"Twinkle toes! That's gotta be you!" Toph exclaimed.

You turned around, seeing Aang, Momo on his shoulder.

You, Katara and Toph rushed over to him.

"Aang, you're awake!" Katara shouted.

"Are you sure?" Aang asked. He sounded drowsy. "I feel like I'm dreaming." He muttered, rubbing his eyes.

Katara lunged at him, wrapping him in a hug. "You're not dreaming. You're finally awake."

"Aang, good to see you back with the living, buddy!" Sokka remarked, hugging him also.

Aang took note of the firenation soldier armor that Sokka was wearing. "Sokka?"

"Uh oh, somebody catch him, he's gonna-" Toph warned.

Aang fell over.

"-Faint." She finished.

You sighed. Drawing some water from your pouch, you splashed it on him before putting it back.

Aang sat up, everyone now around him. "Why are we on a firenation ship?" Aang asked as Sokka draped a blanket over the boy. "Why is everyone dressed this way? And why am I the only one who's completely out of it?"

You, Toph and Sokka walked away, leaving Katara to answer Aang's questions.

Heaven knows he had a lot of them.

"After what happened in Ba Sing Se, we had to get you to safety." Sokka told Aang the next morning. "We flew back to Chameleon Bay where we found my father and the other watertribe men. The Earth King decided he wanted to travel the world in disguise, so he set off alone."

"Well, not completely alone." You reminded, smiling softly.

"Oh, yeah." Sokka said. "Bosco went with him." His smile fell. "Soon, the bay was overrun by firenation ships. Rather than fight them all, we captured a single ship and made it our disguise." He pulled out a map, pointing. "Since then we've been traveling west. We crossed through the serpent's pass a few days ago. We've seen a few firenation ships, but none have bothered us."

"So, what now?" Aang asked.

"We've been working on a modified version of the invasion plan." Hakoda spoke up.

"It's Sokka's invasion plan." Katara reminded sharply.

You rolled your eyes. She'd been like this since you met up with her dad.

Hakoda's shoulder's dropped slightly. "Yes. Sokka's plan."

You proudly placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder.

"We won't be able to mount a massive invasion without the Earth King's armies." Hakoda went on. "But the solar eclipse will still leave the firenation vulnerable."

"So, we're planning a smaller invasion." Sokka informed. "Just a rag-tag team of our friends and allies from around the earth kingdom." He gestured to the side. "We already ran into Pipsqueak and The Duke."

"Good to see you again, Aang." Pipsqueak told him after swallowing a mouthful of food.

Sokka turned back to the Avatar. "And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage." He leaned forward slightly. "We have a secret." He whispered. "You."

"Me?" Aang questioned.

"Yep. The whole world thinks you're dead. Isn't that great!?" He asked, standing.

Judging by the look on Aang's face, he didn't agree.

"Aang, just breathe." You advised, taking a step closer.

Aang stood, walking towards the edge of the ship. He placed his hands on the side. "The world thinks I'm dead?" He echoed. "How is that good news? That's terrible!"

"No! It's great!" Sokka insisted, approaching him. "It means the firenation won't be hunting us anymore. And even better, they won't be expecting you on the day of black sun."

"No, no, no, no. You have no idea." Aang clutched his head. "This is so messed up!"

"Tell me about it." You grumbled.

The sound of a loud horn drew everyone's attention. A firenation ship was approaching.

"I'll handle this." Aang said, grabbing his glider. "The Avatar is back- ow!" He clutched at his chest, but closed his hands around the glider anyway.

"Aang, wait!" Katara pleaded. "Remember, they don't know we're not firenation."

Aang closed his glider.

"Everyone, just stay calm." Hakoda commanded. "Bato and I will take care of this." He informed, placing on a firenation helmet.

"Come on, Aang." You told him, ushering him below deck.

"I hate not being able to do anything." He grumbled.

"Tell me about it." You muttered.

You pulled him further into the ship, knowing he would try something.

"So, how are you?"

You looked down at him. "I think I should be asking you that."

"Well, I'm asking, so answer." Aang retorted.

You frowned. "I'm not great, Aang. But I'm better, now that you're awake." You admitted, looking down at him.

"How's your back?" Aang questioned.

"Why would-"

"Because I saw it happen, but couldn't do anything about it. How bad is it?"

You sighed, stopping and rolling up the back of your shirt.

Aang took a step back, viewing the mark. He frowned, his eyebrows bowing. "It looks bad." He muttered.

"You should see your back." You retorted lightly, lowering your shirt and turning to face him.

Aang looked up at you. "I should have been there."

"You were, Aang. You just couldn't get to me. It's alright." You assured, remembering the look in Zuko's eyes as he watched you laying there.

Right before he betrayed you.

You wondered if he got what he wanted, weeks later.

You wondered if he was finally happy.

Or if he realized that it wasn't enough.

"Y/n?"

You turned. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you were okay." Aang said.

"I'm fine." You assured. It sounded like a lie to your own ears. You gestured at his head, clearing your throat. "Your hair's… interesting."

"It feels weird." Aang admitted.

"Sokka's grew out, too." You remarked. "The sides aren't faded, anymore."

Aang began to respond, but you were both slammed into the wall.

The ship was rocking.

"Stay here!" You instructed, running out. "What happened!?"

"They know!" Sokka yelled. "They started firing at us!"

You turned around, seeing the firenation ship chasing you, shooting fireballs.

Toph shot earth chunks at them, stopping them before they could reach your ship.

"I'm going down with Aang!" Sokka shouted.

"Good idea!" You hollered back.

They shot a harpoon at the boat, putting a hole in it.

Katara froze over it so no more water could get in. "I'm going to give us some cover!" She lifted her hands, drawing steam from the water.

Of course, now you couldn't see the enemy.

The other firenation ship shot another fireball, destroying your pile of rocks for Toph.

You groaned.

Katara put out the fire.

"How we doing?!" Toph questioned.

"Things couldn't get much worse." Sokka told her. He tensed up as a shrill yell sounded from behind him. He turned around, facing the sea serpent. "The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?"

"You make it too easy!" Toph shouted.

A fireball hit the serpent in the face.

It shrieked, diving in the water and wrapping around the other ship, it's attention now fully on them.

"Thank you, the universe!" Sokka called, smiling.

You had docked for repairs and some supplies restock.

"Hey, Aang." Toph greeted as you, Sokka and Katara reached his room. "We're going into town to find some dinner.

Aang placed a hand on his stomach. "Well, I am pretty hungry. Maybe dinner is a good idea."

Sokka stepped forward, pulling out a red ribbon. "Here, tie this around your head. It will cover your arrow."

Aang looked at it distastefully. "I'm not going out if I can't wear my arrow proudly." He denied, laying down and facing his back to you all.

"Aang, come on. Be practical." Sokka urged.

"You guys go ahead without us." Katara insisted, walking forward. "We'll catch up with you."

You, Sokka and Toph all walked out, heading to the village.

If worse came to worse, you could always bring him back something.

"Gone!? What do you mean, gone!?" Sokka hollered.

"What do you think?" Katara snapped back. "He left!"

You sighed, running a hand along your face. Now was not the time for Aang to get hung up on honor. You already had to deal with that, and it didn't turn out well.

"Hey." Sokka placed a hand on your shoulder. "You okay?" He asked softly.

You looked up at him, seeing Katara and Toph getting Appa.

"Yeah. Just worried." You dismissed.

Sokka nodded understandingly.

You climbed atop Appa, Sokka following and taking the reins.

He gave a quick flick. "Yip yip."

"Wait, what's that?" You asked, pointing.

Sokka looked over, seeing a volcano. "Let's check it out." He landed Appa in the water.

Momo flew away, searching.

You all climbed off of the bison, walking around.

"It's Aang!" Toph exclaimed.

"You're okay!" Katara shouted, rushing forward and hugging him.

One by one you all stepped forward, wrapping your arms around them.

Even Appa joined.

Since Aang was already upset, you figured it would be best to not mention that you were looking for him all night.

"I have so much to do." Aang murmured as everyone stepped back.

"I know. But you'll have our help." Katara assured.

"You didn't think you could get out of training just by coming to the firenation did you?" Toph teased.

Aang's small smile fell. "What about the invasion?"

"We'll join up with my dad and the invasion force on the day of the eclipse." Sokka informed.

"Hey! What's-" Toph cut herself off, reaching behind her. "Oh." She held up Aang's glider.

It was completely destroyed.

"It's your glider." You gasped out.

"That's okay." He insisted quietly, taking it. He looked it over. "If someone saw it, it would give away my identity. It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive." He turned around and jumped further up the volcano.

You watched as he stuck his glider in the ground before hopping back down.

His glider burned.