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

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Book Four:

Air

Chapter Twelve:

Repercussions

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The sun rose on Ba Sing Se. It was a new day. The fires within the Royal Palace had been finally extinguished, and workmen labored to begin the process of rebuilding.

Outside of the palace, crowds from all across the world stood as Earth King Keui addressed the nations. Representatives from across the entire World Peace Coalition stood on his side. Delegates from the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes and Fire Nation wore their best outfits. Qin stood beside the King, as did Representative Kohta. Hahn, still serving in his capacity as Chief Arnook's replacement, stood there, head held high. Brother Truth stood off to the side, a somber look on his face. His Prophets From the Sky had their hands folded in front of them, heads down.

"My fellow Delegates," Keui spoke solemnly. "We wake up on the blackest morning our world has ever faced. It is with a heavy heart that I address you today. Yesterday, our beloved Ba Sing Se, as well as other treasured cities the world over, were ruthlessly and senselessly attacked. Thousands of our brethren the world over lie dead, and we mourn their passing today." Keui cleared his throat. "I should not be giving this speech today. We should have been rejoicing together over a new construction project, or a new trade route being established. Instead, we mourn the passing of friends and loved ones. Many of them are husbands. Wives. Sons and daughters. Friends, cousins and neighbors. There is not one person the world over who has not suffered personal loss in the wake of these senseless attacks."

Keui adjusted his glasses. "Thanks to the brave efforts of General Iroh and his fellow liberators – who bravely liberated Ba Sing Se from occupation during the summer – the culprits have been caught and defeated. I have been authorized to release the identities of the culprits. The attacks were planned and perpetrated by my former Secretariat, Long Feng along with former Lieutenant Sen. We have captured Long Feng and he will stand trial. Lieutenant Sen has gone missing, but you have my full assurances that my men will find him and he will face justice."

There were whispers within the crowd. Keui raised a hand. "In addition, to my great surprise and disappointment, it has been confirmed that Fire Lord Zuko aided and abetted the attackers in their plot."

At this, the crowd went wild.

"The Fire Nation again?"

"I told you we can't trust them!"

Keiu shook his head at the crowd. "My friends – please. It has been confirmed that Fire Lord Zuko acted alone. Thankfully, others within the Fire Nation stood up to him – such as Qin here – and were able to mitigate some of the losses. A new Fire Lord has been appointed. He will be meeting with me soon. Zuko, however, has escaped. But I assure you, I will see to it that justice is served upon him with a heavy and swift hand."

More murmurs from the crowd. They wondered who this new Fire Lord was.

The Earth King looked down at the crowd, his eyes slightly welling up. "To think that we have been betrayed by men from within our own nations. The enemy does not belong to any one nation. They are not Fire Nation, Water Tribe or Earth Kingdom. They were all around us. Friends. Family. And they had one specific target in mind … the World Peace Coalition. They do not want to see the Coalition succeed. They do not want to see peace. The enemy has one simple ideology – to destroy peace wherever they find it! But I stand before you today to announce one simple thing – peace will persist! We will not be cowed! We will not be threatened! Though the enemy throws down, we will rebuild! This is our world! We will not be dissuaded from seeking peace, happiness and universal brotherhood no matter what the enemy does!" His eyes scanned the crowd. "We will have peace!"

The crowd cheered, applauding and hollering their support for the King. For the Coalition.

A sad smile was on the Earth King's face. "Thank you. But it will be a very long road ahead. Sacrifices will have to be made from all of us. But I am confident that with the policies the Coalition is enacting today, we will persevere! We will have peace! And that is why I have appointed Representative Kohta as the Lord Minister of the World Peace Coalition, an action which was voted upon and ratified by fellow member states of the Coalition this morning."

Keui bowed his head and stepped down from the podium as Representative Kohta, in fine white and gold robes, stood up on the podium to wild applause. "I want to make one thing very clear," he stated as the crowd fell into silence. "The Coalition is not a dictatorship. The office of Lord Minister does not make me a king. In fact, it makes me lower than anyone. It is the position of a servant. The powers given to me will be used to serve you. The people."

More applause.

Kohta shuffled through papers. "And as your Lord Minister, I have been put in the unenviable position of ratifying new measures to stop the enemy in their tracks. The citizens of the Coalition have my full assurances that these measures will be immediately withdrawn, once the perpetrators have been captured."

The new Lord Minister cleared his throat, rifling through papers. "Decree 10990 – The Coalition shall have full surveillance over all modes of transportation. Decree 10991 – The Coalition shall have full surveillance over all warehouses and storage facilities. Decree 10992 – Full surveillance over all personal and public modes of transportation. Decree 10993 – Full surveillance over all media and other forms of communication. Decree 10994 – Full surveillance over all food sources and farms. Decree 10995 – The Coalition shall have the authority to conscript civilians into labor and/or military service."

As Lord Minister Kohta read off decree after decree, Iroh watched from a wall above, concern spread across his face.

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Fire Nation Archipelago - Morning

Preparations were already underway. The green airship was grounded on a small, remote island outside the Fire Nation. Several Kyoshi Warriors were laid out on the ground as Suki went to work fitting them with splints. Commander Jee and Mai helped. Ty Lee flounced around as Mai worked. "… and then we can go get mani-pedis, then we can go get our auras read, then we -."

Suki, sensing that Mai was getting close to throttling Ty Lee, motioned for the newest Kyoshi Warrior to come over to her. "Ty Lee, I need your help with this brace."

On the shores of the archipelago, Appa laid on the sand, staring ahead at the horizon. The waves lapped at his toes, but the poor bison didn't care. Momo poked him with a stick repeatedly, but he didn't notice.

Katara joined the bison, sitting down on the sand next to him, stroking his ears. "I miss him too …" she said. She stared at the horizon. Just when things were settling down, just when she was beginning to understand her feelings for Aang better, see him in a romantic light, the universe snatched him away from her.

And now she had no idea if they could even get him back.

As if to answer her concerns, a voice came up from behind her. "We will get him back, you know."

Jet, no longer in his Blue Spirit costume, was gathering firewood on the beach. Katara nodded, before turning back to the horizon.

Jet placed the firewood aside, and joined Katara on the shores, a blade of grass between his teeth. "I know you're worried about the Avatar … but I know how these guys think. I know how to get him back."

Katara nodded again.

The Freedom Fighter stared off at the horizon. "If only everyone had just listened to me …"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"The Fire Nation!" he exclaimed, waving his hands at the capitol island in the distance. "I've been saying that they can't be trusted … and now, after the war, look how they've repaid us!"

Katara shook her head. "Zuko and the Fire Nation didn't betray us, Jet."

"Zuko may not have … but listen to me, Katara. These guys, the ones behind these attacks … they are Fire Nation. They used the end of the war as a pretext for these attacks. The Coalition is just a front for them …"

Katara hugged her knees. Something was still nagging at her. "Jet … what happened at Lake Laoigai?"

The Freedom Fighter stared ahead. "That place should have been my grave …"

"Jet?"

"I don't fully remember … I was dying … Smellerbee and Longshot were there. I remember fading out, seeing a black void. I knew I was dying, but yet I was at peace with it. For the first time in my life, I felt peace. Then he came …"

"Who?"

Jet was staring ahead. He wasn't even talking to Katara at this point. He was trying to process what had happened, rationalize it, make it make sense to himself. "A voice, from faraway, calling me back to the land of the living. I was convinced I was dead and that the voice was an angel or a Spirit. But it was him. I didn't know who I was dealing with at first. I should've just let myself die …"

Katara put her hand on his shoulder. He kept talking.

"I could see in my mind's eye a man. At least, that's what I thought it was. But this is no man … this is a monster. He made an offer … serve him, and he would give me some of his lifeforce … by then, Smellerbee and Longshot had done all they could do. The Dai Li were coming and they had no choice but to flee, to leave my body. To leave me alone. But I wasn't alone. The Creature came to me … I couldn't see him, but I could sense him. He offered me another chance at life. I should have said no, but in a moment of fear, fear of death, in the barest moment of pure survival instinct, I said yes. I can't exactly remember what happened … but he did something. His fingers were on my forehead and neckline and I remember seeing orange and blue lights …"

Energybending, Katara realized.

"He made me gather Zuko's Blue Spirit costume from the Lake. Said I was to join him as one of his assassins. I followed him to his lair in Ba Sing Se … there was a Court. And I realized I wasn't the only one who made a deal for a second chance at life. There was somebody in a red mask … and there was him."

Katara nodded in realization. "Lu Ten …"

"Right. And he was the Creature's favorite … I heard their plans. What they were going to do with Aang. I played along at first. I sparred with the guy in the red mask repeatedly. I learned all I could about their plans, about the Spirit World … we all did. And about Naraka …"

"Naraka …?"

"A realm in the Spirit World. That's where they've trapped Aang's mind and soul. They showed us how to access it …"

"Can we get Aang back?" Katara asked.

"I don't know. But I learned the failsafe. There'd have to be, otherwise how could Lu Ten trap Aang there without getting stuck himself? I can get in there, get Aang, and bring him back." Jet stood up, dusting off his pants. "But all of that is a moot point without his body … we've got to free his body first, then we can worry about his mind." He shrugged. "I was intrigued by their powers … but once I learned their plans, I couldn't stand join them. I'm a Freedom Fighter, Katara. That's why I betrayed them to help you guys … and I'm very sure they'll be coming for me … to take the gift of life back."

Katara stood up and helped Jet pick up his firewood. She stacked the logs in his arms. "For what it's worth," she said, "I'm glad you made the choice to accept your life back … and I'm glad you made the right choice to turn your back on them."

Jet nodded. "That means a lot, Katara." He turned and left. Katara watched him.

"Oh Jet, you're soooo baaaaddd!"

Katara turned to see Toph, impersonating her with goo-goo eyes, holding on to Sokka's chest. Sokka had a weed in his mouth and was pretending to be Jet. "Don't worry, babe! I will be your hero in shining armor!"

Katara froze them in place and walked off.

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"YAAAARRRGGHHH!"

An orange fireball shot up into the sky.

Zuko stood on the shores of the archipelago, panting. His rage had gotten the better of him.

He had lost everything. His throne, his nation … he was banished once again. Lowering his head, he collapsed to the ground, legs splayed out. He allowed the seafoam to wash over his pant legs as he ran his fingers through the sand.

A sudden kiss to the cheek removed him from his ruminations. Mai was behind him, wrapping her arm around his chest.

Zuko picked up a seashell and threw it into the water.

"Is this my lot in life?" he asked to no one in particular. "Will this always be my destiny? To be banished from my home? Now I have to find Aang in order to return again … am I cursed? Am I destined to hunt for the Avatar forever?"

Mai stood up. "Wow, I was only checking in, I didn't need to hear your life story."

Zuko chuckled. He loved how callous Mai could be.

His girlfriend grabbed him by the arm, turned him around and cupped his face with her hands. "I know my destiny …" She kissed him. He closed his eyes and kissed her back. She looked him dead in the eyes. "You will find the Avatar again … you will return home again, with your honor intact."

"Honor …"

Mai turned and began walking off. "Now stop being a bum and help me set some of the wounds for the Kyoshi Warriors. And I'm partnering you up with Ty Lee on med-duty. She wants to give somebody a makeover and it sure as Agni isn't going to be me …"

Zuko had a sudden vision of himself in a chair with plucked eyebrows, curled hair and puckered lips as Ty Lee flounced giddily behind him …

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"Alrighty fishy … you've lived a good life. Now prepare to meet … my stomach!" Sokka was in a small homemade canoe just off the shore of the archipelago, Toph sitting behind him arms folded.

"I don't get it," she groused. "Why are we still here? Why aren't we rushing to find Twinkletoes!"

"Now Toph, we're all just as worried about Aang as you are. But we're no good to him on an empty stomach! Now watch how a master hunter catches his prey."

Toph pointed to her face. "Watch? Seriously, what is it with you people?! It's like every day you forget I'm blind or something."

"Oh … yeah, sorry." Sokka rubbed his hands together, before producing a spear with a net. "Nevertheless, prepare to be astounded!"

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An hour went by and Sokka was leaning over the side of the canoe, his mouth slack, the afternoon sun bright in the sky, his shoulders heavily sunburned. His spear was broken in two and floating in the water, and there were dozens of happy fish swarming around his boat. Not one had been captured.

Toph's arms were still folded. "I am truly astounded."

Sokka whirled around, holding the two broken pieces of his fishing equipment. "Oh, you think you can do better? Then try!"

The next thing anyone knew, a net had been thrown into the sea next to them, capturing several fishes. Sokka looked up and steam practically shot out of his ears. Jet was in his own homemade canoe and was hoisting a net full of fish up into his boat.

Toph pointed at the Freedom Fighter. "There's a true master hunter!"

Jet inspected his net. "Oh yeah, this'll be enough for dinner. Thanks for getting them together in one place, Sokka." Jet then began paddling the boat back to shore.

Sokka threw his fishing gear into the ocean. "THOSE WERE MY FISH!"

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Sokka was on his hands and knees in the middle of the archipelago's woods with Toph, who was standing behind him, arms still folded. Bored out of her mind.

"There," Sokka said, spreading a small, circular piece of rope in the ground. "The best way to hunt for game." He licked his lips. "I can taste the roast boar-cue-pine already … And now for the bait." He placed a few berries on the ground.

"Sokka," Toph replied. "A boar-cue-pine is not going to fall for your little trap. No one in their right mind would!"

"Shhh!" Sokka hushed her before leading her behind a pricklebush. "Something's coming!"

"Oh wow, what beautiful berries!" It wasn't a boar-cue-pine. Ty Lee skipped into the clearing. She bend down and plucked up the berries one by one, her foot positioned in the middle of Sokka's rope trap.

Nothing happened.

Ty Lee continued to pluck the berries up one by one, swaying side to side, eyes closed happily as she enjoyed her snack. "Ah, that hit the spot!" And then she skipped off, the trap remaining unsprung.

Sokka jumped out of the bushes, observing the rope trap. "Why didn't it spring? Not that I wanted to catch Ty Lee … but …"

Toph twirled her finger in the air. "Master of Traps," she snickered.

Sokka held his rope up. "I didn't make any mistakes in setting it … WOAH!" The trap suddenly sprung and Sokka was hanging upside-down from a tree branch, a noose around his ankle.

Toph applauded. "Beautiful dance moves, Snoozles. You're almost as light on your feet as Twinkletoes there."

"Never mind that, just let me down from here?"

Toph held a hand up to her ear. "What was that? I've suddenly gone deaf."

"Toph!"

"Oh well, I guess Sugar Queen'll be missing me …!" She skipped off.

Sokka was foaming at the mouth. "Toph! I'm not joking! Help!"

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The sun was beginning to set.

Sokka was upside-down, swaying from side to side. "Down … please … must get down …"

"Sokka? What are you doing up there?"

Sokka looked down to see Jet holding a carcass of several boar-cue-pines, ready for cooking. He shrugged at the Freedom Fighter. "Oh nothing, just hanging out …"

"Well stop messing around and get down … we're going to be eating dinner soon and then we're all having a meeting to plan our next move …"

"I'll get right on that," Sokka groused as Jet turned and began heading back to the beach.

Above, the rope was straining itself under Sokka's weight. It was whittling down to its last few strands. SNAP! The rope finally broke and Sokka landed face first into a mound of dirt. He sat up, dusting himself off.

"Stupid Toph. Stupid Jet, thinks he's better than everyone …"

Sokka stood up. Night was breaking and he was alone in the woods. Around him, owls hooted and animals roared in the distance. "I better get back to shore …"

He turned to follow in Jet's wake, when something caught his sight from the corner of his eye. A shining white figure was walking through the trees. It was making its way towards him.

Sokka screamed and flailed in the opposite direction, following Jet's path.

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A giant bonfire had been built on the shores of the beach. Jet added more logs to it as the meat cooked and the fire crackled. Sitting around the fire were Katara, Zuko, Mai, Toph, Suki, the Kyoshi Warriors and Commander Jee.

Sokka had convinced himself that he was seeing things and shoved his way between Katara and Suki. He glared at Jet, who was dressing the meat. In a matter of seconds, the glowing figure in the woods was long forgotten.

"Everyone's here?" Jet asked, standing up and looking around. "Good. Then we can begin. We need to discuss our next moves."

Sokka folded his arms. "Oh, and who appointed you leader, Jet?"

Katara slapped Sokka's arm. "Sokka! Be nice! Jet is helping us!"

"Leave it to you to defend Jet," Sokka whispered.

Jet, meanwhile, smiled pleasantly. "Sokka! Where are my manners? If you want to lead the meeting, then be my guest." He motioned towards the center of the circle. "Please, tell us your magnificent plan to rescue Aang." He sat down on a log, crossing his legs.

Sokka stood up with a pompous flair. "Fine. I am the Idea Guy, after all." He paused. "Umm … where is Aang, by the way?"

Jet observed his fingernails. "They've got his body frozen in an iceberg in the South Pole."

"That's it!" Sokka shouted. "We go down South and free him from the iceberg like when Katara and I first found him!" He beamed proudly.

Toph slowly clapped. "You are indeed the Master of Ideas. No one would ever have thought of that …"

"Why thank you Toph." His eyes narrowed. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

Jet interrupted again. "Okay Sokka. We go down South and get Aang's body. How do we get him out of that iceberg? And more importantly, there's an entire Fire Nation fleet under Lu Ten's command guarding Aang's iceberg. How do you plan to get past them to get to Aang?"

"I got it!" Sokka's face beamed ever more greatly. "Katara – you remember that old grounded Fire Nation ship?"

"Yeah," she replied, not liking where this was going.

"Toph – you can Metalbend. And I can send a messenger hawk to the Mechanist. Between him and Toph, they can get that thing seaworthy. Then we slip in, disguised as one of them and get to Aang!"

Jet actually was impressed. "Maybe I underestimated you, Sokka. But I'll need to know for sure if you can actually pull this thing off."

"You're darn right I'll pull this thing off! We don't really even need you -."

"Sokka!" Katara warned.

Jet and Sokka were face to face, the fire roaring behind them. "You don't need me?" Jet asked. "That's fine. I can leave. But once you get Aang's body back, how are you getting his Spirit back?"

Sokka raised a finger, then lowered it.

Jet's eyebrows were raised. "So you need me after all …" He turned to address everyone else. "We're running out of time. The Autumnal Equinox is less than two weeks away. That's our best chance for me to access the Spirit World and get Aang back. It has to happen on the Equinox … but we have to get his body before then. Otherwise, there'll be no point. Do we have any allies down south?"

Katara nodded. "My father. He can marshal some support."

"We can't let the Fire Nation know what we're up to," Jet replied.

"A messenger hawk," Katara replied. "Just for him."

"And if it's intercepted?"

"We won't put anything incriminating in it. We'll tell Dad we're coming back home and want a Father's Day Out. We can tell him the situation in private."

Jet nodded. "Good. A solid plan for now …"

As the rest of the group began to tear into the meal, Sokka uncharacteristically shoved his share of the meat away, got up and began walking back towards the woods.

"Where are you going?" Katara asked.

Sokka waved over his shoulder. "I think I need some fresh air …"

Katara made to follow but felt Toph's fingers grip her forearm. "Don't … he needs to be alone, I can sense it."

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"Stupid Jet … just shows up out of nowhere and now becomes the Plan Guy. And we're all just supposed to trust him now because he sashayed around in a mask?"

Sokka was lost in his ruminations. Before he realized it, he had wandered into the deep thickets of the island's forests. He looked around. Nothing but trees as far as the eye could see. "Oh great, now I'm lost too …!" Figuring he should turn around and try to go back the way he came, he was amazed and horrified as a glowing white figure appeared from between the tree branches and advanced on him.

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The crew were still enjoying their hot dinner on the beach when a scream broke the night's silence.

In an instant, Toph was on her feet. "I recognize that girlish scream anywhere."

Katara was in agreement. "Sokka!"

Jet unsheathed his swords as Toph and Zuko began racing towards the woods. He looked at the Kyoshi Warriors, Mai and Commander Jee. "Keep an eye on the beach, we'll find Sokka!"

For a moment, the rest of the group sat there in silence.

Finally, Ty Lee piped up. "Soooo, does anyone want an aura reading?"

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"SOKKA! SOKKA!"

Katara, Toph, Zuko and Jet raced through the woods at breakneck speed. They reached a clearing. Toph simply shook her head sadly. "I don't even sense his vibrations … it's like something just took him …"

Katara gazed up at the stars, hidden between the foliage. "Just like during the Winter Solstice …"

Jet nodded in affirmation. "I had a feeling something like this would happen … during the last hundred years, the Avatar Spirit was dormant, but at least it was present in the physical realm … with the Avatar Spirit trapped in the Spirit World, the two worlds can't align properly."

"What does that mean?" Zuko asked.

"Big trouble," Toph replied.

"As the Equinox gets closer and closer, the two worlds will begin merging … without the Avatar to bridge the two realms, more Spirits will enter our world … lost and confused."

"So you guys are saying a Spirit took Sokka?" Zuko sighed.

"Either that," Jet replied, "or he could've gotten himself washed out to sea …"

Zuko shook his head. "We're not giving up on him. Come on."

Jet eyed his surroundings, his fingers gripping the handle of his swords. "Alright, but look sharp … we may not be running into your typical cuddly, nice Spirits here …"

Toph shrugged. "Meh, most of the time we never do."

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And across the world, Jet's predictions of spiritual catastrophe were coming true.

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In the Fire Nation, the Fire Sages lamented in Avatar Roku's temple, sensing a foreboding darkness creeping across the world.

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An Earth Kingdom village was settling down for the night. At least until several glowing, wolf-like spirits surrounded the small wooden hovels that made up the village. There were screams of terror as the wolf-spirits tore into food stores, knocked over carts and tables. A woman and her children huddled in a corner as a wolf-spirit entered their house, eyes gleaming, mouth salivating.

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An old man was walking through Earth Kingdom woods, leaning on his stick. He saw a young man with his back to him on the trial. "Excuse me," the old man inquired politely. "Do you know the way to the main trail?"

No response.

"Excuse me?" he asked, tugging on the man's sleeve.

The young man turned.

He had no face.

The old man screamed in terror and ran in the opposite direction as fast as his little bowl legs could carry him.

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Situations like this were erupting all across the world. The balance between the mortal world and the Spirit World were destabilized.

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Brother Truth sat in an armchair, puffing a pipe, his fingers trembling. Two of his Prophets From the Sky entered his sanctuary as he turned a leaf in a book.

"You've sensed it as well?" he asked.

"Yes," the one Prophet replied. "Instead of balance, we sense chaos."

"It will increase," Brother Truth replied. "The Avatar is gone … there is no bridge left … if he is not restored, then who knows what may happen? Who knows what Yama will do …?"

"Sir? Do you think she will get involved?"

"If she sees that the situation is irreversible … she will. And there will be no persuading her otherwise." He sighed. "I fear for us all."

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Toph, Katara, Jet and Zuko raced briskly through the woods, calling out for Sokka. Toph was getting more and more frustrated. "This is ridiculous! We're wasting our time looking for someone who isn't here! We need to look in the Spirit World! If Aang were here -."

"But he's not," Jet replied. "I'm the best you've got."

Zuko pointed at something. "Hey … what's that in the clearing?"

Through the trees, they saw a figure. A glowing figure. It stood there, before turning and going in the opposite direction.

"I think it wants us to follow it," Katara said.

"It may be a trap," Jet warned.

Zuko was lost in thought. "I've been to several of these small islands in the Fire Nation … early on when I was hunting Aang. Uncle told me once that there were shrines built on these islands … shrines to Avatar Roku. I think it may be leading us to one."

"I don't care where it's leading us." Katara had a thick look of determination. "I'm getting my brother back!" She stormed after the Spirit.

Jet sheathed his weapons, before looking over at Zuko. "Impulsive, isn't she? If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was a Firebender."

As Jet and Zuko followed in Katara's wake, Toph stood there, arms folded across her chest. "Boy, you know things are bad when I'm the voice of reason!" She stamped her foot. "Wait a minute – who am I talking to?" She began running after her friends. "Wait for me!"

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Katara followed the Spirit into a clearing in the thicket. Behind her, Jet, Zuko and Toph emerged from behind the trees. In the center of the clearing was a small building. The Spirit raised a ghostly finger, pointing at the shrine.

"It wants us to go in," Zuko said.

"I ain't doin' it," Toph said.

Katara grit her teeth. "I'll do it."

Eyeing the Spirit warily, Katara looked over at the rest of the group. "We'll be right out here," Jet said. Nodding, Katara spared a glance over at the glowing figure, before entering the small shrine.

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The shrine was simple in design. Four walls and a floor. In the middle was a small altar with two candlesticks which had been burned down almost to the nub. A small statue of Avatar Roku was positioned on the floor in front of the altar.

Katara looked over at the Spirit who glided in behind her.

"What am I supposed to do?"

The Spirit simply hovered.

Turning her gaze back to the altar, she noticed a small light-stick. She picked it up and struck it on the floor. The stick lit up and she used it to light the already burned-down candles, which cast a red glow across the room.

She looked up at the Spirit.

"I don't under-."

Before her, the small Avatar Roku statue's eyes began glowing with furious white light. The room was spinning around her, and the next thing Katara knew was nothing but blackness.

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Outside, Jet, Zuko and Toph were absolutely bored and worried about what was going on inside with Katara. Zuko was pacing furiously, smoke issuing from his hands. Toph was on her back whistling. And Jet simply sat on a log, sharpening a knife.

"So tell me Sparkey," Toph said suddenly. "How were things going in the Fire Nation? Ya' know, before your crazy cousin showed up and banished you again and everything …"

Zuko stopped and glared at her. "That's the thing," Zuko said, squatting down, head lowered. "I thought my people wanted peace … I thought … well, more like hoped that they had seen the light like I had. Many did … it just wasn't enough …"

Toph sat upright. "More people want peace than you think, Zuko. Trust me, when I met your Uncle, one of the things he taught me was to never stop believing in people. Once this is all over and we get Aang back and we stop your crazy family again (no offense) you'll see. The Fire Nation will come around."

Zuko nodded. "I wish Uncle were here …"

Jet tossed aside a small piece of wood. "People don't change, Toph. They simply get better at faking it."

Zuko looked up at him. "What are you trying to say?"

Jet merely shrugged. "Hey, I'm just trying to break the facts of life to her is all. The Fire Nation won't change because the Fire Nation can't change."

Zuko stood up, his face slumped into an angry mask. "I refuse to believe that …"

"Believe whatever you want – but it's the truth. People don't change … only their masks do." He walked past Zuko, whispering in his ear. "Isn't that right … Lee?"

Zuko whirled around. "If this about what happened in Ba Sing Se, Uncle and I had no choice! We had to pretend to be refugees!"

Jet picked up a rock and tossed it between his hands. "Fair enough. I can understand that. But riddle me this, Zuko – when the time came for you to make a choice, you showed your true colors. You turned on the Avatar and took down Ba Sing Se." The Freedom Fighter turned to look down at Toph. "So you see, people don't really change. They just adapt and learn to hide who they are better."

At this, Toph stood up. "You're wrong, Jet! Zuko may have made the wrong decision at the time, but he came around! He even taught Aang Firebending and helped us save the world! People do change!"

"Oh really?" He turned to the former Fire Lord. "Then tell us, Zuko … if you've changed, why did you resist some of the World Peace Coalition's requests for reparations? Why didn't you let them have the Boiling Rock and give up some of your colonies? It's almost like you wanted the war to continue …"

Zuko grit his teeth.

Jet could see he was hitting a nerve. "More importantly, the World Peace Coalition wanted to execute your father. Yet you sued for a stay of execution. I can understand because he's your dad and all, but as a leader, you know the responsibility that fell upon your shoulders."

"The decision was not mine to make," Zuko shot back. "Aang made that decision! I only backed him up!"

"Hiding behind the Avatar? And who made him a god among us? The Nations needed justice! Those decisions should be made by the people! By those whose lives were affected by the war!"

"Like you?" Zuko scoffed.

Jet casually tossed his rock into the air. "Of course. After all, it's because of your father that I no longer have my parents … did I not deserve a say in his fate?"

Zuko shook his head. "I don't care what you say. I stand behind the Avatar and his decisions."

"Do you? Because look around Zuko! Aang is gone! The Fire Nation is on the rise, the Coalition has been infiltrated and it's all because of your father! The war never ended … it just evolved into a different kind of war. One of stealth and shadow. But the war could have ended. It could have ended for good that day in Ba Sing Se at your father's trial. If you had put the world first, before your affection for Aang!" Jet took a step forward. "Look around – can you, Zuko, in your heart of hearts, really say that the world is better off now?"

Zuko looked away. He didn't know the answer.

Toph, meanwhile, had gone rigid. "Guys … I hate to interrupt your little catfight, but I just heard a noise …"

Zuko and Jet turned. Toph was pointing at a bush. The bush was moving.

And then, slowly, several glowing, grey spirit-wolves emerged from the shrubs. Their eves were focused, their jaws open, slack with saliva and gleaming white teeth that could snap bone in an instant. The spirit monsters were coming from all sides, surrounding them.

They were trapped!

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Katara sat up. She was fully expecting a full-on, throbbing headache. But no … there was no pain. Was she dead? The last thing she remembered was the freaky glowing Spirit and the glowing Roku statue.

But she didn't feel dead. So did that mean that she was in the Spirit World? She rose to her feet, arms out to steady herself.

She was in a bog. In the distance she could see giant spirit monsters wandering. "Where am I?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Katara spun around. There was nobody there … nobody, except for a monkey sitting on a rock, legs crossed eyes closed. He was meditating.

"The Spirit World?"

The monkey did not deign to even open his eyes. "Yes. Now get out of the way. You are blocking the cosmic rays of the universe."

"How did I get here?"

"You ask too many questions. Go away."

Katara took in her surroundings. In the distance was a vast tree. She felt compelled to go there. She began walking in its direction.

"I would not do that if I were you …"

It was the monkey again.

"Why not?"

"It's not my job to educate you. Just don't go there – that is the domain of Koh."

Katara looked down at the monkey. "Can't you help me?"

"No. Now go away."

Katara stood there, unsure of where to go.

The monkey, lip jutting out, opened a single eye to see if she were still there.

There she was, smiling coyly, hands folded in front of her. "I must have been brought here for a reason …"

The monkey sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration. "Very well. I brought you here … but not to bother me! You were supposed to meet with Avatar Roku …"

Katara beamed. "Avatar Roku?"

"Yes. But unfortunately, he seems to be missing …"

The young Waterbender lowered her head. "I may know the reason for that … it's because the current Avatar has been trapped … locked away in a place a friend of ours calls Naraka …"

A faraway look crossed the monkey's eyes. "Have I been meditating for so long?" He sighed, folding his hands in his lap. "I had sensed a disturbance in my meditations … spirits crossing over before the Equinox? I had reached out to the Avatar, to try to question him about what was happening …" He tapped a finger on Katara's forehead. "I thought you were him!"

Katara's eyes narrowed. "In what regard?"

"I sensed a hint of him from you … as though there were some connection between you."

Katara rubbed the back of her head. "Oh. Well, he and I are kind of dating."

"I have no interest nor comprehension of human mating rituals." The old monkey sighed. "But if you are friends with the Avatar, then you will have to do …"

"Do for what?"

The monkey closed his eyes again. "I am Sun Wukong, emissary of Queen Yama, the Supreme Judge of the mortal world. The Queen has been away for a very long time. But she is returning. It is as she said. The Age of Kali Yuga is coming to an end …"

Katara was confused. "What does that mean?"

Sun Wukong sighed.

"The Age of the Avatar … is over …"

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"Nice puppies … down boys …" A bead of sweat rolled down Toph's cheek as the spirit-wolves advanced. "Say, you don't think they're here to play catch and have us rub their bellies, do you?"

Zuko was watching one of the spirit-wolves lick its chops. "I don't think so, Toph."

Jet had lost his patience. "Enough of this." He charged towards one of the spirit monsters with his swords drawn. The spirit-wolf waited till the last possible second, before squatting down on its haunches and letting out a horrifying howl. The force of the creature's howl sent Jet flying several meters, landing hard on his back.

At that, the other three spirit-wolves charged, going after Jet.

"Leave him alone!" Zuko punched a jet of fire at the wolves. They were enveloped in the all-consuming flame.

"Nice one, Sparkey!" Toph commended.

There was a moment's silence …

The spirit-wolves emerged from the flames, completely unharmed, not even a single strand of fur singed.

But now they were angry.

Toph slid into a fighting stance. She stomped her lift foot and a boulder levitated. With her right foot, she sent it flying straight at the leader of the pack. "Here boys – let's play ball!"

The rock bounced harmlessly off of the spirit-wolf. The spirit animal whirled around, jaws snapping. It howled again and the pack followed suit. Two advanced on Zuko. The other two turned course and stalked Toph, their bellies low to the ground, their ears pressed flat against their heads.

Saliva dribbling to the ground as they licked their chops in a ravenous hunger.

"This could be a problem," Toph remarked.

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"What do you mean is 'over'?" Katara was indignant.

Sun Wukong pointed at the swampy water behind Katara's feet. She turned as the water began to take on a clear color, crystallizing in a mirror. Squinting her eyes, she looked deep in the mirror and saw … space. And then there was a shape morphing, as though a hill had suddenly arisen. Trees and mountains grew out of the hill. As the hill moved, Katara realized it was no hill … it was a Lion Turtle shell. The earth was growing on its back.

"Long ago," Sun Wukong narrated, "there were only the Ancient Ones … what you call the Lion Turtles. They lived for eons, through countless worlds and lifetimes …" He leaned forward and swirled the reflection with his finger.

Katara watched as the images in the mirror morphed. It looked like earth … but different. The humans looked different … yet the same, in a way she couldn't quite describe.

"The Ancient Ones lived through many Cycles … many universes. Many peoples. They would teach them how to bend the energy within themselves …"

Katara watched as the people within the distant past touched the foreheads of each other, red and blue light flashing into the sky.

" … but always the same pattern. No matter who …"

In the vision, the people began Energybending more and more. As though they were addicted.

"Once one begins the art, they cannot stop. The Ancient Ones only meant Energybending for good … but man continually used it for selfish gain … until finally …"

Katara watched as men continued to steal each other's souls, until finally one rose to the top as the supreme Energybender.

"They would become monsters, but always there would be one who would rise to the top. A Beast. A creature who would practice the art so much, steal so many souls, that his own would be ravaged beyond recognition. And these Beasts would always attempt to go further … power drives them mad and with a soul so far deteriorated, they would attempt to challenge even the Ancient Ones … they would destroy the entire universe and the Spirit World in their madness … Yama would always be forced to intervene …"

And in the vision, fire rained down upon the world, and upon the men who had become Beasts, ravaging the land, clearing it, leaving nothing but a clean slate to start over. And start over they did. Millennia would go by. Men would rise. Learn Energybending. It would corrupt them. Some of the men would go further others, become Beasts. And they would always attempt to destroy the Spirit World.

Katara watched the drama play out, over and over again, repeating in countless cycles over eons.

"Yama would always be left with no choice … if the Beast and humanity continued with Energybending, they would destroy the entire universe. So she would wipe them out. And humans would eventually return. Repopulate. The cycle continued, Yama and the Ancient Ones always holding out hope that the humans would never learn the now cursed art of Energybending … but eventually they did … and again the cycle would repeat. Until this cycle … when a new form of bending was given to the humans … instead of energy, the progenitors of this cycle – your ancestors – learned to bend the four elements. And as the Avatar Spirit emerged to keep balance, Yama was pacified. As long the humans could be contented to bend only the four elements, and as long as the Avatar maintained the balance, she was confident that this cycle could be different. That this cycle would never take up the cursed art … until now."

Sun Wukong drew a circle in the mirror. "Some did discover the art … Yama was worried … but these people seemed to understand the spiritual danger posed by Energybending." Katara watched an image of the Southern Air Temple … the Air Monks. They were writing in journals and on parchments. Sun Wukong smiled. "The Air Nomads … they were always Yama's favorite nation. The most enlightened. They discovered the path to Energybending but forbade it. They chronicled its powers, but passed laws against its use … but after they died, they left behind many of their secrets …"

Katara looked down at the now empty hallways and chambers of the Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern Air Temples. "… someone discovered their scrolls after the genocide," she realized.

"Correct. Someone … less inhibited … discovered the secret. And for the last century, he has been at work. Stealing bending from Firebenders, Waterbenders, and Earthbenders. Only one element missing."

"Air."

"Until now. And now the Avatar is gone. The last remaining strand of balance in the universe has been removed. You know what comes next."

Katara looked in the mirror. She saw the Beast challenging the Ancient Ones … challenging Yama for supremacy.

"There are two ways this plays out," Sun Wukong stated. He stirred the mirror. Katara watched as Yama rained fire and meteors down upon the Four Nations, wiping them clean ... "This is the more likely scenario … Yama cleanses the world and the Cycle restarts. But even worse …"

With a stir of his finger, a new image appeared. The Beast was there, all-powerful, eternal. The Ancient Ones – the Lion Turtles – their shells were all that remained with smoke issuing from them. And Yama … Katara saw orange and blue lights … the Beast was Energybending Yama herself … until Yama had been integrated into his own being … the Beast had become a god … and the universe imploded in on itself …

"This is the Beast's ultimate agenda … who cares about the Avatar, when he can steal the soul of a god for himself and become the supreme power in the universe? But what he does not realize is … the mortal and Spirit worlds cannot maintain such a strain. He will cause the end of all things …"

Katara was on her knees, tears streaming down her face. "How? There must be some way this can be stopped?"

Sun Wukong shook his head. "I am afraid … there is nothing that can be done. As I said earlier … no matter what, your age is at an end …"

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"Back! Get back, blast you!"

Toph had climbed a tree as two spirit-wolves circled it. They lowered themselves onto their haunches, before launching themselves upward, onto the lower tree branches. They were climbing up, getting closer to her. She squatted on a branch, her fingers on the trunk, feeling the intricacies of the tree, sensing where its branches were. She jumped up, just as a spirit-wolf snapped its jaws, missing her foot by inches.

But she was nearing the top. She couldn't go up any further … already her branch was bending under her weight. Below, the two spirit-wolves were climbing the trunk, their sharp claws tearing into the wood.

Jet was on his back, writhing in pain. A spirit-wolf stalked back and forth, ears flat against its head. With a snarl, it leaped onto Jet's prone form. In a quick instant, Jet had both his swords crossed in front of him, holding the wolf at bay. But it was only a delaying measure. The wolf's teeth were clicking ever so close, inching closer, closer to this throat, ready to tear out his jugular.

And Zuko fought against another. His Firebending completely ineffective. With a powerful leap, the wolf threw Zuko onto the ground, going for the throat. Zuko grabbed its jaws with his bare hands, fighting it off, trying to keep its teeth as far from his neck as possible.

But it was futile, they knew. They wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

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"I can't accept this … I won't accept this!"

Katara was on her feet, her fists balled with rage. "Yama can't just end us like this!"

"Yama is -."

"Not without giving us a chance!"

Sun Wukong nearly started laughing. "A chance? The Avatar is gone -."

"We're getting him back."

The monkey cocked his head. "You seem determined …"

"You mark my words. We are going into Naraka on the Equinox. We will get Aang back. He will stop this Beast."

Sun Wukong was silent.

Katara rose higher, head held up with pride. "We've averted the apocalypse before! Or have you forgotten when the Ocean and Moon Spirits were threatened by the Fire Nation? Or how about during the Comet, when Fire Lord Ozai tried to burn the entire Earth Kingdom down? We will stop this Beast! We will get Aang back! And he will restore the balance! Yama will have no reason to destroy us!"

The monkey sat there in stunned silence. "You really believe in this boy…?"

"Yes. You better believe I do."

Sun Wukong sighed. "If things are as you say, there may yet be hope … Yama may yet be persuaded to forebear … Very well, you have my leave. Go. Try to save your Avatar. But be advised … this is your only chance. If you fail, your Cycle will be ended."

"We won't fail," she replied with defiance.

Sun Wukong turned and traced his finger in the air. A doorway opened. A portal back to the mortal world. As Katara headed towards it, Sun Wukong stopped her in her tracks. "One more thing … take this with you." The monkey snapped his fingers and Sokka plummeted, screaming, into the swampy water at her feet. "He has not shut up from the moment he got here and was interrupting my mediations."

Sokka protested Sun Wukong's remark as Katara helped him up. "I thought you would enjoy some sophisticated humor. But I see that not everyone in the Spirit World is as high-brow as my typical audiences." Nose in the air, Sokka marched through the portal.

Katara bowed low to Sun Wukong. "Thank you." She followed Sokka through the portal.

Sun Wukong looked around, eyebrow raised. "Finally." He closed his eyes and began meditating again. The black and white panda spirit, Hei Bai, suddenly appeared in his monster form and blasted the monkey in the face with his sonic halitosis. Sun Wukong's eyebrows sizzled and he fell off his rock sideways as Hei Bai transformed back into his peaceful panda form.

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Katara and Sokka found themselves back in the Mortal World, inside the small shrine. Katara looked at her brother. "Are you okay?"

"Just for once," Sokka commented, dusting himself off. "Just once I would like one of you to be captured and taken into the Spirit World. I know I'm handsome and all that, but could the Spirits abduct someone else for once?!" He was shouting to the ceiling, fist raised.

Outside they heard screaming. The two siblings looked at each other. "The others!"

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Katara and Sokka ran outside to see several spirit-wolves. Jet and Zuko were on their backs, wolves on top, struggling and snapping their jaws, attempting to go for the throats.

"Well it's about stinken' time Sugar Queen!" Katara and Sokka looked up to see Toph stranded on a tree, two wolves on branches just below her, attempting to nip at her feet.

Sokka sprung into action, flinging his boomerang at Zuko's wolf. "Boom-a-pow!" The boomerang flew straight through the wolf as though it weren't even there and landed harmlessly on the ground. Sokka stood there, arm still outstretched, utterly perplexed.

Katara pulled her water out of her satchel when she felt a soft hand on her wrist. She looked up … it was the glowing Spirit that led her to the shrine to begin with. The Spirit placed two fingers where Katara supposed her mouth was and gave a sharp whistle.

At the sound of the whistle, the wolves stopped in their tracks. They looked up, their tails wagging.

And the next thing anyone knew, the four spirit-wolves were shrinking, transforming right before their eyes. They had transformed from ferocious monsters into harmless, cuddly, grey spirit puppies.

"Oh, I get it," Katara said. "They lost their way … this Spirit is their master."

The spirit puppies stood on their four little paws, heads up, ears erect, watching the Spirit while wagging their little tails. The Spirit lowered his head at them in disappointment, and the puppies lowered their heads, their little tails between their legs. The puppies turned and began licking Jet and Zuko's faces.

Toph, suspicious as ever, gingerly climbed down the tree as one of the puppies came up to her, tail wagging. She held out a hand. "I'm sorry … I think I'm more of a cat person now." The puppy still jumped up and licked her face.

Even Sokka got in on the action as one of the puppies jumped into his arms and began licking his face. "Eeew! Spirit germs!" He bleched.

The Spirit whistled again, and the four puppies lined up in attention. The Spirit nodded in thanks to the group for returning its pets, before a hole opened up into the Spirit World. The Spirit motioned and the four puppies merrily skipped into the portal. The Spirit turned one last time … and Katara was shocked to see the face of the Painted Lady. "We'll meet again …" the Painted Lady smiled, before vanishing into the portal after the puppies.

"That … was the strangest thing I think I've ever seen," stated Zuko.

"Really?" Toph asked. "After everything we've been through, you're ranking that as the strangest thing?"

Sokka, meanwhile, threw his hands up in horror. "I don't believe this! That spirit-puppy peed on me! It's a spirit, how is that even possible?! First Cubby, now this!"

Katara laughed. "Let's get back to the others."

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Morning arose on the island. Team Avatar had been busy loading up Appa with supplies. Even Momo helped.

Sokka was standing on the seashore with Suki. "Are you sure I can't persuade you to come?" Sokka pouted.

Suki smiled as she held Sokka's hands in her own. "I wish I could … but several of my girls are still injured. I wouldn't be much of a leader if I left on a quest without making sure they're alright. Once we get our airship airborne, we'll take them to the Earth Kingdom. Once they're ready to fight again, I think we'll go to Ba Sing Se. Zuko's Uncle probably suspects the Coalition has been behind everything. Maybe we can form a resistance movement in Ba Sing Se."

"Then this is goodbye …"

Suki placed a finger on Sokka's lips. "No. Just a 'see you later.'" She then drew him into a deep kiss.

Zuko was also having his own romantic moment on the seashore with Mai. "I'm staying with the Kyoshi Warriors too," she was saying. "Ty Lee will be annoying, but it is good to see her. Besides, Commander Jee and I will be more useful in the Fire Nation. Gathering intel. Plus, it won't look too good for my father if I'm seen helping you … Lu Ten already knows I escaped with you and I'm sure he's going to have my father followed at all times. I'll make it look like I've renounced you …"

Zuko nodded sadly. "That's for the best." He gripped Mai's shoulders. "I will come back for you, Mai. I promise."

She gently punched him in the shoulder. "You'd better. I'm serious." And then she leaned in and kissed him.

"If you lovebirds are all done smooching, we gotta get a move on right now! It's already past midday and we've got a long stretch before we hit the South Pole!" Jet was busy loading supplies onto Appa's saddle.

Appa was standing regally, Momo on his head, the two animals raring to go. To find their master and be reunited with him once again.

Sokka and Zuko gave their girlfriends fond smiles, before climbing Appa. Commander Jee, Suki, Ty Lee, Mai and the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors stood there, watching Katara and Toph join the others on Appa's saddle.

As soon as Jet joined them, Sokka flicked the bison's reigns. "Appa! Yip-yip!"

With a tremendous bellow, Appa ascended into the sky, as Team Avatar waved down to their friends and loved ones.

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Underground Facility – Evening

A gavel banged as Merilina sat at the head of the table of the Court of Many Faces. The other Court members sat watching.

"… and wonderful acting by our new associate won the day …" she was saying, addressing a man standing behind her. Lu Ten stepped from the shadows. "It was my pleasure."

Merlina stared at the rest of the Court. "Our plans could not have gone any better … except for one thing." She pounded her fist on the table. "General Iroh. You allowed him to escape and now the Order of the White Lotus has been made aware of our existence!"

The rest of the Court swallowed nervously.

Lu Ten was unfazed. "It is of no concern …"

Merilina stared up at him from her seat. "And how can you be so confident?"

"General Iroh will be dealt with. After all, who better to confront him than someone who knows his mind inside and out? Who better to destroy him than his own son?"

Merilina smiled. "Then when the opportunity comes, I expect spectacular results."

Lu Ten took her hand and bowed low, kissing it. "I always deliver."

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Lu Ten sat alone in the Court's meeting room. The Court had adjourned and gone its separate ways. But Lu Ten did not leave. He waited.

His patience was rewarded as a figure appeared in the shadows.

"Finally. I have been waiting all afternoon for you, Master," Lu Ten said.

The Beast spoke from the shadows. "I take it Merilina gave you your marching orders?"

"But of course. Her arrogance blinds her."

"As it does the Court. We shall play their game for the time being … let them think they're calling all the shots. Let them have their illusion of power …"

Lu Ten stood up. "I have a gift for you, Master. From the Avatar."

"Please …"

Lu Ten placed his fingers on the Beast's forehead and neckline. Red and blue lights shone within the meeting place.

After a few moments, the lights receded, and the atmosphere of the room returned to normal.

"Did it work, my Master?"

The Beast held out both hands, and with a minute's concentration, a sphere of air appeared between his palms. "Yes," he cooed. "A wonderful gift from the Avatar. And I spent the better part of the last century visiting the Air Temples, reading their bending scrolls, learning their techniques. And now that you have given me the Avatar's Airbending, I say we give birth to a new generation of Airbenders. Yes … the Air Nomads shall return … made over in my image."

The Beast receded back into the shadows, his voice echoing throughout the Court's room. "He is not The Last Airbender anymore …"

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