling light blazing through him, Aang felt only fear. Just as he was about to give up hope, a ball of fire exploded into the gateway.

Aang looked up in surprise, right into the eyes of Roku's dragon. The beast landed heavily in front of him and Aang was drawn into a vision of himself riding away from the pit. He grabbed the woman and placed her on the dragon before leaping onto his back as well.

The dragon took off and a furious scream rocked the crater. The funnel returned, spinning faster now, trying to drag all three of them back. With a grunt of effort, the dragon loosed another fireball. The scream became one of pain as the dragon flew up and crested the cliff. It flew down, below where Aang had entered, and landed exhausted on the beach.

Aang descended slowly and turned to help his companion down. She was sitting straight, shaking like a leaf on the dragon's red scales. Looking at her empty countenance made Aang's heart break. As he gently lowered her from the beast, she clung to him, sobbing. Together they sat on the beach of black sand, she crying and he gently stroking her hair.

Now that he was closer to her, Aang was sure it was not Katara. She was shorter than Katara and her hair was darker and smoother. Despite that, Aang knew that he'd met her. When he heard the soft sigh from her lips, he froze. "Kuruk"

Ummi was dead. After Koh stole her face she'd died. But this was the spirit world. Had her spirit been wandering here, blind, all this time? Aang slowly lifted her chin and looked into her blank face, empty eyes and unmoving parted mouth. "Ummi? Is that you?" She gasped, nodded her head, and buried her face back into his shoulder.

As Aang tried to process this information, a sudden chill descended on the group. He and Roku's dragon leapt up in unison, staring back at the cliffs. There, right on the lip of the cliff stood a foggy silhouette, mottled in the green light of the pit.

Aang shuddered as the cold voice from the pit washed over him again. "You, Avatar, have dared what no other has. You have stolen from my very mouth and fought me with fire. You will pay for this insult. Until you restore to me what is mine, my gateway is closed." The figure faded away like mist in the sun, and everything was still for a moment. Then a great crack resounded through the silence. The cliffs began to splinter and dance, rock moving like the ocean in a storm. Then the rocks began to fall—not out, toward the beach, but inward, blocking the light of the gate.

Before Aang could even rise to his feet, the quakes had subsided. He carefully walked forward up to the cliffs and saw that the entire circle was blocked by the fallen stones. Pensive, Aang returned to Ummi and the dragon.

"Can I speak to Roku now? I'm not sure what just happened but I need his advice."

The dragon snorted fire, and touched Aang lightly on the head. In flashes of color, Aang saw a group of spirits wandering aimlessly on the beach, then a battlefield where the heron-crows pecked and screams filled the air, and last he saw Roku, pale and scared, shaking his head in disappointment. "What have you done?" The old man's quiet voice echoed in Aang's head like a bolt of thunder.

With a flap of his wings, the dragon took off, leaving Aang and Ummi alone. Aang sagged, unsure for the first time since he'd seen Ummi in the pit. Hadn't he done the right thing by saving her? He didn't believe in letting anyone die after all.

As he looked down at her empty face where she had fallen asleep in exhaustion, Aang knew he couldn't regret his choice. He'd saved her. He'd face the consequences, whatever they were.