Disclaimer: I own no part of Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor make any money from it. This is merely a fanfiction.

Author's Note: Attention! Please stick around to the end of this chapter for a special presentation and sneak-peek of the two-part, mid-season finale, coming up at the end of this chapter! Also, for this chapter, I decided to do a sequel to the episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" in Book 2. I hope you enjoy!

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Book Four

Air

Chapter Nine:

The Tales of Autumn

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The swift chill of Autumn plucked a simple, blood-orange leaf from the branch of a grand oak tree in the Earth Kingdom, and carried it about, swirling in the air. Farther and farther it flew, past the grand apple orchards and the rows of golden corn as the farmers labored in the day.

Past old, abandoned houses which the children would dare each other to enter during the fall season as the Equinox neared.

Past the bonfires and revelry of Earth Kingdom soldiers, still celebrating the end of the war and era of peace with spiked cider.

Into a pile of old ruins, deep in the Earth Kingdom…

… until it was snatched from the air by an old, withered hand. "Well, isn't this one a keeper, Miyuki?"

The Herbalist was leaning out the window of her medical center in the old ruins, the gleaming orange leaf tucked between her fingers. She turned, admiring. "Look at how lovely it is, glistening in the fall light!"

Miyuki, stretched out on a purple cushion, merely yawned and mewed, completely uninterested.

"Yes … this will do nicely." The herbalist took the leaf into a small bowl and began grinding it with a small device, humming as she went. "Fall is here to stay, Miyuki. And with it new tales of adventure, mayhem, woes and even … dare I say it? Love?"

Miyuki shrugged, still uninterested.

"Yes, even love, Miyuki. As Spring is a time of new beginnings after the cold harsh, dead of winter, fall is a time of preparation and renewal of old loves."

She took the leaf-concoction back to her window. "Yes, Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. Mind you, they all are my favorite." Her voice turned deadly. "Except for those rotten kids egging my tower! But I got them back with a poof of itching powder, didn't I?" Her voice changed back immediately to her sweet, granny persona. "Yes, Autumn brings many, many new stories. Tales of love's renewal. Tales of adventure. Comedies. Even – and especially – the old witch tales of ghosts and goblins as we near the Equinox."

She held the concoction high.

"Yes, lots of new stories and adventures await during this season."

And she blew into the concoction, the orange powder carried aloft, coloring the sky a deep orange-yellow …

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The Tale of Sokka

"Sokka! Wake up! We're nearly there!"

Sokka was spread eagle in a hammock, deep in the bowels of a Water Tribe boat. Katara leaned in to rouse him from his sleep.

"Sokka!"

In his sleep, his arm wrapped around his sister's neck. "Oh Suki, you cooked this entire roast yak just for me? You shouldn't have." Katara nearly screamed in terror as Sokka's lips puckered, trying to plant a big, wet, sloppy kiss on her lips.

Looking around in terror, she grabbed Shasa's Dad, who was forced to accompany them on the voyage and shoved him into Sokka's face.

Sokka woke up, to find himself locking lips with Shasa's Dad who looked equally horrified. "Eeew, old man germs!" Sokka grabbed at his lips and spat on the floor, nearly gagging.

Shasa's Dad was horribly offended. "Well you're no prize pickled-prune yourself!"

Sokka glared at him. "Disgusting. Though you do have very soft lips."

Shasa's Dad shrugged as he applied lip gloss. He saw Katara staring at him with an eyebrow raised. "What? I chap easily! Besides, it's berry-flavored!"

Katara rolled her eyes. "In any event, Sokka, we're almost at Kyoshi Island."

Sokka instantly was up. "Oh no! Suki hasn't seen me in forever! I look a horrifying mess!" He rounded on his sister. "Why didn't you wake me sooner so I could beautify myself?!" He looked at her. "You could do with a bit of upkeep yourself, missy!"

He bolted to a mirror. Katara balled her fingers into a fist, before turning to Shasa's Dad. "Say, you didn't happen to keep any of that cactus juice handy, did you?"

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A crowd had formed on Kyoshi Island when they heard that members of Team Avatar were arriving. They cheered as the Water Tribe vessel docked and one guy began wildly pointing, shrieking like a teenage girl and foaming at the mouth before he collapsed to the ground in a big, frothy mess.

The crowd went nuts as Katara and Sokka appeared at the top of the ship's dock. Sokka, of course, was as humble as ever.

"Thank you, thank you," he bowed as he went down. "We're the heroes of the day, we know. No need to worship us. Ummm , on second thought… you know what, worship us."

"Wait a minute," came a high-pitched voice from the front of the crowd. The girl called Koko stamped her foot. "Where's Aangy?"

Katara smirked. "Aangy' is busy on a very important mission."

Whispers billowed through the crowd. "The Avatar's not here?"

"Why is the Avatar not here?"

"How dare they show up without him!"

"What a rip-off!"

"Has anyone seen my glasses? I'm blind without them!"

Sokka was deeply offended. "We're heroes!" he bellowed, his voice squeaking. "I helped!"

"Yeah?" someone from the crowd asked. "Who are you again?"

Sokka puffed his chest out. "I am Sokka, of the Water Tribe!"

"Eeew," came a sneer from the crowd. "Sokka?"

"Who cares about that loser?" came another voice.

"His jokes aren't even that funny!"

"Seriously … I'm blind as a bat! Has anyone seen my glasses?"

The crowd parted, grumbling, back to their homes, leaving Sokka standing there, fists and teeth clenched, stewing. One could almost see smoke coming out of his ears. Katara patted him on the shoulder. "That's okay, Sokka. At least one person around here cares about you!"

"Really? Who?"

Grinning mischievously, Katara held up the grinning Sokka action figure and pulled its string. A valley-girl voice came from its voice-box. "OMG! He like, totally said 'hi' to me. He's like, seriously in love with me!"

Grumbling, Sokka made his way down the plank. "At least I have a girlfriend to make me feel better." He looked up. "Speaking of which -."

As the crowd parted, he saw a Kyoshi Warrior standing with her back to them.

"Suki!"

He grabbed the girl and spun her around.

"Well hellooo, cutey!"

Sokka's face went pale. "Ty Lee!"

The next thing he and Katara knew, they were both picked up in an absolute bone-crushing hug. "It so, so, so, so, so gooood to see you guys!"

Sokka was gasping for air. " … Mommy … help … air …"

Ty Lee released them, grinning from ear to ear. She took Katara by the hand. "Sooo, we never really got the chance to talk after the war. I just wanted to apologize for all the times I chased you around the world … chi-blocked you. Almost killed you at the Boiling Rock! No hard feelings, right?"

Katara smiled warmly. "All is forgiven. Just don't ever chi-block us again!"

They began walking towards the village, and Sokka began noticing a lot of people piling wood up in the town square. "What's with all the hubbub?"

"Oh, that? They're having some annual fall festival." Ty Lee's eyes were wide. "There's gonna be a big bonfire tonight. The Earth King was also nice enough to send some people over from Ba Sing Se." She pointed at a big, green airship docked near the shore and towards the Earth Kingdom workers helping set things up for the evening. "And the best part … on this night, one man publicly declares his undying love for his partner … he presents them with a Shugon-Lily from the woods not far from here."

Sokka raised an eyebrow.

"And that's not all," Ty Lee continued, "there's also the legend …"

"Sounds interesting," Katara continued. "Tell us about the legend."

Ty Lee shrugged as they walked past the giant statue of Avatar Kyoshi. "As everyone knows, Avatar Kyoshi is the patron of Kyoshi Island. But there's also another legend … the legend of Shin-Tao's Tree."

"The what-now?" Sokka asked.

Ty Lee had a dreamy look on her face. "Centuries ago, a man named Shin-Tao fell in love with a young maiden named Rala here on Kyoshi Island. They had a romantic love affair, but apparently things didn't end well. He broke up with her. But once she left, he realized he made a terrible mistake, but it was too late. She had moved on. He would stand on the edge of the woods, reaching his hand out to the horizon, towards the Southern Water Tribe where she lived with her new husband. He was said to have died on the shores, holding his hand out for her. The tree is said to have grown where he used to stand, one of its branches reaching out for the horizon."

"How romantic," Katara said.

"The legend goes that he wanders the beaches of Kyoshi Island this very night, seeking out his long-lost love. He can never rest until he finds her."

Sokka was bored. "Okay, yeah, alright, since we're on the topic of love – where's Suki?"

Ty Lee held her finger to her chin thoughtfully. "I haven't seen her since this morning. In fact, I haven't seen her since that big, burly hunk from Omashu showed up."

Sokka stopped in his tracks. "Hunk?"

"She's been spending an awful lot of time with him, now that I think about it," Ty Lee added. "They go out at night together … alone."

Sokka was turning green with envy. "Where is he? I'll rip him to shreds!"

Katara placed her hand on Sokka's shoulder. "I'm certain it's not what you think, Sokka."

"I'll find out about this!" He stormed off.

Ty Lee looked at Katara, embarrassed. "Was it something I said?"

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Sokka stormed through the village, looking for the Kyoshi Warrior Dojo. He ripped open the door …

… to find several Kyoshi Warriors in the middle of sparring. "You can't just storm in here whenever you please," one girl said.

"Unless you want to wear a dress again!" another laughed.

"Where's Suki?" Sokka asked.

The rest of the girls looked at each other. "She left this afternoon to go for a walk with … with … Heron," one said dreamily.

The rest of the girls looked at each other and giggled.

"What a dream-boat …" one whispered.

Sokka was getting angrier by the minute. "Oh? And what exactly is the nature of this 'relationship' with 'Heron'?"

The one Kyoshi Warrior laughed. "Oh Sokka, are you jealous?"

"No!" he spat, his face turning greener with envy.

The warrior laughed. "Well … Suki ordered us not to discuss Heron. If you want to know what's going on, then maybe you should ask her yourself? Be upfront. Be a man."

Sokka didn't hear a word they said. "I know! I'll spy on her!"

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Sokka poked his head out of a pile of bushes, staring through a pair of binoculars. A pelican landed on his head. He stared hard into the heart of the Village.

And there – Suki, not in her Kyoshi Warrior outfit, but in casual clothing, her hair pulled up, walking arm-in-arm with a big burly man. He whispered something in her ear and she laughed.

Sokka was ready to pull his warrior wolf-tail hair out.

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Suki and Heron entered into a restaurant as waiters carried a big tub of what was supposed to be soup. The lid opened, and Sokka poked his head out, watching Heron and Suki at a table, Heron whispering something and making her laugh again.

The waiters carried him into the kitchen, and the doors closed, blocking his vision.

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"That two-timing, thinks she's better than me cause she can fight in a dress … and after I saved her life! Does she know how I stuck my neck out for her to get her out of the Boiling Rock?"

Sokka was pacing in their accommodations while Katara muttered. "Sokka, like I said, it's probably not what you think."

Sokka whirled around. "Just like a girl to be completely ignorant of what's going on!"

Katara's eye twitched. "Oh … I'm ignorant? Who, pray tell, was it that drank cactus juice in the desert when we warned him not to? And remind me – whose instincts was it that got us lost in the woods time and again?" She held a hand up to her hair, waiting for him to answer.

Sokka started pacing again. "Just like you to take her side."

"I'm not siding with anybody! Sokka – you need to talk to her. That's the simplest way to get the truth."

Sokka raised a finger. "I got it! I'll win her back by getting her the Shugon Lily and declaring my undying love to her tonight at the bonfire!"

Katara held her head in her hands. "Why do I even try?"

He ran out the door.

Katara sighed. "I need to go for a walk."

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The Shugon Lily grew deep in the wooded hills of Kyoshi Island. Sokka walked through the woods, carrying supplies and a botany book he picked up detailing what the Shugon Lily looks like and where it grows. He groaned when he read it. "At the top of a mountain!?"

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Sokka reached a frozen peak of one of Kyoshi Island's mountains. He looked up and noticed a tree with a bird's nest. Next to the nest, the branch was flowering … there were three Shugon Lilies growing on the branch.

Rubbing his hands, Sokka tried to climb the tree. He got three feet up, before a branch snapped and he landed facedown.

Up above, the baby birds in tree chattered, laughing at him.

"Oh, you think that's funny?"

He jumped up the tree again, climbing up.

He fell again.

The baby birds laughed again.

Grumbling, Sokka grabbed a rope, and slowly climbed up, branch by branch. He reached the top of the tree, where the nest was, and slowly reached out to grab a lily.

"KAAAWWWW!"

Sokka's head jerked up in horror as Mama Bird flew straight at him, clawing at his face with her talons. Sokka screamed, fighting off the bird. "Why? Why do they have such sharp talons?!"

Losing his balance, he plummeted off the side of the tree, landing hard on his rear.

SPLAT!

Mama Bird released her droppings on his head. The baby birds chirped in laughter. Sokka shook his fist at her. But then, he looked down greedily. In his hands was a Shugon Lily.

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Sokka reached the bottom of the mountain. He looked down in his hand, admiring the lily.

That is, until a naughty beaver-squirrel leaped out of nowhere, grabbed the lily out of his hand, and took off running.

"Hey, that's mine! You give that back!"

The beaver-squirrel stopped, the lily in its little paws.

Sokka stepped forward gingerly. "Now give it back."

He reached a furtive hand towards the small mammal, which was watching his every move with great interest, eyes wide.

His fingers were almost in reach of the flower…

The beaver-squirrel shoved the Shugon Lily into its mouth, chewed it up and swallowed it in a great big gulp. It gave Sokka a rude gesture with its paw and vanished down a hole.

Sokka collapsed to his knees in tears.

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After another hour-long journey back up to the mountain peak, Sokka was once again before the tree flowering the Shugon Lily. He looked up at the nest as the baby birds chirped merrily. He looked around. No sign of Mama Bird.

Rubbing his hands together, he ascended the tree branch. After nearly falling several times, he reached the top. The baby birds were happily jumping up and down in their nest.

Tongue between his teeth, Sokka reached out and grabbed the second Shugon Lily.

"KAAAAWWW!"

Sokka's head jerked up again in horror as Mama Bird once again returned, attempting to claw his eyes out. "Why Agni, why?"

He plummeted to the ground below, Mama Bird depositing her droppings on his head again for good measure.

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Sokka reached the foot of the mountain, Lily in hand. It was nearly night-time.

Hey heard a chitter-chatter. The beaver-squirrel squatted, watching his every move.

Sokka took off running through the woods, the beaver-squirrel giving chase.

"NOOOO! YOU CANNOT HAVE MY LILYYYYY!

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Sokka stopped for a breather at Kyoshi Island's harbor. He looked down at the lily in his hand. Victorious at last! Suki would love it!

Behind him, the Oonagi popped up out of the ocean, its fangs gleaming. It plucked the lily right out of his hand, turned and vanished back into the ocean.

Sokka fell to the ground, banging the sand with his fists. "WHYYY?!"

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The stars shone in the sky above. Below, in the village, the festivities were starting again as Sokka, grumbling, ascended the mountain again.

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Sokka screamed from the top of the tree, the third lily in hand, as Mama Bird practically clawed his eyes out.

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He screamed as he ran through the woods, a whole horde of beaver-squirrels giving chase.

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The festival had begun. A raging bonfire roared into the sky. People were dancing and reveling.

Sokka staggered into the square, clothes torn, hair disheveled, and his face covered in talon marks. He staggered over to Ty Lee. "Hey," he whimpered. "I'm back. Where's Katara?"

Ty Lee shrugged. "Haven't seen her since this evening. She said she was going for a walk on the beach."

"That's nice … where's Suki?"

Ty Lee pointed. "She's over there, dancing with Heron."

And indeed, Suki was.

At this, Sokka perked up. Fury building, he stormed over to Suki, fully dressed in her Kyoshi Warrior regalia, and got in between her and Heron.

"Sokka!" Suki exclaimed surprised. Her face melted with warmth. "I've been looking for you all day. How come you didn't come find me?"

"Don't try to play dumb with me, Missy!"

Suki pretended not to hear him. She took Heron by the arm. "Never mind that, there's someone special I'd like you to meet. Sokka, this is Heron, my cousin!"

Sokka stood there, dumbfounded. "C-cousin?"

Heron laughed as he tousled Suki's hair. "Her favorite cousin! Oh boy, Sokka, I've been looking forward to meeting the man who's made my baby cousin so happy!"

"We were inseparable as children," Suki continued. "And then he went off to fight in the war a few years ago and we hadn't seen each other since! Until this week! It's been great catching up with him!"

Sokka stood there dumfounded, the lily wilting in his hand.

Suki's eyes fell on the lily. "Oh, Sokka, it's beautiful! Did you really bring me a Shugon Lily to declare your undying love for me?"

Sokka puffed out his chest. "Yes! Yes I did! I went to the tallest, highest mountain, fought off all kinds of beasties, just to declare my undying love for you!"

Suki rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "You … didn't have to go to all that trouble …"

"Of course I did! You're my girlfriend and I wanted to fulfill your island's tradition!"

"No," she replied, pointing. "There's a florist right here in town who sells them. You could've just bought one from him." Sokka's eyes followed her finger to a smiling vendor selling Shugon Lilies.

Sokka felt his eyes well up with tears once again.

"But it's very beautiful," Suki replied, taking the lily and placing it in her hair. She gave Sokka a kiss on the cheek. "And in return, I declare my undying love for you, Sokka. Always and forever." She grabbed his hand towards the bonfire. "Come on, let's dance!"

She led him into the midst of the festivities, the glowing bonfire symbolizing the warmth of their love for each other…

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The Tale of Katara

Night had settled in on Kyoshi Island. Katara had about had it up to here with Sokka and his antics. Especially since he was being so pig-headed about the whole Suki thing. She knew Suki truly loved Sokka and would never cheat on him. All Sokka needed to do was just talk to her.

Why can't he just be direct with his feelings?

So she found herself on the beach. She stood on the shore, staring at the crescent moon on the horizon.

Home was on the horizon.

She had yet again been forced to upheave her life, leave behind everyone she cared about.

And she missed Aang terribly.

She knew he felt the same way about her. They had only just made their relationship official, but the circumstances of life had complicated things. He was only supposed to go on a simple trip to the Air Temples.

But now, a new threat was rising in the world, threatening the peace once again.

Could she and Aang ever truly settle down in peace? Or would there always be a new threat that he had to take care of?

As she walked along the shore, enjoying the icy spray of the seafoam, she finally saw it.

It was the tree Ty Lee had spoken of earlier. Shin-Tao's tree. The man who was also in love, but for whom love dealt a bad hand. Based on Ty Lee's story, the tree grew where the man used to stand on the seashore, lamenting his lost love.

As she looked at the tree, she could make out the distinct features of its limbs. It had only two branches. The one branch was stretched out towards the ocean, its finger-like branches trying to reach out and grab his lost love.

Sighing sadly, she turned and began to walk away.

Behind her, the tree began to glow with a faint, blue light. Turning, she saw the light grow brighter, and the image of a handsome young man was standing before her.

His eyes were full of joy.

"Rala … after all these years, can it be you?"

Katara backed away.

The Spirit-Man gently touched her forehead. "You have been through much, Rala. I sense much pain and worry in you. But you are here with me now. Nothing else matters." His hand covered her eyes, and the next thing Katara knew, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

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Katara woke groggily. She was covered in furs, and a fire was burning. She sat up and looked around.

She was in a cave. How did she get here? Were the tree and the Spirit-Man all a dream?

She stood up.

"Don't get up too quickly. You are very tired. Come, you must rest."

Katara turned around and saw the Spirit-Man sitting on a rock. Only he no longer glowed. He looked just like normal flesh and blood.

"is this a dream?" she asked.

"A dream come true," the Spirit of Shin-Tao said. "After all these years, after how things ended between us, after centuries of wandering, praying, hoping against hope … you love me yet the same."

Katara backed away towards the cave's exit. "You must have me confused with somebody else …"

"There is no confusion. Your face remains unchanged, Rala."

"I'm not Rala! My name is Katara!"

Shin-Tao smiled warmly. "You always were such a kidder!"

"I'm not joking! I have a family and friends who will be looking for me!"

Shin-Tao sat back down, his head lowered to the ground. "Is that why you've returned after all these years, Rala? To finally tell me in person? To tell me everything you said in that letter to my face?"

"I really have no idea -."

He looked up at her with a tear-stained face. "Why, Rala? Why did you leave me? With nothing else but a letter saying you're done? If you were going to break my heart, couldn't you at least have had the courtesy of doing it face to face? I devoted my heart to you … wasn't I worth just more than a letter?"

Katara looked at him with deep compassion. She had seen a lot of crazy spirit monsters over the past year.

But this spirit was no monster.

This spirit was a deeply broken man.

Katara sat down on a rock. "I thought the legend said you left Rala?"

Shin-Tao shook his head. "Don't you remember, Rala? You left me. What happened? I know we had problems … I wanted to work on them with you. I thought you would be willing … why did you just walk away from me? Why did you look me in the eyes the night before and tell me you loved me? Why, if you were going to take it all back the next day…?"

Katara sat there, feeling her heart bursting for this deeply wounded spirit. "Shin-Tao, I wish I had an answer for you. Sometimes, there is just no answer to give. Sometimes people are confused about what they want. They feel deep attraction and emotions while the fun lasts and they mistake it for love, like Rala did."

Shin-Tao was having none of it. "Is that your excuse? I was there for you, after your mother turned her back on you. I was there for you in the long nights, as you cried deep into my chest. I held you close, comforting you. When you were sick, I helped you. When you were in pain, I wished to the stars that I could endure it for you."

Katara sat in silence, letting the spirit rant.

"You looked me in the eyes every day and told me you loved me. You said it with such warmth and sincerity that I believed you. Every word. I trusted you deeply. You wrote me such beautiful love letters. You promised me that you would take care of my heart. That you knew how fragile the human heart is … so why did you drop mine so cavalierly? Why did you just leave me a note telling me you no longer had feelings for me? Why did you sail away that very morning, far away? What was it? What did I say? What did I do? Please, tell me Rala. Tell me what I could have done differently. Tell me what it was, that made you stop loving me …"

Katara got up and sat next to the spirit. "Shin-Tao … there's no answer for you. You're trapped here in this world, when you should be at peace. If you spend your life looking for an answer from someone who will never be willing to give you one, you'll never be able to find peace."

Shin-Tao repeated the word. "Peace …"

Katara rubbed his back with compassion. "Love is an enormous gift. For each one of us. Sometimes, we are lucky to share it with only one person. But love is so big and magical, that even when it's wounded, when it's broken, it can recover in time. It can find itself again in the form of someone new. And all the old feelings, all the happiness you once shared with Rala, can be shared with someone new. Someone who will make the same promises Rala did, and actually keep them. Someone who would stand by you, even when the going gets tough."

Shin-Tao stared ahead in silence. "Why have you returned, Rala?"

Katara sighed. "I am not Rala."

There was a moment's silence.

Shin-Tao nodded, finally accepting her words. "I know … I know you're not. You share her face … but you are of a different character." He wiped his eyes, and finally let it all out. He began crying afresh, letting the raw emotion and hurt flow. He had been holding it all in for so long. Now he was finally letting it out.

Katara drew him in to a hug. He buried his face into her shoulders, grasping her shirt. "Why? Why wasn't I good enough? Why did she have to hurt me so badly? After everything we'd been through together … why just a note? Why wasn't I worth more to her?"

Katara rocked him, staring at the cavern wall, tears rolling down her eyes in compassion for the pure brokenness she held in her arms. "I don't know …"

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It was morning when Katara awoke. The sun was rising. The fire in the cave had gone out. She sat up, looking around.

There was no sign of Shin-Tao.

She rushed out of the cave.

"Katara! There you are!" She looked up to find Sokka running along the beach towards her, Suki and Ty Lee in tow.

"We've been up all night looking for you!" Suki exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Sokka demanded. "What happened?"

Katara rubbed her head. "Nothing. Nothing. I went for an evening walk, got tired and must've just fallen fast asleep. I'm sorry guys."

"Meh, no sweat," Sokka replied. "Just don't make a habit of running off …" He watched as Katara turned and ran off towards the end of the beach. "… and she's running off again."

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When Katara reached the edge of the shore, where Shin-Tao's tree was, she was absolutely shocked to find that the tree was no longer there, as though it had plucked itself up by its roots and simply walked away …

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The Tale of Zuko

"Equinox is coming in a few weeks. The spirits will be much more active now …"

Zuko rode on a bull-rhino in the woods. Several other figures, including Commander Jee, Qin, General Shinu and several other Fire Nation delegates, rode their mounts through woods in the nighttime.

Qin was speaking. "They say these woods are haunted."

Zuko scoffed. "Every wood in the world is haunted. Trust me, I've been to nearly all of them when I was hunting the Avatar. Isn't that right, Jee?"

Jee nodded. "Too true …"

Annoyance spread across Qin's face. "Hey, you guys are the ones who made me go on this gold-stag hunt. As if the thing even exists."

"Who says it does?" Zuko replied. "But the gold-stag hunt is tradition for Fire Lords, even if we do come back empty-handed."

Qin rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, we're totally going to find a golden stag that can show you your deepest desires. Totally realistic."

"Oh, but you were gonna tell us about a ghost story. That's much more realistic than a gold-stag."

Qin scoffed. "I never said that … I just thought it would make this expedition more interesting. Excuse me for trying to have some fun!"

Zuko sighed. "Tell us the ghost story then Qin, if you're gonna act like a big baby."

Qin grinned. "This is the story of the Sheitan Maid …"

Jee scoffed. "Okay, this already sounds stupid."

"Jee," Zuko chided, "don't hurt Qin's feelings. Let him tell his story."

"Thank you. As I was saying, the Sheitan Maid is a malevolent spirit that haunts these woods in the Fire Nation. Much worse than that Bloodbending witch from the summer. She comes as a beautiful maiden, and lures men away, deep into the woods. She wears a covering over her face. She holds the men, seduces them … they say she's irresistible … and lure's them to be alone with her. Asks them to kiss her. And when they remove the mask … CHOMP!"

The men flinched. "What do you mean?"

"Her mouth unhinges like a snake … and there are rows upon rows of sharp, jagged teeth. Her hands turn into tight talons. They cannot escape. And she eats them. Slowly. She starts by eating their skin right off their bones. And they're still alive while she does it."

There was a moment's silence.

"Thank you, Qin," Jee remarked, "for spoiling my appetite."

Zuko laughed. "Azula used to tell me stories about the Sheitan Maid when we were little. She used to try to make me go camping with her in the hopes that the Maid would find me and eat me. Though to be honest, I think I found Azula much more terrifying."

The stars shone high in the sky above them. The leaves were falling from the trees, which were now dead and decayed.

Zuko stopped. "We should settle in the for night. Make camp. We can take up the hunt again tomorrow morning."

"I couldn't agree more," Jee remarked. They dismounted their rhino-mounts and set up a fire pit. With a well-placed flick of his fingers, Zuko had a roaring fire going. The soldiers had set up several tents and they were ready to settle down for dinner. The men sat down around the fire, pulling out their rations, boiling a thick, meaty stew over the flames.

They ate in silence for a few minutes.

"So, what would the gold-stag appear to you as if you found it?" General Shinu asked.

There was silence.

"Come on, now," Shinu asked. "No one knows what their deepest desire would be?"

Zuko sat, thinking deeply. So many things ran through his head. Uncle had frequently told him that he needed to make the big decisions now, decide for himself what it was that he wanted.

"if the stag exists, it would appear to me as a big pile of gold," one Fire Nation soldier said.

Another soldier laughed. "I think it would appear to me as the woman of my dreams!"

"What about you, Fire Lord?" Qin asked. "What is your deepest desire."

Zuko stood up. "I think I'm gonna turn in for the night," he said. He turned and entered his tent without a word.

Jee punched Qin in the shoulder.

"Ow! I was only asking!"

.

.

.

Zuko sat in his tent, wondering what it was that he desired most. The war was over. He was Fire Lord. He no longer desired to regain his honor, or his father's approval.

He was his own man.

The truth is, not even Zuko knew his own heart.

.

.

.

One of the Fire Nation soldiers woke up in the middle of the night. There was a scratching sound at his tent. He tried to rouse his comrade. "Did you hear that?"

The comrade pushed him away before rolling over and falling back asleep.

The scratching was there again.

The soldier got up and pushed his head through the tent-flap. "Hello?"

No response. Gulping, he crawled back into the tent.

The scratching was there again.

He poked his head out, and this time what he saw took his breath away.

A finely shaped woman, in fiery red and gold clothing and jewelry, with fine gold sandals on her feet and beautiful black curls to her hair, was standing in a clearing. She giggled and beckoned to him. Her face was covered by a shroud.

He looked around, then pointed at himself. Who me?

The woman giggled and nodded, beckoning him to join her.

His mouth slack, as though he were hypnotized, he exited the tent. He walked up to the woman. She giggled, her fingers intertwining with his. She turned, and led him away from the campsite, down a hill, into a thicket.

When they had finally gone far enough, she turned, laughing.

"What is a gorgeous creature like you doing out here?" he asked. His eyes were transfixed on her hers, as though hypnotized.

The woman threw her amrs around his shoulders, nuzzling up into his neck. "I want you to kiss me" she said.

The man, fingers shaking, nodded. He reached up, greed in his eyes, and undid her face covering.

He never got the chance to scream …

.

.

.

Zuko woke with a start in the middle of the night. He didn't know how long he had been asleep. An hour? Two? He had an urge to get up and go for a short walk. Compelled in his gut, he threw on his normal walking clothes and stepped out from his tent.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the deep, crisp, Autumn air.

And that's when he heard it.

"Zuko."

A voice. A familiar voice.

It couldn't be.

"Come here, Zuko. I've been looking for you."

Zuko looked up. In the distance, between trees, he saw … "Mai?" he stuttered.

Mai was wearing a covering over her lower lips, but there was no mistaking her. She was in her finest Fire Nation clothing, her hair done just the way Zuko liked it. And she was beckoning him.

Zuko sprinted towards her. "Mai? What are you doing all the way out here? Don't you know the woods are dangerous alone at night?"

He finally reached her. Mai took his hand. "Come with me," she said.

"No," he replied. "Come back to the camp with me. I'll bunk with Jee, give you my tent to yourself. Tomorrow, I'll escort you home."

Mai's fingers intertwined with his. "That sounds good," she said. "But first, I want you to kiss me. Come with me … let's have some privacy."

"Mai, I've had a long day listening to Qin whining. I'm tired."

Mai pouted. "Well fine, Zuko. If you don't want to kiss your girlfriend …" She began to storm off.

Zuko ran to catch up with her. "Okay, okay. It's just that … this isn't like you, Mai. Not at all."

"I know," she said. "It's just that I want to be the perfect girlfriend for my Fire Lord. And one day the perfect wife. And I missed you while you were away. Oh, Zuko, please …" She ran her hands through his thick hair. "I just want to kiss you … just for a little bit. Just a bit of privacy, where it's only the two of us. I missed you terribly."

Giving in, Zuko intertwined his fingers with her own, and she led him away from camp. "Mai," Zuko asked. "Don't you think this is a bit too far from the campsite?"

"Just a little further."

They came to a clearing. Mai turned, wrapping her arms around Zuko's neck. "Kiss me," she whispered.

He smiled. "You gotta take off your facemask," he said. His brow furrowed. There was something familiar about this scenario …

His mind was unclear, as though fog were rolling in.

Mai drew him in closer. "It'd be more fun if you did it …"

Nodding, Zuko reached up and unstrung Mai's mask. He allowed it to flutter off into the wind.

Only Mai was not in behind it.

And the next thing he saw were rows upon rows of jagged, white teeth.

The Sheitan Maid gripped him in now claw-like fingernails, and her jaws unhinged like a snake, ready to devour her prey.

Zuko screamed, waiting for the worst …

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.

.

There was a yellow blur, and the Sheitan Maid released him, as though she had been burned.

Zuko looked around. Nothing else was there.

The Sheitan Maid was sprawled on the ground. Zuko took a step back.

With a horrifying shriek, the Maid's clothing tore off, revealing a grey, scaly, twisted, monstrous body. The Maid's back arched, and long back hair flowed over yellow eyes. Her mouth was open, spilling saliva onto the ground.

Zuko turned and ran. He spared a glance over his shoulder.

The Maid was on her back, yet she was on all fours, racing towards Zuko like a twisted, deformed spider.

Pulling back on her haunches, the Maid hurled herself at Zuko. He ducked, as she landed in a tree branch. She rushed him again.

Zuko ran, firing shots of flame at her. She dodged left and right, jumping from tree branch to tree branch. He began shouting into the night. "Jee! Qin! Somebody!"

His foot caught on a twisted gnarl of a tree root, and he tumbled down a ravine, near a crystalline pond.

He hit his head as he landed and saw stars.

Above, the Maid was watching, ready to go on the attack.

She leaped for Zuko's throat, as he rolled out of the way. He grabbed a tree branch, igniting it on fire, using it as a weapon.

The Maid flipped herself onto her gnarled feet, her arms outstretched.

And to Zuko's utter horror, she sprouted large, bat-like wings from her shoulders.

The Maid flew straight for him. He ducked, swinging his branch. He caught her, grazing her stomach. The Maid let out a bloodcurdling, shrill shriek, before she charged again.

Her claw-like feet grasped Zuko by the shoulders, lifting him off the ground, hoisting him high, high above the tree branches.

Zuko closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He lit his hands on fire, reached up, and grasped the Maid's ankles.

The Maid shrieked, releasing him. As he fell, he lit fire from his heels. He was nowhere near as good as Azula or his father at using Firebending to fly. He tumbled horizontally, plunging for the ravine below.

The flames from his feet sputtered, then went out. Zuko's eyes widened as he realized he was going to hit the ground.

Concentrating, the flames kicked out from his feet just before he met the dirt, stopping him in mid-air. Only a few inches from being turned into splat on the ground.

Above, the Maid circled, and charged again.

Zuko lit his hands on fire preparing to counterattack.

Something yellow flew over his head, charging the Maid. The Maid hissed and screeched, before turning and flying deep into the night.

The yellow blur turned, racing towards Zuko, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

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.

.

"Zuko … wake up, sleepyhead."

A twelve-year old Zuko awoke groggily in his comfortable bed, in the palace. The morning sun shone into his bedroom.

Someone jumped onto his bed and tickled his belly.

"And how did my special boy sleep?"

"Mooom!" whined Zuko. "I am not a baby anymore."

Ursa held him close to her heart. "You are my baby. You always will be. I will always be with you and in you. No matter how close we are, or no matter how far apart." Ursa held his face in her hands. "I will always love you, Zuko. I will never be far from you …"

.

.

.

Zuko awoke in the middle of the forest floor. The sun had risen. "Fire Lord! Fire Lord Zuko!"

His men had organized a search party. He could hear Jee's voice. "The trail leads in this direction."

The soldiers found Zuko, who was sitting up in the clearing, leaves in his hair. "Sir! Are you alright?!"

Zuko held his head in his hands. "Never better …"

"We can't find Fin, sir. He disappeared in the night."

Zuko nodded grimly, a sneaking suspicion rising in his gut.

"We're all a little shook up," General Shinu said. "After Qin's ghost story, I didn't get a wink of sleep."

Zuko nodded. "It's Autumn. It's Equinox time. I think we're all entitled to one good scare." He turned to Jee. "Get the men, expand your search. We will find Fin, no matter what."

"At once sir."

As the soldiers led him back to camp, Zuko's thoughts were on the dream he had, and the yellow blur that had scared the Maid off.

In his heart of hearts, he knew that the dream was no ordinary dream.

The gold-stag had shown him his deepest desire …

.

.

.

The Tale of Toph

Toph rode on a wave of earth, kicking her legs up and down, flying fast through the grassy plains of the western Earth Kingdom.

She had ridden a full several days, stopping only for rest, bathroom and nuts and berries that she picked from shrubs and trees.

But she had to find Aang at the Fire Nation.

She regretted leaving her parents to languish in Ba Sing Se, arrested for the escape of Long Feng. Did she believe they were guilty? No.

By the same stroke, she couldn't just abandon Aang. Not after receiving his letter. He warned of bloodshed and chaos being unleashed – and soon. So as much as it pained her, she had to find Aang in the Fire Nation.

The world could very well depend on it.

Her stomach rumbled, and she realized that she should take a breather. She slowed down in the middle of a large cornfield and bent over, catching her breath. She supposed she was on a farm. Sliding her feet along the ground, she sensed that the cornfield went on for acres. In the distance, there was a small farmhouse with various livestock.

She held her stomach as the hunger pains gnawed away at her. "Okay stomach, I'll fill 'ya up." She touched an ear of corn. "I don't think the farmer will mind if I help myself to one husk …" Her fingers closed around the corn husk, preparing to pull.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you …"

Toph jerked her hand back as if she was burned. "Who said that?!" She "looked around" with her feet, but she couldn't sense anyone. She shook her head. "I've really got to eat something … I'm hallucinating from hunger!"

She grasped the corn husk.

"I really would not do that if I were you."

"Okay, who are you and where are you?"

"Can't you see me?"

Toph pointed at her milky eyes. "I'm blind!"

"Oh. Well that's really too bad. You're missing out on some real eye candy over here!"

Toph's eye twitched. "I'm sorry … who are you again?"

"The farmer called me Skippy!"

Toph frowned. "Skippy?"

"Well, he didn't definitively name me. He just hoisted me up here and said 'there 'ya go, Skippy!"

"Wait – farmer … hoisted? You wanna fill the girl in here?"

"Are 'ya deaf too?"

Toph stood there, deadpan. "You're trying to tell me you're a scarecrow? A talking scarecrow?"

Skippy the Scarecrow smiled from his wooden pole, a permanent grin carved on his pumpkin head. At least Toph thought there was one. "I'm one-of-a-kind babe!"

"Don't call me 'babe.'"

"Say, you seem like a bright kid. How's about yous help a guy out, huh?"

Toph shrugged.

Skippy's pumpkin head looked from left to right.

"You wanna do me a favor? It's tedious being stuck out here all day ... would you mind letting me down from my pole so I can stretch out my legs?"

Shrugging again, Toph kicked her foot. The hole in the ground supporting the pole widened, allowing the pole to sink down and Skippy's boots to meet the earth. The Scarecrow detached himself and stepped onto the ground. His legs, being filled with nothing but straw, and forced to hold up a pumpkin head, wobbled like jelly, but that still didn't stop him from dancing around.

"Much better!" He patted Toph roughly on the head with his straw hands. Then, he inclined his head menacingly. "Now for some real mischief!"

Toph looked at him confused. "Mischief? Not that I'm not down for fun, but I got places to be …"

"Oh come on, don't be such a boob! What's say yous and me, we go into the village and play some practical jokes, eh?"

"I suppose I could spare a few minutes," Toph said, rubbing her chin. "What'd you have in mind?"

.

.

.

An old lady was in her kitchen, preparing a beautiful pumpkin pie for fall. She had picked out several pumpkins to carve up and had lined them up on her windowsill. She hummed as she wrapped a plaid apron around her front.

"Hey lady, don't you know plaid went out of style ages ago?" a voice from one of the pumpkins said. The lady screamed and ran out of the room flailing her arms.

From outside the window, Toph and the headless Skippy were doubled over in bouts of laughter.

.

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A large man waddled down a street, eating an ice cream come. He noticed a coin on the ground. Bending over to pick it up, his shirt hiked up, exposing his underwear.

Skippy ran up behind him and gave him a deep wedgie, before kicking him in the rear for good measure.

Toph rubbed the back of her head as the poor man dropped his ice cream and began bawling. She didn't think that prank was all that funny …

.

.

.

"Happy Birthday to you!" A little boy was excited, as he was outside surrounded by his parents and friends.

"Now make a wish!"

The little boy inhaled and prepared to blow with all his might.

Skippy appeared out of nowhere with a handheld fan and used it to wave the candles out. He waved with such force, that the icing flew into the little boy's face.

Skippy burst into laughter as the little boy threw himself into his mother's arms, his birthday ruined.

"Happy Birthday, kid! And Happy New Year!" Skippy ran off, arms flailing, laughing.

Toph stood there, her face turning red with anger. This was getting out of hand …

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.

.

A girl was sitting in a hair salon in the village, prepared for a haircut. "It's our one-year anniversary," she was saying to the hair stylist. "He's taking me to my favorite restaurant. Oh, I hope he proposes! I want to look my best."

The hairstylist turned around – it was Skippy in the stylist's outfit. "No problemo!" He went nuts, cutting and snipping.

When he was done, he had given the girl a complete mohawk. She burst into tears, running out of the salon.

Skippy laughed hilariously.

Toph stood in the corner, arms folded. "That's not funny."

"Oh, what do you know?"

"I happen to be the world's greatest prankster! Do you know how often I've gotten Sokka? But your pranks are getting more and more mean-spirited – even for me! That poor girl had a special evening planned and you ruined it!" She turned to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the Fire Nation to save the world."

Skippy stared her down as she exited the salon.

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.

Toph had returned on her path to the cornfield, hoping it would take her on a shortcut on her journey.

The sun was begging to lower in the sky, casting a blood-red glare over the horizon. She decided to help herself to some corn and sat down, enjoying her paltry dinner.

Ahead, in the corn row, something rustled.

Toph's head perked up. Tossing the now-devoured corn cob to the side, she stood up. "Hello?" She reached out with her senses.

Skippy emerged from among the corn, holding a slice of cake on a paper plate.

Toph scoffed and turned to walk the other way.

"Wait!" Skippy called.

"Not interested," she said, continuing to walk.

"I got you a piece of cake!"

"Don't want any!"

"Banana cream!"

She stopped.

Skippy held it up. "An apology cake. I'm sorry about earlier, Toph. I guess I was just so excited to be able to roam free for the first time, that I got a bit carried away."

Toph turned. "An apology cake, you say?"

Skippy nodded and held it out her. "Do you accept my apology?"

The dinner had been paltry, and Toph was having a sugar craving right about now. "Eh, sure, why not?" She took the cake from Skippy, along with the fork, and took a nice big bite, enjoying the banana cream filling.

Skippy held his hands up to his pumpkin head and chuckled.

"What was that?" Toph asked between chews.

Skippy instantly stood rigid. "Nothing, nothing. How's the cake?"

Toph took another bite. "Absolutely delicious. Where'd you get it?"

Skippy chuckled again. Toph narrowed her eyes. "Skippy … where did you get the cake?"

Skippy could barely contain his laughter. "Well … there was an old folk's home … you know, for old people whose kids didn't want them …"

A sudden twinge of pain twisted in Toph's stomach. "Skippy …"

The scarecrow was laughing harder now. "And that cake … was made for one of their residents who … has trouble getting things moving …"

Her stomach gurgled, and she was hit another pang of pain. "I … will pull … your stuffing out … bit … by bit …"

Skippy was doubled over. "In short, it has a very potent laxative in it! And you devoured it in five seconds flat!"

Toph herself was doubled over. "I … I will get you … for this …!"

"You'll have to catch me first!" Skippy turned and his loopy legs began running, bouncing along on straw, his arms out, laughing hysterically.

Toph tried to chase him, but the stomach cramps hit hard again.

She stood there, doubled over as Skippy ran further into the distance. "I'm free!" he yelled. "Free! The world is my playground!"

And out of nowhere, a buzzard-hawk swooped in, grabbed Skippy between her talons, and took off high into the air, carrying the writhing scarecrow high towards the setting sun.

Toph turned and ran into the cornfield as nature called.

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.

.

When Toph was … ahem … done with the deed, she emerged from the cornfield feeling mighty refreshed.

PLOP!

From out of nowhere, a pumpkin head landed at her feet, splattering into a dozen orange pieces on the ground. Toph screamed as her face was covered in pulp. Seeds flew everywhere as the buzzard-hawk circled above.

But on the bright side, the buzzard-hawk's newly hatched babies were kept nice and warn in the chilly Autumn air by lots and lots of straw … and a pair of farmer's overalls …

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.

.

The Tale of Iroh

Iroh sat in a cell deep in the heart of a warehouse in Ba Sing Se. Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man were his only cellmates. Iroh sat, meditating, trying to channel all the good vibes of the universe into his being, making the best of his situation.

A shadow fell over them. Iroh's eyes opened as Loi, the betrayer, and Lieutenant Sen stood there. Lieutenant Sen pointed at Iroh. "You. They want you."

Iroh blinked. "Me? Will they interrogate me?"

Mr. Beifong stood up. "This is outrageous! You cannot keep us here! And you will not torture Iroh -."

Iroh cut him off. "I will bear it," he said. "Though they will get no information from me."

Sen opened the door, roughly grabbed Iroh, and shoved him into the hallway before locking the door up. As Sen led him away, Iroh's eyes made contact with Loi's …

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.

.

"Inside there." Sen held open a door leading to dank, dark room. Iroh stared at it steadfastly, prepared to brave whatever was inside.

He nodded at Sen and entered the room. Sen closed the door after him, leaving Iroh alone in the dark.

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.

.

"Sit," came a female voice.

Instantly, purple torches lit throughout the room. Iroh's eyes scanned the contents of the room. This was no torture chamber.

It was a library.

And in the center of the library, a Pai Sho table was set up. At one end sat Merilina, the fox mask covering her face except her lips, her shoulders draped in the finest furs. She smiled and gestured at the game table. "I assume you know how to play …?"

Iroh was taken aback but nodded. "I have some experience in the game …"

He sat opposite Merilina. "I understand you favor the White Lotus gambit," she said. "An old, old play, but an effective one." Her long nails circled one of the game tiles, before she clanked it into a spot. Her first move.

"Sometimes, newer is not better …" Iroh replied, countering with his move, pinning her game piece into place.

A small smile played on Merilina's lips. "You do know how to play … but I am of the philosophy that old, no matter how effective, is still old. We need fresh moves in this game. A new system of play. New strategies, new techniques."

"New is also effective in many ways," Iroh added. "But just because something is new, does not mean that the old should be discarded fully either. Enhanced, maybe … but not thrown away …"

Merilina moved another piece into position. "Sometimes, to reinvigorate a game, it is better to start completely new. Though we are in agreement … some new things are not good either and must be completely destroyed." She smiled softly as she countered Iroh's strategy.

Iroh nodded in agreement. "In some ways, we see eye to eye. But my question is – why eliminate all of the old techniques? Why not include the good elements of both old and new?"

"The old has had its time to work. It has failed to breathe new life into the game. I will do that."

Iroh sighed as he countered one of Merilina's moves. "Let us speak openly … what do you hope to gain by destroying the World Peace Coalition?"

"The old ways have blinded you indeed, if you cannot see our goal." Merilina was backing Iroh into a corner in the game. "Though I do agree with you … some old strategies must be employed to further the agenda of the new … yes, you will see our strategy. It is as old as time, yet it will usher in a new era … when we have burned everything to the ground, you will see …"

Iroh gave her a knowing smile. "Yes. Perhaps. But I wouldn't be too overconfident. Perhaps I have utilized a time-honored strategy as well. Perhaps I have lured you into a false sense of security, so that you would make a fatal blunder …" He moved the White Lotus tile into position. "I believe that is game …"

Merilina looked down at the game board. She stared hard. Then she stared back at Iroh, who was leaning in his seat, arms folded, confident.

The leader of the Court stood up. "You may have won the small game, General Iroh. But in the real world … the Court is already ten steps ahead of any move you might make." She made for the door, drawing her furs tightly around her shoulders. "Lieutenant Sen will show you back to your cell."

And with that, she exited, leaving Iroh sitting there, confident and gloating in his temporary victory …

.

.

.

The Tale of Aang

"The Creature's trail has gone cold …"

Nav sheathed his weapons as he and Aang arrived on Appa at the shores of the Fire Nation.

Aang nodded.

"Your foe – what did you call him?"

"The Dragon Golem," replied Aang.

"He is heading to the capitol. He is your quarry. Mine is still on the loose." He threw his jacket over his shoulders. "I will track the Beast down … and when I do, I will summon for you. Keep an eye out for my messenger hawk. And a final warning before I leave – you must not Energybend again! For the sake of your soul, promise me."

"I promise. But can't I persuade you to stay?" Aang asked.

"No," Nav said. "Our destinies are split … but one day our roads will converge. I will see you again, Avatar Aang." He bowed low, Aang returning the gesture.

And he watched as Nav began his long trek through the Fire Nation.

Aang patted Appa on the head. "Let's take a break, buddy. Before we head on to the capitol. Maybe we'll find a nice village to get some dinner and we can spend the night. Last time I was in the Fire Nation I had to camp out. Maybe we can find a nice inn?"

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.

.

It wasn't too long before Aang found a small, quaint Fire Nation Village. He walked through it, watching the children playing.

A small little girl with bright yellow hair waved merrily at him. "Can I pet your bison?"

Aang laughed. "Of course!"

The little girl ran up to Appa, lovingly stroking his head. "What's his name?"

"Appa. What's yours?"

"Serena."

Aang smiled warmly as the little girl named Serena buried her face into Appa's fur, and Appa licked her face. "He likes you," Aang chuckled.

"I love him," the little girl said. "Thanks, Mister!" She took off running, laughing at the same time.

Aang found an old inn, and his stomach grumbled. He turned to Momo and Appa. "Alright guys – hang out here. I'll get us some grub."

Gathering his staff, Aang entered the inn.

Everyone in the inn stared at him. Many of them shot him dirty looks.

"Go back to the Earth Kingdom," one yelled.

"Haven't you done enough damage to the Fire Nation?"

"Ignore them," came a woman's voice. She was a middle-aged woman with a careworn face. She wore a hat on her head and a scarf around her neck. Her arms were covered in long sleeves. "They just don't know how to respect their Avatar."

The Fire Nation local laughed. "Leave it to the Earth Kingdomer to be the Avatar lover."

"You're from the Earth Kingdom?" Aang asked.

The woman pursed her lips as she sat him down at a table. She buttered him some bread and poured him some water. "I am from many kingdoms. We have moved around a lot …"

Aang nodded. "And why is that?"

"You're awfully inquisitive for a young man. Eat. And don't pry into things that don't concern you."

Aang's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you …"

"Terese …" came a voice from the kitchen.

The woman's eyes paled. "Great! He's in one of his moods!" Gathering her skirts, she stormed off into the kitchen. Aang nibbled on the moldy bread as he heard yelling.

After a few minutes, Terese emerged, holding the side of her face. An Earth Kingdom man was yelling at her, spit spraying from his mouth, before vanishing into the kitchen.

Aang stared at Terese as she returned, trying to cover up the fact that she was crying. "It may not be my business," Aang said, "but why do you let your husband treat you like that?"

"He is not my husband," she said forcefully. "Finish your bread. On the house. Then get out."

Aang nodded. "If you're in some kind of trouble -."

"Get out!" she yelled.

Gathering his staff, Aang exited the tavern.

.

.

.

Aang sat by a fountain in the village square, stroking Momo's ears. He was deep in thought.

"Mr. Avatar?"

Aang looked up … it was one of the Fire Nation men from the tavern. "Yes," Aang said, clutching his staff. Can I help you?"

The man sighed. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier to you in the tavern. A lot of us are angry about losing the war … but after seeing you talking to Terese today, I know you only want to help people …"

"I don't understand," Aang said. "What's going on with her?"

"Sarouk is not her husband," the Fire Nation man said. "I support her business because I feel bad for her, but Sarouk is a ruthless man. He kidnapped Terese and forces her to work for him here … he took her from her home in the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation so she can't be tracked …"

"How does he keep her from running away?" Aang asked.

"He uses his Earthbending to frighten her into submission. And she is not likely his only one, just the latest I fear. I think he's a kidnapper … there were many stories, near the western border of the Earth Kingdom, of women going missing. Women who would bear bruises … many of them were with Sarouk when he lived there. I think he sells a lot of the women into slavery too."

Aang remained silent.

The Fire Nation looked at Aang. "I argue with Terese about the war, but she's a kindly woman under it all. If you can do anything to help her …" The man got up and left.

Aang sat there. A voice in the back of his head, like Ozai's, told him: You know what to do. You can save this woman with just the slightest effort. How many women has he hurt with his Earthbending? To use a gift such as bending to harm others is simply … unforgivable …

Aang remembered the warnings from Brother Truth and Nav. He couldn't Energybend again.

Could he?

As Aang was sitting, he heard a small voice. "What a cute little lemur!"

He looked up. Serena, the little girl, was standing there grinning. "May I pet him?"

Aang smiled and patted the edge of the fountain for the little girl to join him. The little girl giggled as Momo curled up in her lap and she stroked his ears. She looked up at Aang. "You seem sad …"

Aang sighed. "There's a woman who was kidnapped by a slaver, forced to work day and night. She gets threatened with his Earthbending if she disobeys him…"

The girl looked up at him. "Mr. Avatar, why don't you just take away his bending like you did the Fire Lord's? Then the lady can be set free?"

Aang sat there. "Because … because what I did was evil!"

"How?"

Aang looked up at the sky. How could he explain this to a child?

Serena continued to talk. "I think if you can save people with it, you should do it. You're the Avatar! When people are in need, you should do what it takes to help them! That's what my mommy always says to me!"

Aang contemplated the little girl's words. "I made a promise not to do it again …"

Serena snuggled up with Momo and looked at Aang with bright eyes. "Mommy says that it's okay to break a promise, if someone is being hurt …" She returned Momo to Aang's arms. "Thanks for letting me play with your pets! Bye Mr. Avatar!" She ran off giggling.

Aang stared off into the horizon, his conscience weighing heavy on his stomach.

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That night, while Aang was sleeping on the outskirts of town with Momo and Appa, he heard a woman crying.

Gathering his staff, he walked towards the inn.

There was yelling and a woman was heard pleading. "I just want to see my family again … I have a son! I won't tell anyone, please, just let me go!"

With firm resolution, Aang entered the inn.

For a moment there was silence.

Then Terese ran out of the tavern and turned, watching.

Through the window, she saw red and blue lights flashing.

She turned and ran out of the town, finally free to find her family …

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The Tale of Azula

The deranged Fire Princess was wheeled through the corridors of the Fire Nation capitol's Prison Tower, wearing a mask over her face. The nurse pushing her was led by two guards; she hummed merrily. "Did you sleep well, Princess?"

A throaty growl tore from her throat.

The nurse smiled. "I will take that as a 'yes.' Well, you'll be thrilled to know that you have a very special session this morning. A nice man who is going to make you feel all better! Doesn't that sound nice?"

Another growl.

"That's good. And here we are!"

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Inside a room, Fire Lord Zuko was standing with a short, squat man wearing Earth Kingdom colors. The squat man sported a dark brown goatee with round spectacles. He clutched a clipboard.

Zuko gave him a polite bow. "Dr. Pippinpaddle Oppsokopolis, thank you for coming on such short notice …"

"Please, you may call me 'Dr. P.' for short. And the honor is all mine. Especially after the misunderstanding in Omashu … apparently an identity thief was using my name and was responsible for the mishap with the mail chutes …"

Zuko rubbed the back of his head. "I'm just glad that you're here. Can you help her?"

"If I can't, I will eat my moustache …"

And with that, the door opened and the nurse wheeled Azula in. Azula stared hard at her brother, her eyes never leaving his. The nurse removed the mask from Azula's face. "You'll understand, Princess, why I can't free you from this gurney?"

"Would it have something to do with the fact that I would personally hunt you down and disembowel your husband while you watch?"

The nurse nodded and smiled. "Yes. That."

Zuko nodded at the psychiatrist. "Dr. P – I leave her in your care." He and the nurse left with the guards, leaving the doctor and Azula alone in the room. The doctor scanned his notes, before sitting down in a big comfy armchair, looking at the Princess.

Azula stared at him hard. "This is a big waste of both our times, doctor. But, since I have no choice in the matter, I will humor you."

Dr. P. smiled, jotting notes. "You seem to have built up quite a wall, Princess. The last four doctors gave up on you."

Azula laughed. "The one made the mistake of letting me out of my restraints. He wanted to 'show me that he trusted me.' It would 'help grow the bond between doctor and patient.'"

"And what happened to him, Azula?"

"I pushed him out the window." She laughed. "He's still in a wheelchair!"

Dr. P. nodded. "You seem to have an aversion to being vulnerable. Why is that, Azula?"

"Did I say I had an aversion? Oh good doctor, I fear nothing. I am vulnerable to nothing."

"I see." More notes. "This is a safe place, Azula. I will share nothing you say to me. It will be okay to be vulnerable here. You may even find yourself. Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength."

Azula blew a strand of hair out of her face. "I am strong. I have no vulnerabilities."

"We will see." He adjusted his glasses. "Tell me about your childhood, Azula. How would you characterize it?"

Azula thought for a second.

.

Azula was a little girl, laughing hysterically while she melted all of Zuko's little toy soldiers. Zuko sat huddled in a corner, crying in terror, watching his army men turn into little piles of goop on the floor. Azula's cackling never ceased, her shadow towering over her brother …

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"Fairly typical," she replied.

"Did you have friends?" the doctor asked. "What did you do for fun?"

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Mai, five years old, watched in horror with Zuko and several other children. Azula was on a stage dressed as a magician. "And for my next trick – I am going to saw someone in half!"

An oblong box was wheeled out, with Ty Lee's face and legs sticking out.

Azula grinned as she wielded a razor-sharp saw and began sawing into the box.

Sweat started pouring from Ty Lee's face. She turned to the audience in terror. "Guys! I don't think this is a trick! I think she's really gonna do it!"

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"We had a blast," Azula replied.

"You seem to have expressed a lot of pent-up anger and hostility, according to your prior therapists. A compulsive taste for violence. A need to hurt others – especially those bigger than you. Do you like to hurt people, Azula?"

She licked her lips. "Love it," she replied.

"And why do you think that is?"

"Power. Showing another that you have power over them. That you can dominate them, not just physically. In all reality, good doctor, I use actual violence very little. People do not react the same to overt violence as they do to the mere threat of violence. Pure violence provokes in them terror, which in turn provokes a flight-or-fight response. Terrorized people may cower and submit … but they may also lash out, like an abused pup. But the threat … oh, the threat is so much more effective. It terrifies the person into submission, but not enough to force them to defend themselves. That is true power, doctor."

"So you dominate others … to gain power over them?"

"Exactly."

"I see." He jotted again. "And why do you think you need more power, Azula?"

"Oh doctor, power itself is its own reward."

"Did you feel powerless as a child?"

Azula smirked. "Never. Father taught me from a young age to never let anyone get an advantage over you. Dominate everyone around you, demoralize them, and you will never be powerless."

"And was there ever anyone for whom your threats couldn't give you what you want?"

Azula went silent.

"Princess? Was there ever anyone immune to your threats?"

Azula looked away. "I suppose there was one person … not that I care …"

"Why don't we explore that?" the doctor asked.

Azula remained silent. The doctor stared at her. "If you're not ready, then maybe we'll move on. How about pets. Did you have any pets?"

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The turtle-ducks in the pond of the Royal Palace played happily, till a dark shadow fell over them and they huddled together.

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"Plenty. But Mother would never allow me to be alone with them. She didn't trust me …"

"Trust you to do what, Azula?"

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Several hours had passed. The doctor was sweating, his shirt soaked and glasses askew. "Princess … you've got to give me something! Isn't there anything you're afraid of? Anything that you feel threatened by?"

Azula shrugged. "Face it, doctor. You will fail to treat me. That's because number one, there's nothing wrong with me. And number two, you've never had a patient like me."

The doctor nodded. "No. No I haven't."

"Tell me, doctor. Let's reverse the positions … what are you afraid of?"

The doctor shook his head. "I am not the patient here …"

"And yet you're covered in sweat. Quite profusely. Do I scare you?"

Dr. P. didn't answer.

"It's okay if I do. I won't be offended. It's the truth. I scare many people. I scare you. I scared my brother. My subordinates knew better than to question me. My orders were explicit and were always carried out with the utmost rigidity. My men knew that any deviation would be met with immediate … termination …"

"Let's discuss fear then," the doctor said. "I am of the persuasion that fear is the opposite of love. That people are afraid because they have a lack of love. So, whose love do you lack?"

Azula laughed. "Your question already assumes too much. You're begging the question that I fear anything, and thus lack love. Face it, doctor … I have a greater grasp of human psychology than even you do …"

"But you did not answer the question …"

"Let's focus the question where it should be … your thesis is that I have fear, because I lack love. But you seem quite fearless doctor. Am I to assume that you do not lack love?"

"I do not," the doctor said. "I have everything I need."

"Do you have children?"

"Yes. They are fully grown."

"And where do they live?"

"My son is in Omashu, my daughter is in Ba Sing Se. But that is not -."

"And how often do you see them?" Azula asked.

"That's neither here nor there. I am not the patient, as I said -."

"Your response, your defensiveness, gives you away," Azula replied. "So you don't see them. So you lack what you feel is adequate love from your offspring. So what is the fear in your life that grows from that?"

There was silence.

"Do you have a wife …?"

"I refuse to humor your questions!"

Azula's eyes widened. "You must have! To have had two children. So what happened?" She cocked her head, gazing at him. "Don't bother to deny it, doctor. Your very face tells me what happened. You carry it in your wrinkles. You weren't good enough for your wife … she met someone more rugged, didn't she? She left you for a better man. A genetically superior alpha male … and now, not even your children talk to you. Aaah, I see it on your face – there lies your fear. This is why you traveled to the Fire Nation all the way from Omashu … you're afraid of your empty home. You fear the dark, lonely house. Dinners alone at night. Sleeping by yourself in the bed. You fear that one day, you will nod off in your armchair, that you will pass on in your sleep, and no one will even realize – or care - that you're gone … tell me doctor, have I correctly diagnosed your fear?"

Dr. P, with a trembling hand, scooped up his notebook and drew on his coat. "I am very sorry, Princess." He was shaking. "I cannot continue with you. I cannot treat you …"

"Aren't you going to eat your moustache?" she asked.

He glared at her. "I always thought everybody could be saved. That is, until I met you. You are pure evil."

Azula was grinning.

He adjusted glasses. "You are a monster …"

And with that, he briskly walked through the door, gingerly closing it behind him.

And Azula was alone, strapped to the gurney.

The corners of her lips dropped down.

A monster …

She opened her mouth and spoke to the empty seat before her. There was a new tone to her voice. A slight hint of sorrow. "You asked what I fear, because you wanted to know where I lacked love …" She spoke to the empty air, but no one would be here to hear her.

Yet she continued on anyway.

"… I am afraid … the one person in my life who should have given me complete, full unconditional love abandoned me … Zuko always received love from her … she always hugged him, held him … I cannot remember even receiving a single kiss on the forehead from her … she was always disgusted by me … I don't think she could even stand holding me as an infant …"

The corners of her eyes sagged as she stared at the empty wall.

"My own mother thought I was a monster …"

A lone tear dropped to the floor below, staining the stone.

And that's all that was shed.

Azula grit her teeth, a rage rising in her the likes of which the world had never seen before.

"But I'll show her! I'll show them all! If she and the rest of the world think I'm a monster, then that's exactly what I'll be! They will know my fear as I destroy everyone and everything they hold dear!"

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Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I wanted to thank everyone for the favs, subscriptions and reviews you left! I appreciate each and every one.

Now, the next two chapters will be a two-parter, just like the Invasion episodes from Book 3. The villains finally put their plans into motion. This will jump-start the story into its full-blown plot for the remainder of the story, up through the finale. At this point, I don't know how many chapters in total the story will have. I would like to keep it around 20-25 chapters like the show (each chapter as an episode) but I may have to expand the chapter count.

In any event, to show my appreciation, I have written a small trailer for the two-part mid-season finale. Both chapters are already written (I wrote them before this chapter) and I will spend the next few days tweaking them to my liking and editing them. I will post the first part early this week and the second part later in the week.

But to tide you over, please enjoy the trailer for the two-part mid-season finale:

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The screen starts black … we hear Iroh's voice:

"This day … this is a black day …"

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Azula's voice is next. "I take it the revolution has begun at last?"

"Yes. At last."

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We open on a caravan of Fire Nation soldiers, marching on the Royal Palace, with carts full of blasting jelly …

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The Dragon Golem walks through a crowd of people fighting in the Fire Nation capitol. Around him, a crowd of people screams.

"The true Fire Lord must rise! Down with the usurper!"

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Zuko is standing in amongst the crowd. He points angrily. "I don't need the Avatar! I will take you down myself, Seizon!"

The Dragon Golem stands there, unfazed. "An Agni Kai … for the throne!"

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Iroh stands up. "It is time. Time for us to answer the call of duty …"

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The end begins …

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The screen goes black again. When it reopens, we are met with flashes.

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The Fire Nation palace is burning.

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Ba Sing Se is burning.

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The Water Tribes are in chaos.

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Zuko rushes down an underground corridor, chasing Azula as she taunts him.

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Flames spread into the night. The Red Oni appears in the midst of them, dueling someone.

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Sokka, Toph, Suki, and the Kyoshi Warriors stand on a green airship. Aang and Katara watch from Appa's saddle, with smoke rising high in the distance.

"Team Avatar Forever!"

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Zuko gets blasted back by fire in an Agni Kai ring.

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The green airship is engaged in a high-speed chase with two Fire Nation airships.

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Aang screams as he pilots Appa, evading fireballs.

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A figure dressed as the Blue Spirit fights off enemies.

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The Dragon Golem watches confidently as a battle ensues below him.

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Ba Sing Se is burning. The Earth King is on his knees surrounded by Dai Li. Long Feng levitates a boulder over Keui's head. "You knew this day was coming …"

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Zuko duels someone in an Agni Kai ring. He is getting the tar kicked out of him. He is simply no match for his foe.

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Aang has his fingers on someone's forehead and neckline. Red and blue lights rise into the sky…

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Azula is onboard an airship gloating as she duels Suki and Ty Lee, neither able to get an advantage over her.

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Katara runs along a bridge of ice in midair.

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The Red Oni and the Blue Spirit duel with broadswords on a flaming rooftop.

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A flotilla of Fire Nation airships floats in the Southern seas. They are protecting something in an iceberg underwater. Guarding it.

We zoom in on the iceberg – a boy is frozen inside of it.

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Aang and Katara share a fateful kiss.

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All these images flash in a final crescendo as the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" theme song begins to play.

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There is one final flash. Zuko is standing before the Dragon Golem who slowly removes his helmet.

Zuko falls to his knees in horror …

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The Team Returns: Part One – Revolution and Part Two – Agni Kai

Coming soon …