The Mysterious Traveler

Welcome back!

I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far.

Just heads up, I am going to be posting 3 chapters at once: 27-29

I got into the groove for writing and ended with over 20,000 words but that's too much for one chapter so I decided to split it up into three chapters instead.

Enjoy Chapter 27!

Chapter Twenty-Seven:

The Northern Air Temple

Severus did not like this plan one bit.

The next morning had not started out well for him after Katara revealed their change in plans. He had spent nearly an hour arguing with Aang about going to the Northern Air Temple, trying to convince him that they needed to get to the North Pole after three months of delays. But the airbender did not budge, determined to go and see if the rumors were true about other airbenders alive at the temple.

The rest of the night, Severus struggled to fall asleep, angry with the little monk for his recklessness to take another detour in their travels once again when they were already at the edge of the Earth Kingdom.

When he finally did get some sleep, he started to question himself about why he was so concerned about getting to the North Pole. His goal was to find Wan Shi Tong's Library, which was somewhere in the middle of a desert, and get back home. But he questioned that too… why was he trying to get home?

Home.

He thought about that word and what it meant. Was home at Hogwarts or was it at Spinner's End? Or… was it-

He shook his head. His head felt like a mist of misdirection and confusion. He couldn't even focus on what he wanted. Or what he needed to do. He instantly missed his times in his dorm room or even his bedroom at his parents' home. At least then he could think straight and focus.

Then he began to remember another place he felt safe by. The tree by the lake.

'It's more the fact that he exists-'

'Mudbloods-"

He shook his head again and buried his face into the pillow to hide his embarrassment and shame. He couldn't remember that. He wouldn't.

The only thing that became clear to him as he fell to sleep was that he felt something inside of him pulling him in the direction of the North Pole. Ever since he fell from the sky at the South Pole, he felt that pull getting stronger the longer he stayed in this world. Even day they got closer to their intended destination, it grey stronger. He couldn't figure out why or how it was happening.

And as he lost consciousness, he dreamt again.

And there he was, back in the black abyss.

"Why do you resist?"

He jumped, startled.

"Why do you resist?" the anonymous voice asked again.

Light appeared behind him as he spun around, using his hand to block the brightness. The light dimmed a bit to allow him to see more clearly and saw the orb again, floating six feet off the ground in the middle of nothingness. Its gravitational pull becoming stronger.

Severus took a step forward, slowing moving towards the orb.

"Why do you resist?" the voice repeated.

His eyes narrowed, 'Was it coming from the orb?'

"What?" he called out, feeling irritated doing so.

Once he was within reach, the orb changed colors at a slow pace, seemingly unable to settle on one.

"Why do you resist?"

Then the darkness receded as light rushed in.

Awaking with the feel of someone shaking his shoulder, he turned and saw Sokka kneeling, "Time to get ready."

He said no more as he walked away, making Severus raise an eyebrow at him.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he got up and walked to the lake, where he found a spot to bath and clean his clothes. While naked in the water, he took another look at himself in the reflection of the water and was amazed by how the last three months had changed his physical appearance.

Back at Kyoshi Island, his body had begun to show signs of body fat in places that was needed, abs beginning to form, his broken nose fixing itself, old wounds healing more properly and bruises fading away.

Now, his body was ripped, though a lot of that was due to his training with Jet and Sokka. His nose was perfectly normal, as it could get without being crooked or broken. His body was no longer thin but filled with muscles and toned skin curved over him. Old wounds had completely healed by that point. And his facial figures had also changed. No longer was he hideous or unappealing. Now… he was twice the boy he once looked like. He could see hints of the old Sev in some of the details, but otherwise more… upgraded.

The only thing that remained the same were his bruises. They seemed to only fade a little bit since Kyoshi Island but no more than that. They seemed to be reminders of his old life. The last remnants of his time as Severus Snape.

Wait, was he still Severus Snape? Or was he now Alexander Prince?

Hearing his name from Avatar Roku stirred up something in him. Three months and one week of just being called Alex made him forget what that name meant, how it felt to be called by it. And it scared him as much as it relieved him.

Once done cleaning and drying up, he walked back to the campsite, where he found Aang and Jeong talking.

"You're leaving?" Aang asked him.

Jeong nodded, "Avatar Roku gave me a task and I must see it though. Meso Island is a long journey from here and I must leave as soon as possible."

"Please, come with us!" Aang begged him. "If you come to the North Pole with us, you'll be able to get a ship there and sail to Meso Island."

Severus rolled his eyes.

Jeong shook his head, "I will not be welcomed there. And their ships will not get me past the Fire Nation blockade. I will travel with a few of my men to a port and take a small ship to sail on."

"Your people are staying here?"

"This will make a temporary home for them while I am away. My second-in-command will be in charge."

Aang nodded, "Save travels, Master Jeong Jeong."

The firebender groaned, "Please, do not call me that. I have yet to begin training you."

"Yes, sir!"

"One last thing…" the firebender closed his eyes, sighing. "The Fire Nation will attack the Northern Water Tribe soon. They know that you must master water first, and they will do everything they can to prevent you from doing so. The one who will be leading the attack is a former apprentice of mine."

Severus listened closely.

"His name is Zhao. I received word that he has been promoted to the rank of Admiral now, meaning that he will be able to lead the entire naval force. But that will take time to amass, so you must take this opportunity to get there first."

Aang bowed, "I will do my best."

Jeong huffed, "Do more than just your best, Avatar. More than just the waterbenders are at stake."

As Severus continued to pack, Jeong left to rejoin his men as they began their journey, while Aang approached him.

"So… Alex… about last night… I'm sorry for getting upset. But I need to do this. I can't let this opportunity slide."

Severus shook his head as he stood up, "He's right."

"About what?"

"About our time. Going to the Northern Air Temple will slow us down by half a week."

"But the flight will take us half a day, a quarter if Appa can push his limit."

"You're that's not even considering the rest that your bison will need or the time it will take to get us to the Northern Water Tribe, which is an unknown location to you."

"I did the math, if things go well, we'll be there before the sun sets, spend the next day there and be off by the very next morning. Depending on how long it will take, we should reach the Northern Water Tribe before the sunsets there too."

"And what happens if we can't find it?"

"Then we at least make it to the mainland of the North Pole and find us an area to rest."

Severus sneered, "It would be simpler to just leave for the North Pole now and save us the detour."

"Hey, going to find more airbenders is not a detour!" Aang shot back.

"Aang," Severus shook his head. "We're trusting the word of a firebender who only heard rumors from someone else about the possibility. It's unreliable."

"It's worth a shot."

He sighed, whispering under his breath, "Damn Gryffindor kid!"

Aang rubbed his head, "So, I hear Kori and Kiri will be joining us."

"As far as I am concerned, yes."

"Will you start training Kiri?"

Severus paused as he threw his bag onto saddle of Appa's back, uncertain.

"Hey, guys!"

They turned to see Katara walking towards them with Sokka, Kori and Kiri.

"Is everything ready?" she asked.

Aang, nodded, "It's just us that's next."

"Great!" she exclaimed. "Let's get going before-"

"Hey, wait up!" a voice cried out.

They all turned to see Jet and a few of the Freedom Fighters running towards them. Katara scoffed as she turned away before they reached them.

"You guys leaving already?" Smellerbee asked.

Aang nodded, smiling, "Have to. We have one last stop to make before going to the North Pole."

"But you've only been here for a day."

"Where are you going?" Pipsqueak asked.

"The Northern Air Temple."

"Can't you stay just one more night?" the Duke begged.

Jet raised his hand, "Guys, they made their decision. They stuck with us all the way from Giapan. They've done enough."

Their heads dropped.

Jet approached them, offering his hand, "Thank you for helping us."

Aang accepted his hand, "No problem."

Katara huffed.

He turned to Sokka and Severus, smiling, "Think you guys will be fine without me?"

Sokka offered a smile in return, "Don't worry, we'll be back to show you how much better we've gotten. I'm looking forward to another rematch once I get back."

Jet laughed, "You okay being humiliated for the 100th time?"

Sokka's smile grew bigger, determination flowing through him, "We'll see about that!"

The two locked arms.

"Jet, I'm sorry for how I've been acting to you since Giapan," Sokka lowered his arm, his face softening. "It wasn't right to hold what happened at Giapan over you like that."

Jet shook his head, "No, it was only natural. I don't blame any of you for treating us that way. We didn't deserve your help, but you did so anyway. What you've done for us is the least we deserved."

"On that, I agree," Katara whispered under her breath.

He turned to Severus, "And thank you, for helping me see my wrongs. If you hadn't been there that day, I…"

Severus nodded, a moment passing between them.

A little girl ran up to Severus, offering a necklace, "This… is… for you…"

He looked down on the little girl and remembered her as the one he saved over a month ago back in Giapan. Hesitant, he accepted the necklace and put it away into his pocket, nodding to her before she ran behind Smellerbee.

"Great!" Katara spoke up, refusing to turn their way. "We've said our goodbyes, now can we get going?!"

Severus frowned at her.

Through that awkward moment, they said their goodbyes and boarded Appa, taking off the moment they double checked that everything was there on the saddle.

Kiri laughed as she felt the bison take off, excitement and joy written all over her. Kori held onto her, smiling at her child's reaction. Karata also smiled, her brooding act washing away.

Severus turned away and fell asleep in his little corner.

At a small port on the Northern River, a ship docked at its harbor, resupplying as Prince Zuko left with only himself, some broadswords, a blue spirit mask, black warrior clothing meant to work with his body, setting off through the mountains on the faster animal alive to reach the Northern Air Temple, hoping that his targets would be there.

Traveling through the safest route of the mountains, Zhao smiled as he neared the Air Temple, curious about this informant/supplier that War Minister Quin had been using for some time now. He had two weeks before he was due to regroup with the naval force his people were putting together, two weeks to get his affairs in order before the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe began.

Operation: The Fall of the North as he had come to call it.

"Hey, guys, look!"

Severus awoke from his strange dreams as he felt footsteps rushing to the front of the saddle. Leaning up, he stretched and rubbed his eyes, getting up to see what everyone was suddenly excited about.

"It's airbenders!" Kiri exclaimed.

Curiosity instantly overtook him as he quickly moved to the front of the and looked to the horizon, gasping at the sight of the Northern Air Temple. Unlike the Southern one they had visited three month ago, this one was far more impressive as it literally sat on a mountain that was taller than the others. The three towers, two to the left of the tallest one, reminded him of Hogwarts, a smile forming on his face as he remembered the first time he saw the grand school.

Katara saw this and smiled, blushing.

The temple was like a castle, literally built into the mountain itself. The tallest tower reached high above, smoking coming out of some of the buildings beneath. Snow covered the place and the mountains out in the distance.

They anticipated as much, having put on more warm clothing they had brought with them.

Around the temple they could see people flying around the it.

"They're not airbenders!" exclaimed Aang as he crossed his arms, disappointed.

"What do you mean, they're not?! Those guys are flying!" said Sokka.

"Gliding maybe, but not flying. You can tell by the way they move. They're not airbenders."

"They seem to be flying," said Kori.

Aang shook his head, "But they're not airbending. These people have no spirit."

Severus felt a change in the wind and quickly turned to see a glider coming right towards them.

"Down!" he cried out.

Everyone ducked as a glider flew right over their heads, though not close enough to hit them. They heard laughter as they looked up, seeing a boy on a wheelchair that was attached to a glider.

"I don't know, Aang," Katara pointed to the boy. "The kid seems pretty spirited."

The glider passed them by, looking back at the monk boy with a smile.

Aang smiled back in return, mischievously as he took his own glider and activated it, jumping off Appa's head. Everyone watched in in amusement, while Kiri was in awe of the two boys racing each other in the sky. Her smile reaching all the way to her ears.

Suddenly, more gliders appeared, one flying up close to Appa's face, making him groan and slow down too fast, making Kiri scream as everyone was thrown back against the saddle.

"Ow!" exclaimed Katara as she hit her brother, Momo flying behind her for cover.

"We need to find solid ground before it finds us," said Sokka, rushing to the front to take control of the reigns on Appa, moving them closer to the temple and to a warn out bison landing pad.

"Let's hope this place isn't too old to hold a bison."

Appa groaned.

"Hey, don't blame me for how much you weigh."

As they dismounted and landed on the stone-cold ground, they looked up towards the sky, watching as Aang and the glider boy raced each other. Severus turned towards the crowd that was gathering around them, reaching for his wand in anticipation.

"Go, Teo!" a young boy cried out. "Show that bald kid how it's done!"

They continued to watch as the two went at it for a while, Aang doing his airball trick against the wall of a building before jumping back onto his glider, while the other boy named Teo used his smoke bag to form Aang's disapproving face in the sky, earning a laugh from almost everyone.

As Aang landed on his, Teo slid across the stone ground on the wheels of his wheelchair, coming to a stop. Two boys ran up and disconnected his chair from the glider, carefully carrying it away. Once free, he rolled up to them.

"Hey, that was awesome!" he smiled. "Haven't seen moves like that before! Name's Teo!"

Aang shook his hand, "I'm Aang. This is Sokka, Katara, Kori, Kiri and Alex."

Teo's eyes widened, "Wait, you're a real airbender! You're the Avatar!"

Aang smiled, sheepishly, "Yep… that's me…"

"Man, it's so amazing to meet you! We've all been hearing stories about you-"

He paused the moment he saw Severus, noticing the wand that was slightly hidden away in his robes. He rode up to him, staring at him in awe.

Severus glared at him, "What!"

Teo was unfazed, "You're the Mysterious Traveler!"

Severus frowned, "How do you know me?"

"How could we not know about you?!" Teo exclaimed. "The people we meet down below all have been spreading rumors about the Avatar's return and the one who has been traveling with him. We heard about your daring attempt to free some earthbenders from prison, the fight at Giapan, and the breaking though of the Fire Nation blockade. You two have become famous!"

Aang smiled, sheepishly, "Thanks."

Sokka's eyes lit up, "Wow, this glider chair is incredible!"

He walked up to the two boys holding the glider, studying it.

"If you think that's cool, just wait until you see the other stuff our dad has designed," a female voice called out.

Everyone turned to see a redhead girl, dressed in tomboy-like-fashion, smoke stains and sweat all over her as she approached them.

Sokka's mouth dropped at the sight of her, trying to think up a way to reply.

"Hi, I'm Renee," she offered her hand.

Sokka continued to gap at her, "Uh… hi… I'm… So- Sok…"

"This idiot is my brother, Sokka," Katara smiled, shaking her hand. "I'm Katara. This here is Aang, Alex, Kori and Kiri."

"Ah, aren't you cute!" Renee bent down to Kiri, who blushed. "I can tell you'll be a real heartbreaker one day."

She ran behind her mother.

"Sorry," Kiri rubbed the top of her daughter's head. "She can be shy."

Renee laughed, "Welcome to the Northern Air Temple. You've met my showoff of a brother, Teo."

"Hey!"

"So, what brings you here?"

Aang looked down, while Katara smiled at him, sadly, "We came because of rumors about airbenders living here."

Renee and Teo looked at Aang with sad looks.

"Yeah, we've been mistaken for airbenders before," explained Teo. "We haven't run across any until you."

"How long have you been living here?" Katara asked.

"About three years now," Teo answered.

"How did you manage to reach the temple so high up?" Aang asked.

Renee smiled, "Our father has his ways. Come on inside, we will show you around and introduce you to him. I know he'll be thrilled to meet the Avatar the himself."

The two walked towards the entrance of the large building in front of them, with Aang and everyone else following. Severus followed as well, though he kept a good distance and with his wand ready in hand.

It took Sokka a moment a stop drooling on himself and snap out of his trance, running after them to keep up.

Climbing up the side of the mountain, Prince Zuko spared no time in getting up to the Northern Air Temple, a plan in hand for when he would capture the Avatar and, hopefully, the Mysterious Traveler along with him.

Down below was a mongoose lizard, tied up to make sure it didn't go anyway. All he had to do was knock out the Avatar, use the parachute his uncle had made so that he could make it to the ground and use the lizard to get back to his ship with his prize in han.d

He groaned when he looked up and saw how much further he had to go. It was going to be a long climb and he needed to make sure he got some rest in between climbs so he didn't get too tired.

But when it came to Zuko and his destiny, no amount of sleep could stop him.

The tour of the Northern Air Temple amazed everyone, even Severus. Though Aang was saddened by the way they were treating the temple, with hold pipes were put into the walls and how the water had become polluted. To him, he saw it as disrespect and disregard for his peoples' history and home.

Sokka and Severus were impressed with how they used hot air to keep everything in order. From pipes to keep rooms, water, and tubs warm; to glider-like elevators; a garden to grow food; and building items like weapons, gliders and among other inventions.

Renee was very hyper and energetic. She was always up to something and spoke what was on her mind. To frustrate or anger her took some work, in the opinion of her brother, anyway. And Sokka was taking an instant liking to her, something that went unnoticed to everyone except Renee herself.

When they reached a part of the temple that seemed untouched, Aang's behavior improved. Until a warning cry echoed around them as a huge boulder collided with the wall next to them, destroying a statue.

Once the dust settled, a middle-aged man and some others behind them appeared from the other side of the wall.

"What the doodle!" the man exclaimed. "Renee, Teo! I told you not to go anywhere near construction sites, especially with company!"

"Dad?!" the siblings exclaimed.

"I thought you decided not to demolish this part of the temple?" exclaimed Renee.

The man smiled, sheepishly, "Yes, well, I changed my mind this morning. We need a new place for the bath house and this fits perfectly."

"What's wrong with the old one?"

"Still having complications, sadly."

"Do you know what you did?!" Aang cried out. "You just destroyed something sacred! And for what? A stupid bath house?!"

The man titled his head at the airbender, "And who are you?"

"I am the Avatar! The last of the Airbenders! And I do not appreciate you destroying my ancestral home!"

The ground began to shake a bit, startling everyone.

"Was that you?" he asked.

Aang ignored him, "Explain yourself!"

"Well, people around here are starting to stink. Hygiene is important you know."

"This whole place stinks!" Aang jumped into the air and slammed his staff against the ground, sending a wave of air towards their construction, sending it over the edge of the temple. "This is a sacred temple, you can't treat it this way! I've seen it when the monks were here! I know what its supposed to be like!"

"The monks? But you're twelve."

Teo rolled up next to the man, "Dad, he's the Avatar. He used to come here a hundred years ago."

"The Avatar?"

Aang approached the head of the statue and traced his fingers over it, "This is the last remnants of my people. And you're destroying it."

Katara walked up behind him, touching his shoulder.

"I told you, its for a bath house."

Aang turned around, angry, "And who gave you the right to turn it into one?!"

Renee sniffed her shirt, "Speaking of which, I need a bath. Do you need me to do anything else, dad?"

"No, hon. Go ahead and clean up for dinner."

Renee waved to everyone, "I'll see you guys later."

Everyone waved back, save for Aang and Severus, while Sokka watched her retreating form with sadness.

Aang held the man's attention, "Explain yourself! Why are you here?!"

The man, taken aback by his outburst, turned away and walked over to his son, resting his hand on his shoulder, "Our village was destroyed in a great flood, three and a half years ago. Teo lost the ability to walk again. I lost my beloved. And we lost our home. So, we traveled through the mountains to escape the war and found this place."

He looked up towards the sunroof and at the tall tower.

"This magnificent place that was left abandoned. So we took it as our own and began to rebuild. I took great inspiration from the pictures of flying people and used what I could find here to invent, especially the gliders. I managed to find a way to give my son new means to go anywhere he wants. A new life, in the air."

He turned to the Avatar.

"I meant no disrespect, airbender. I vowed to help my people and make this place come alive again. To turn this into a haven from the war. The bodies we discovered here… I made sure to bury."

Aang's face softened as the man walked towards the hole in the wall.

"We're just in the process of improving upon what is already here. To build a new for us all, high up into the mountains, above where we couldn't. We adapted. Afterall, isn't that what nature does?"

Katara and Sokka wiped away her tears, as did Kori and Kiri, while Aang and Severus were left skeptical.

Aang walked forward, "Nature knows where to stop."

The man turned to him, "That's true. Sadly, progress seems to be both my family's strength and our weakness. We have a hard time stopping when we are moving forward. My daughter gets that from me."

He turned to some candles on a table, "Oh, dear, look at the time!"

Everyone looked at them with awe.

The man turned to his followers, "Quickly, the pulley system must be oiled down before dark!"

The men nodded before running off.

"Wait, how can you tell the time with that thing?" Sokka asked, studying the candles. "The notches all look the same."

The man approached him, "The candle will tell us. Watch."

Kiri ran up to watch with them as four pops sounded from the middle candle, startling her.

"You put spark powder in the candle!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Four flashes, so its exactly four hours past midday. Or as I like to call it, four-o-candle."

Sokka and Kiri laughed.

"If you liked that, wait till you see my finger-safe knife sharpener," he lifted his hand to revel a wooden glove of some kind over three of his fingers, stretching down to his wrist. "Only took me three tried to get it right."

He took off the wooden fingers and put them in Sokka's hand, making him and Kiri scream. Tapping his shoulder, he waved for him to follow.

"Come with me!"

"Mommy, can I go with them?" Kiri yelled out to her mother.

Kori nodded, "Be back once its dark, sweetheart. Have fun."

She took off after the two, struggling to keep up.

"Hey, Aang, I want to show you something."

As Severus watched Aang and Katara leave with him, Kori walked up to him, "Can you please go with Kiri and keep an eye on her?"

Though irritated, he nodded, curious to see what the strange inventor had to show. He managed to catch up with them as they began to head down a tunnel deep into the mountain itself. Before heading in, they were given some lanterns with fireflies.

Severus was curious about the fact that the fireflies were similar to the kind from his world, though different in the colors they made and the design of their little bodies.

The man explained to Sokka that they used the fireflies for this area for safety, making Severus curious as to what was down here to cause such precautions.

They reached the end of the stairs and found a door that had some kind of seal tracing around it. He reached for a lookout slide and turned to them.

"Cover your noses and hold your breath."

Obeying him, he pulled the slide and they peeked through, though Kiri was unable to due to her height, whining about it.

"Okay, you brought us all the way down here to see an empty room," Sokka said, sarcastically.

"Wrong," the man slid the peekout slide back into place. "It's filled to the grim of with natural gas. I came across it my first time here."

Severus' eyes widened, "That explains the firefly lanterns."

"I was carrying a torch at the time. Nearly blew myself and this place even more sky-high. I thought my eyebrows would never grow back."

Severus sighed, "So, we're standing on top of a mountain, filled with natural gas that is just waiting to be ignited."

"Exactly the problem I am faced with. From time to time, there are gas leaks, and they are nearly impossible to find. Until I find something I can't see, hear or touch, this place is almost like an active volcano."

Severus sneered, "Use rotten eggs."

The man and Sokka turned to him, "What?!"

Severus sighed, "Rotten eggs have a distinct smell. Use them to find out where the leak is."

The man turned to Sokka, "That's the solution to our problem!"

"Yeah, and if there's a leak-"

"-we'll smell the rotten eggs-"

"-and be able to pug up the leak-"

"-to keep the gas from escaping."

Severus shook his head, "Exactly what I just said."

"Alex, you're a genius!" exclaimed Sokka as he and the man ran back up the steps, leaving Severus and Kiri behind.

"You're really smart, master," the girl replied as they followed them.

Severus sneered, though the darkness kept the girl from seeing, "Don't call me master."

The girl blushed as they continued up to the surface, finding them in the chief's building, demanding any rotten eggs to be handed over them. The two helped as they carried a bag of rotten eggs back down the tunnel, throwing them into the room of natural gas.

Kiri remarked how stinky they were but was happy for the nose pugs they were given.

Soon, their plan was set, and it was just a matter of waiting for when the sink would spread through the mountain and reveal the leaks they were looking for. With several others to help them out, they searched the temple and the mountain, managing to find the leaks and plug them up. By the end, they had returned to the temple just before dark, in time for dinner.

"Alex," the man approached him, offering his hand. "Thank you so much for your help. You have no idea how long I've searched for those blasted leaks."

Severus felt the urge to slap his hand away, but instead turned away from him, wanting to end the conversation quickly. He walked away as Sokka and the man talked, being followed by Kiri as he found Appa by some hay, with Kori taking a nap next to his fur.

"Mommy!" Kiri exclaimed, embracing her mother and awakening her from her sleep.

"Hey, darling," she hugged her back. "Did you have fun?"

She nodded, "We used rotten eggs to find the leaks. It was a lot of fun."

"Sounds like it. Bet it was stinky though."

"Yuck!"

Kori laughed at her daughter's reaction.

Severus ignored them as he watched Katara manage to land on the ground next to Aang and Teo, the three talking. He watched them leave together, heading inside the building.

"Dinner time!"

He turned and saw Renee at the entrance of a large building, which he guessed was where they had their meals. Everyone was heading that way, as well as Sokka, the man, Kiri and Kori. He eventually followed, hoping to grab a quick bite to eat before going to sleep.

He forced himself to sit with Kiri, Kori, Sokka, Renee and the man, keeping to himself as everyone engaged in conversation.

Before everyone dug into the food, the man stood up and said a quick prayer, "May the spirits grant us another peaceful year here in our new home and may good fortune be with our new friends and the Avatar."

Once done, they began to eat, especially Sokka, who turned to Renee, who was sitting next to him, blushing at her.

"Soooo," he finally found the courage to speak up. "I hear you're an inventor."

Severus rolled his eyes.

Renee smiled at him as she ate her pork, nodding, "Since the day I was born. You're Sokka, right?"

"Yep, that's me! The guy with a plan! Adventurer, explorer, bane of the Fire Nation."

Seriously? Severus sneered.

"Quite the list of titles you have there, guy with a plan."

"I get around a lot and known for getting into a lot of trouble."

Renee raised an eyebrow, "A man who isn't afraid to go against the flow. Nice!"

"By the way, what's your father's name? He never said."

"His name is Jinn, but he goes by the Machanist. He doesn't like to be called by his birth name since our mother passed."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she took a bite out of her pork. "It was an accident. We moved on, though… my father buries himself into his work in order avoid grieving like the rest of us."

Sokka looked at the Machanist with sadness, feeling something for him, "My sister and I lost our mother a long time ago. My dad… I think he got over it… in his own way. But my sister… I don't think she ever did. The responsibilities suddenly fell onto her and I think it became some kind of way to cope about it."

Renee offered a sad smile, "What about you?"

"Hm?"

"Have you gotten over it?"

Sokka thought about it, "I think so. It hurt for a while, knowing that she wasn't going to come back, but I was older. My sister… she was still young."

Renee nodded, "I was older than Teo when the flood killed our mother. He was still very young and didn't remember it like I did. It took a year before I was able to move on. But he was spared the hardship due to his age at the time."

Silence passed between them, Sokka being unsure to respond or switch the conversation to something else.

"So, if your father is the leader of your group, doesn't that make you… a princess?"

Oh, for crying out loud!

Renee choked on her pork, struggling to swallow it as she laughed, downing it with a cup of water.

"Well, no one has ever called me that before. I guess, I kinda am."

"Well, back in the Water Tribe I come from, my father is the leader, so that makes me a prince in my own way too."

I prince of what? Ice and snow?! Puns?!

Renee laughed, "Well, aren't we the pair. A prince and a princess, sitting together among the common people, living off the land we live on."

"In my case, it's living off the land I travel on. I've seen quite a few battles and fought some foes."

"Oh, really? Then why don't you tell me about these adventures and foes of yours."

"Have you ever heard of Zuko, prince of the Fire Nation?"

"Oh, so there's another royalty you've come across other than me?" she faked a gasp of betrayal. "How could you?!"

Put me in a fight against Zuko, it's better than hearing this.

Sokka laughed, "Trust me, compared to him, you're a far better catch."

"Who said you catch me?" she raised her eyebrows. "You're the one who came to me, not the other way around."

"Well, Zuko came to me… only for me to chase after him-"

She raised a brow, while Severus facepalmed himself.

"-to save my friends he kidnapped so that we can travel to the North Pole and find the Avatar a waterbending master."

"The Avatar?" she waved her hand. "Are you sure he truly is the all-powerful being they say he is? Someone like that seems to be good to be true."

Sokka sat his fork and knife down, "I thought the same thing too. I was skeptical and arrogant about it, and a little sexist back then too. But the things I've seen this kid do, especially Alex… it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. It's true. The Avatar, magic, powerful spirits. All of it…"

Renee looked at him, something in her expression changing, "You're serious."

He nodded, "Something terrible is coming. This war… it will not last around year. It will end before fall and we need to be the ones to win it. Or else… we lose everything."

He's not wrong, Severus finished the rest of his meal, able to leave.

"How do you know this?" she asked.

He shook his head, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Disappointed, she playfully elbowed his arm, "Well, lets lighten up the mood, shall we? Tell me more about this Water Tribe you come from."

"Well, it's in South Pole-"

Severus got up, someone ran up to the Machanist, whispering something into his ear as he shot up from his seat and began to run. Severus followed, with Renee and Sokka right behind him. Kiri ran after them, with Kori calling for her to come back.

Everyone followed the inventor to a secret room that Severus recognized from the Southern Air Temple, but the door had been opened and inside was Aang, Katara and Teo, looking up a Fire Nation flag covering something resembled a hot air balloon.

The Machanist came to a stop at the entrance of the room, with the others not far behind him.

"Where is my father?!" Teo demanded from the two men trying to shoo them out. "I need to speak with him!"

"Teo," the Machanist called out.

The boy turned his chair toward him, with Aang and Katara glaring at him. He rode his chair up to him, tears in his eyes.

"What is this?!" he demanded.

The Machanist sighed and looked down, "It's not what it looks like."

"Really?!" Aang marched up to the Machanist. "Because it looks like you've been supplying the Fire Nation with weapons."

He closed his eyes, tears forming, "Yes, that part is true."

Teo drew a breath, his tears running free, "Why?"

The Machanist sighed, trying to control himself, "A year after we settled, Fire Nation soldiers discovered our settlement and I was taken to a War Minister who threatened to have the temple destroyed and everyone killed, unless… I offered my services."

Katara and Sokka shook their heads, while Aang continued to stare at him.

Renee approached from behind, "Why didn't you tell us? We could have gone somewhere else."

"I wasn't going to let them take our home from us," a hint of anger was in his voice. "I'm not proud of what I am doing but if it means protecting you two and giving you a home… I was willing to do it. Everything I do, I do it for the two of you. You're the last that I have of your mother…"

No one made a sound as silence passed, only the wind echoing through the halls.

Severus looked away, controlling himself as each word penetrated his heart, each having a meaning that he understood.

"How I can be proud to be your son when your inventions are being used for murder?" Teo pressed.

He made no reply.

"Please tell me that my inventions weren't given over to them," Renee shut her eyes, trying to repress the tears.

The Machanist shook his head, "No, I made sure to keep you out of it. All of this is on me and me alone."

"And what about them?!" Sokka demanded, gesturing towards the men behind Teo. "How many others know about your deal with the Fire Nation?"

"Only a select few, and they also agreed to go along with it to protect their own families as well."

Aang shook his head, anger radiating off him, "You take my ancestral home and violate it, and now you give weapons to the very people who destroyed my people?! How can you justify your actions for the sake of a few people?"

The Machanist looked up at him, "I do not expect you to understand. You don't know what it means to give your life to someone and have them torn away from you, while the gifts they gave you are all that remains in your life."

"And what about the other families who are suffering because of these inventions of yours?!"

"And where were you, Avatar?!" the Machanist shot back, his anger on full display. "All my life, I've known fear the most in this world. Fear that one day, someone or something will come and take what I love from me. All because of a war you or one of your predecessors couldn't stop."

Aang was taken aback, his anger melting away as it was replaced by shame and quilt. Tears forming in eyes as he looked away.

Someone came running up to the Machanist, panting, "He's coming."

"Who is?" Sokka asked.

"And he isn't alone," the man added.

The Machanist nodded, "I'll be there shortly."

He turned back to Teo, Aang and Renee.

"I'll do what I must to protect you, no matter what."

As he turned to walk away, Renee ran forward and grabbed his hand.

"Father… please!" she begged, tears in her eyes. "Don't do this."

"Then what do you suggest I do?" he asked, hopelessness filling his voice.

Severus shook his head and stepped forward, "Leave."

"What?" the Machanist turned to him, shocked.

"If you truly want to protect your children and your people, then you must leave."

"And go where?"

"There's a place we had recently found. A place where you and your people will be safe from the Fire Nation."

Aang, Katara and Sokka stared at him with shock.

"Even if I choose to believe you, it won't be easy," the Machanist shook his head. "The journey will be hard through the mountains and there's an army of Fire Nation soldiers standing in our out of here."

"Then don't travel by foot. Travel by air."

"How? We don't have enough gliders for everyone."

Severus turned to the hot air balloon in the secret room, "Not if you make more of those."

Everyone turned to the balloon.

"But… but that took weeks to build."

"By yourself, yes. But if you get enough people to help build enough of those in one night, you'll be able to fly away, over the mountains and to the Northern River."

"You're asking us to abandon our home."

"Except this time, there's a better alternative. The land I speak of has two mountains, where you can continue to fly to their hearts content. You'll be sacrificing one home for a new one, where you can restart without the threat of the Fire Nation."

Aang shook his head, "No, I won't let the Fire Nation retake this temple."

Severus' impatience grew, "We can't hold off a siege forever and we've already lost precious time in getting you to the North Pole."

The Machanist, "What if you helped us fight them off? That'll keep them away."

"For a while. But they won't let you live, not after the plans you've given to them to make their weapons. This War Minister knows that in the hands of the enemy, you will be of great service. Or worse, you'll become an adversary to be reckoned with. They'll keep coming."

Renee nodded, "He's right, father. We must leave."

The Machanist shook his head as he moved out of his daughter's reach, walking back to his office, "I need time to think."

Once he had reached his office, he closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath to regain focus. He heard the popping from his time candle, signaling that it was 10 after midday, just in time for the meeting he was supposed to have.

Gathering the maps and detailed documents, he waited by the trap door, nervous about the arrival of the War Minister and his guest.

A few seconds later, the signal sounded, and he pulled a level, opening the trap door as a hot air elevator brought up two men dressed in Fire Nation uniforms.

"You know better than to keep me waiting!" the War Minister complained. "I have a guest with me, show some respect!"

"Now, now," said Admiral Zhao, placing his hand on the Minister's shoulder. "It was only a few seconds. I'm sure our secret weapons designer was just getting things ready. Afterall, we too must show respect to those who help us in our time of need."

The Machanist bowed, "It is an honor to meet you, Admiral."

"Likewise," Zhao smiled. "Now, what is this that I hear about a new weapon you've created for us?"

Before he could reply, the door to his office open and entered Aang, Sokka, Katara, Teo and Renee.

"Teo?! Renee?!" the Machanist exclaimed. "Don't get involved in this!"

His children ignored him, staring in defiance against the two Fire Nation officials.

"The Avatar!" the Minister exclaimed.

Zhao studied the group in front of him, smiling as he laid eyes on the monk. After so long, he had finally met the enemy that many had spoken about for the past three months. And he was there for the taking. Though he was disappointed that the Mysterious Traveler wasn't there with them.

"So, you're the small group that has been causing so much trouble recently. It's a pleasure to meet you again, Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe. You'll make fine exchanges to help your father see reason."

The two glared at him.

"And the children of Jinn and Ura," he bowed. "The last two precious people in your father's life. Please do forgive your old man. He only meant to protect you."

Both Teo and Renee stared daggers at the Admiral.

He then turned to Aang last, bowing to him as well, "The Avatar! How unfortunate that we never had opportunity to meet before until now. But here we are, on the very grounds where the war officially began a hundred years ago. Quite ironic, wouldn't you say?"

Aang struggled to hold back his anger against the Admiral, his hands tight around his staff.

"Where is your magical friend?"

Aang leaned his staff forward, "The deal if off!"

"Oh? And what is your ultimatum?"

"We'll protect these people against you!"

"And throw away your opportunity to reach the Northern Water Tribe? This mountain might be hard to climb but we will do it if we have to. Jinn has proved himself to be of great service to the Fire Nation, it would be a shame to lose him."

"Leave our father alone!" Theo cried out. "All we want is to be left alone. We're no threat to you."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong," Zhao smiled. "Your father has proven to be such a great asset that he just recently provided for us a new weapon that will finally ensure our victory against Ba Sing Se."

"You lie!" Sokka cried. "Ba Sing Se's walls are unbreachable!"

"The Dragon of the West managed to breach the outer wall once."

"Only for the Earth Kingdom to take it back."

"Because General Iroh was weak and lacked the conviction to do so. But now we have the resources to do it in one day and people stronger to see it through."

Renee and Teo turned to their father.

"Please tell me that it isn't true," Teo begged.

The Machanist lowered his head, unable to answer.

Zhao's smile grew, "This war will end at Ba Sing Se, but first… the Northern Water Tribe will fall next."

"We won't let that happen!" Katara shot back.

"In two weeks, my naval force will be ready. One thousand ships will set sail for the Northern Water Tribe and we will melt it back to the icy depths below."

Aang struggled to hold back the tears as he closed his eyes, the fear and anger consuming him from within, "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Zhao acknowledge him, "Because it is our destiny to rule this world. To bring peace to everything and everyone. Imagine it, all nations united as one."

"Born out of blood!" Sokka spat with anger.

"Everything is built on a foundation. All things new make enemies of the old," he felt the excitement rushing through him. "But I am not without mercy. I hoped you would be here. So I am going to make you a one-time only deal-"

Katara glared at him, "We don't want an-"

"Join me!" his voice was filled passion. "Join me and help the very people you claim to protect by surrendering to us. How many lives would you have saved by the end of summer, before Sozin's Comet arrives? Or the fall of Ba Sing Se? Your purpose is to bring peace and prosperity to everyone, Avatar. We can do it together, peacefully."

Aang looked away, conflicted.

"You failed your people once. But now you can make up for that, by not failing now."

Aang began to shake.

"I offer you the power that only the Fire Nation can give you to accomplish your task. You'll be worshipped as a hero, a savior. The Fire Lord himself will make you the protector of society. Bound to no law or authority, except his own."

He turned to Katara and Sokka.

"Think about all the possibilities you could accomplish if you managed to spare your sister tribe the same fate as your own. You would be able to rebuild, create a new generation of waterbenders, and help your people thrive once again. The Fire Nation can help, under my guidance."

He then turned to Renee and Teo.

"I imagine that one or both of you are like your father, an inventor. The Fire Nation can pay you handsomely, be under our protection for the rest of your lives. Put your old man's fears to rest by making things easier for him. For you. You've created peaceful lives here. Don't throw it away."

Everyone was at a loss, despite some part of them yearning for the ideal picture that had been painted in their heads, they also cried out against it.

"I've heard lies like this before," said a voice from behind the five, making them turn to the doorway.

Zhao silently gasped at the figure in the darkness, just a foot from the door's entrance. He knew who this was, and he was excited as he was nervous to finally meet the one that had everyone talking about. The kind of being he had once read about so long ago.

"You offer their desires yet ask of them to submit to you through violence," he stepped forward, revealing himself in the light.

"Your people wiped out the Air Nomads, just to get to him," he pointed at Aang. "And yet, you ask him to join you, despite your threat to burn down the last remnants of his people."

He continued to walk towards him.

"Your people wiped out the southern waterbenders, leaving their society a shell of what it once was. Leaving them parentless most of their lives," he gestured to Katara and Sokka. "And yet, you offer to help them rebuild, with the threat of doing the same to the last of their people if they don't join you."

"You threatened to take away their home, their lives," he gestured to Renee and Teo. "And yet, offer them a riches, after forcing their father give you his services."

Zhao studied him, the two making eye contact as he stepped in front of the five, just within reach of the Admiral.

"You promise prosperity to a world you waged war on for a hundred years, proclaiming that it is your destiny. You strongarm and manipulate others to do your bidding, destroying anyone who doesn't. You claim that you can end all of their problems, when it is your nation who is causing them."

The five stared at him in awe and admiration, fueled by his words.

Zhao felt the mood of the room change and took initiative.

"The Mysterious Traveler," his voice was fully of passion and curiosity. "You've been causing quite a lot of problems recently."

Severus stared at him, as he bowed.

"My name is Admiral Zhao."

Aang's eyes widened.

"I've heard of you," Severus replied.

"As I of you… wizard."

Everything froze and became non-existent to Severus, he felt nothing but numbness. He couldn't think or process what he just heard properly; he was stunned like a deer in headlights.

Zhao smiled, "I had my suspicions when I first heard of you, but your attack on the coal prison proved to me what you really are."

"Wait…" Katara shook her head. "You know what he is?"

"I read about his kind, in a book."

"Like… in a fairy tale book for kids?" Sokka asked.

"What was in that book was anything but a fairy tale, tribe boy. And there was more than one book about him," he turned way and looked out the window of the room, enjoying the beautiful stars above, finding the brightest star there was. "When I was a lieutenant in my career, I discovered a man who claimed to know the existence of a buried temple in the middle of the desert. My superiors thought it wasn't worth their time, so they sent me and a few others to investigate. The man led us to its location. When we found it, we discovered a gold mine of information, a library about everything.

"We tricked the protectors of the library to allow us to look around; reading about long lost secrets, lost civilizations, other worlds, hidden treasures. Once we were done, I memorized the location and took care of the man so that no one else could find it."

Severus managed to snap out of his numbness, "Why are you telling us this?"

"Because I have an offer for you," he turned to him. "What you say is true, my nation is responsible for so much but if you join us and help us right our wrongs by finishing this war, I will help you."

"How…" he was paralyzed once again. "How could you possibly know-"

"The library revealed a great many things to me, Traveler. I can help you… if you help me."

Severus was so tempted, so on board. He finally found a way back home after over three months of dead ends and one lead that went almost nowhere. But now he knew for sure that the library this Admiral Zhao had been to was the same as to what the spirit told him about. The dots matched so perfectly.

The only problem, he didn't know where to look, only that it was in the middle of a desert. A desert that Zhao had been to and knew about. And he knew that he was being manipulated, being baited to serve this persons' plans.

Baited…

Serve…

Manipulated…

Promises…

He felt hot from the rising anger within. He remembered being treated the same by Lucius Malfoy, Avery and Mulciber. Their promises of wealth, power and recognition. How they tried to constantly make him stop being friends with Li-

Now his face was red, making Zhao and Quin back away to the hot air elevator. He stared at them with burning passion, a white glow that began to form around him. His vision was red, his body began to shake. Even the five behind him, including the Machanist to the side of him, were backing away.

He began to see Zhao with different faces; Black, Lucius, Mulciber, Avery... Potter.

"Stupefy!"

Severus struck fast, aiming his wand that he had hidden in the corner of his robes directly at Zhao as he shouted the spell. But the firebender was quick, dodging the spell with just a mere inch to spare. Recovering, he unleashed a wave of fire at him in retaliation, grabbing the War Minister as he quickly pulled a lever.

Severus barely managed to put up the shield in time to block the fire, feeling the heat against his skin despite the protection. Everyone else behind him covered their eyes and faces from the heat, backing away to the door.

Once the smoke had dispersed, Severus took aim and searched for his target, meeting the eyes of Zhao for a split second as he and the War Minister were lowered down by the hot air elevator.

"Stupefy!"

The trap door closed before the spell could catch him, though even if it had made it through, he still would have missed with how fast they were lowered down.

He cried out in frustration, his hand tightening the handle of his wand.

Message to DeDeDonuts: "I am not currently interested in a beta but I am not against the idea. My only concern is that if it is like a payment then it won't work out because I'm tight on cash. However, if it isn't, I'm willing to listen and consder you as a beta. Your email got omitted from your review, it does that whenever it happens to be a link. My email is "soundkiller 1.1 at hotmail dot com"

Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys in chapter 28!