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 Fourteen:
Naraka
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Clouds gently swirl around the summit of the Southern Air Temple. Child monks fly on their gliders, and multiple sky bison circle as the children laugh, the wind carrying them higher and higher amid the temple's spires.
The serenity of the scene is brutally cut short as the sky turns orange and a crackling fireball slices the sky open.
The Comet has come.
The children land their gliders as the older Air Monks usher them inside.
In the distance, black soot fills the air. Thousands upon thousands of Fire Navy ships appear on the horizon. Their hull is thick, their armaments precise.
And they have one objective.
The complete annihilation of the Air Nomads.
The attacks come first from the ballistae armaments, blasting the towers and walls of the temple.
Tanks fire chains up the summit of the Patola Mountain range, pulling themselves up the cliff-faces. Thousands upon thousands of tanks.
The Air Nomads, for their pacifist ways, are not defenseless,
The monks spin their hands, and gale force winds blast the tanks off the sides off the cliff-face.
But for each one they throw off, two more take their place.
And they are running out of time.
It's a hopeless situation. Monk Gyatso realizes that. But he was never one to give up. He stands with Monk Pasang and the other elders of the temple on the block walls, throwing the tanks off the cliff-face with gale force winds.
KABOOM!
One of the nearby walls caves in. There is screaming, and hundreds of Imperial Firebenders flood into the breach. Large, reptilian monsters break down other bits of the wall, entering the courtyard of the temple, their mounts barking orders.
Within moments, the temple is on fire.
Gyatso fights back with everything he has, but it is no use …
He, like the rest of the Air Nomads, is running out of time …
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Aang walks through the chaos, invisible to all participants. "Gyatso!" He sees his old friend, being forced back into a room off the courtyard by a half dozen Imperial Firebenders.
"Gyatso!"
Nobody seems to hear his cries. He runs through the battle, invisible to all around him, rushing to save his friend.
The Firebenders pull back their fists. There is a puff of orange flame and a scream that cuts into him, slicing straight down his spinal cord.
He braves a glance into the room … he turns away in horror.
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And then, the scene resets. All the actors vanish and the temple is somehow miraculously restored.
The children and sky bison laugh, flying in circles above the tower spires.
Then the Comet appears. And the Fire Nation navy.
Aang relives the battle. Relives the carnage of his people.
And he watches helplessly as Gyatso is forced back into a room, and then burned to death.
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And again the scene resets. And plays out.
Aang is forced to relive Monky Gyatso's death again.
And again.
And again.
He has lost count the amount of times he has witnessed his friend's murder.
And yet, despite his best efforts, he forced to relive it, over and over.
He is trapped in an endless loop in this unending purgatory.
His own personal Hell.
This is the fate of Aang.
Forever.
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Ba Sing Se – Morning
Iroh hummed a good-natured tune, a spring in his step, as he walked down the streets of Ba Sing Se at his new job at the fast food restaurant. He had been rewarded with a medal from the Earth King for his part in saving Ba Sing Se again during Long Feng and Lieutenant Sen's coup. The citizens had a newfound respect for him, though, truth be told, he would have rather faded into obscurity. His job at the fast food restaurant, as degrading as it was to wear a giant foam taco hat, still paid his bills. And he had a roof over his head and could afford his weekly supply of tea. His distributor often joked that if anything were to ever happen to Iroh, he would be ruined.
A sudden pang tore into Iroh's gut. He had wandered, absentmindedly again, to the outside of the Jasmine Dragon. He sighed. He had promised himself that he would stop walking by here but would often find himself wandering past it when he was lost in his ruminations.
He could just kick himself. How could he have been foolish enough to bet the Jasmine Dragon in a game of Pai Sho against his arch-rival, Shumi? Toph had warned him! But didn't the girl understand? Iroh had a winning strategy! How could he have foreseen that Shumi would figure out the weakness in his technique?
But alas, Shumi had won and claimed the Jasmine Dragon as his own. And now, his bratty daughters Misty and Tristy had turned it into the hottest teen hangout this side of the Upper Ring. Loud music. Strobe lights. Who could enjoy tea in such an atmosphere?
Iroh thought the girls would crash and burn. Or, at least he had hoped they would. How could two spoiled rich girls who never worked a day in their life possibly run a successful business? And yet, here they were, packed to the gills every day and night. A large, bald bouncer stood there with sunglasses covering his eyes. He pointed at Iroh. "You! No idling!"
Iroh was offended. "I am no idler."
"Didn't you see the sign?" He pointed at a tiny sign on the Dragon's doorpost. Iroh squinted. The man pointed more forcefully. "Move it or lose it."
"Very well. But before I go, let me leave you with a wise old saying. 'One should never take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.'"
The bouncer was not having it. He pulled out a paper cup with a string attached. "Janson, we have 5-0."
Around the corner, another bouncer stood there holding up a second paper cup to his hear. "A Proverber, huh? Let's get him!"
Iroh backed away as the second bouncer joined the first and they rolled up their sleeves. "Please, gentleman, I don't even know what a 5-0 is!"
"No proverbs! Don't let him get away!"
Iroh turned and with a wail, took off running.
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Iroh entered his job at the fast food restaurant "McDoodles." He panted, his face bathed in sweat. "I didn't know Ba Sing Se was so opposed to ancient wisdom!"
"You're five minutes late. That's coming out of your paycheck!" His manager was not having it today. "And where is your hat?"
Iroh grinned cheesily as he placed a wide, overstuffed foam taco on his head. Humming, he wrapped an apron around his belly and took his place at the cash register.
"Are you counting down the seconds to your death too?" asked a pale girl with jet-black hair.
Iroh smiled at his coworker, Raven. "I do not even allow such things to cross my mind. After all, as the saying goes, 'Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time.'" He hummed as he counted the money in the register.
Raven rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Besides, boss wants you to train the new guy."
Iroh's eyes widened. "New guy?"
"You can't be serious! This is the most positively ridiculous hat I've ever seen! How can you expect anyone to wear it!" The yelling came from behind the fryer.
The Manager was yelling back. "You will wear it and you will like it! Or perhaps I'll tell the Earth King that you're not cooperating … I hear the Coalition has made the prison cells even smaller …"
Iroh watched in surprise as, of all people, Long Feng appeared in the kitchen area wearing a giant foam taco hat. His eyes made contact with Iroh's. "You!"
The Manager appeared, adjusting his glasses. "Oh good, you two know each other. Then we can skip introductions. Iroh, I'm assigning him to you. Make sure he's trained on register by the end of the day."
Long Feng approached the counter, his nose wrinkled at the sight of the register. "How have I been reduced to this …?"
Iroh was confused. "I thought after your actions you would have remained in prison …"
Raven interrupted. "Part of the Coalition's Rehabilitation Program. Some psychologist, Dr. Pippinpaddle Oppsokopolis, came here on appointment from the Earth King after getting scared off by some nutjob in the Fire Nation. They got some new rehabilitation plan going on with the Coalition."
"Yes," Long Feng grimaced. "They think by having me work in a menial job serving my inferiors, it'll build character and I'll suddenly become a contributing member of society."
Iroh grinned and wrapped his arm around Long Feng's shoulder. "You mustn't be so down. Customer service builds character! I believe you can be rehabilitated yet, Long Feng. By the way, since we're now coworkers … no hard feelings about that battle we had the other day."
Long Feng removed Iroh's arm from his shoulder. "Mark my words, General. I will get out of here, and when I do, I will wreak horrible vengeance upon all the worthless citizens of this city. The world will fear the name Long Feng once again!"
A kid tugged on Long Feng's sleeve from the other side of the counter. "Can I have some mustard packets?"
"Huh? Oh, here." He dropped some packets into the kid's hand before turning back to Iroh. "They will fear the name Long Feng again!"
Iroh's eyes widened. "And I look forward to stopping you again. But for now let's start on the register."
A bell tingled as a nervous looking man entered the restaurant. Iroh beamed. "Your first customer!"
Long Feng stared daggers at the man.
The man stood at the counter as Long Feng, giant taco hat perched precariously on his head, stood there drumming his fingers impatiently.
"Let's see … uh … I'll have a … no, that'll go right through me … how about a … no, wait, had that last week, didn't agree. Do you have … no, not in the mood for anything sweet …"
Behind the man, a line was forming and Long Feng's eye was twitching. Iroh appeared from behind the grill. "Remember to smile," he whispered through his teeth.
The corners of Long Feng's lips curled with ever so much difficulty into a disdainful smile.
"Uh … does that come with ketchup … no, wait, tomatoes make me break out in hives …"
The line was now trailing out the door and the other customers were ready to lose it.
"Will you pick something already!" Long Feng shouted.
The nervous man looked as though Long Feng had slapped him across the face. "Well fine, man. If you're gonna yell. I will have one nugget combo."
Long Feng stared down at him disdainfully. "Sir … we don't serve nuggets here."
The nervous man furrowed his eyebrows. "What? That's ridiculous! I was here just the other day and you guys had them!"
"Sir … we do not, nor have we ever served nuggets!"
"This is an outrage! I demand to speak to the Chicken-Licken King District Manager."
Long Feng's eye was twitching. "Sir … this is McDoodles … Chicken Licken King is down the street."
The man stood there. "Oh. Whoops. Guess I won't order anything then. You know, you should really not have a restaurant that resembles Chicken-Licken King if you don't people to make that mistake."
"The only mistake … was putting up with you for as long as I have!"
The nervous man stuck out his tongue and pointed at Long Feng's head. "Yeah? Well nice braid there, Pippi-Longen-Bottom!" He turned to leave.
Long Feng wrenched the register from the counter and hurled it at the man. He missed, and the register smashed into pieces on the wall, coins and bills flying everywhere. The rest of the customers began greedily grabbing the money, filling their pockets and running out the door before anyone could stop them.
The Manager was not happy. "Long Feng! My office! Now!"
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Long Feng was not fired that day. But he was still punished.
He stood outside of the restaurant, dressed from head to toe in a giant rubber taco costume … a costume with big seductive eyes and a bow on the top of the taco. He was dressed as McDoodles' mascot … Tammy the Talkative Taco.
Everyone, from little kids to little old ladies, pointed and laughed at him.
"I don't need prison," he lamented. "This is punishment enough …"
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Iroh was humming as he was sweeping the floors of the restaurant when the door jingled again. Thinking it was a typical customer, he placed the broom aside and headed for the register.
That's when he saw them.
Suki, Ty Lee and several Kyoshi Warriors were standing there. Iroh beamed. "The Kyoshi Warriors. A rare treat to serve such fine soldiers."
Suki wrinkled her nose at the sight of the giant foam hat on Iroh's head. "Tell me you don't enjoy wearing that …"
Iroh stood behind the register. "Come, come … let me get you some tacos. Mind you I can't give them away but I can give you my employee discount!" His eyes gleamed.
"Thanks, Iroh. By the way," Suki jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "In the taco costume outside … was that …?"
"Yes, it's who you think it is."
Suki, Ty Lee and the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors snickered. Suki straightened herself up. "I'm afraid this isn't a social call, General. We come with terrible news."
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Iroh was cramped into one of the restaurant's booths. Sitting across from him were Suki and Ty Lee, who was slurping on a soft drink. At other tables, the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors tore into tacos ravenously.
Iroh's face was bathed in sweat. "I cannot believe this … the Avatar is lost to us?"
Suki nodded. "I'm afraid so. But Katara, Sokka, Toph and your nephew are on a mission to rescue him."
Iroh's eyes lit up. "Then if my Nephew is with them, then they will not possibly fail!"
Suki's fingers found Iroh's hands. "General … this isn't going to be easy for you to hear for this next bit. The ringleader … the Dragon Golem as Aang called him …"
"Yes …"
"General … he's your son …"
The revelation didn't appear to fully register on Iroh's face. "Son? No, no I haven't been married in years …"
"General … I don't know how to break this to you … it's Lu Ten …"
At this, Iroh's face flushed and took on a dark appearance. "You should not joke about such things …"
"Iroh, it isn't a joke," Ty Lee chimed in. "We saw him. He was there. He thrashed Zuko around the Agni Kai ring like a rag doll."
"We don't know how to explain it … something to do with Energybending … Katara kinda explained it to me … this Beast guy transfers some of his chi to people at the point of death. He extends their lifespan, in exchange for a lifetime of servitude …"
Iroh stared into Suki and Ty Lee's eyes. He could sense the truth in their words. "My son … my son is alive …?"
Images flashed in his mind of his attempt to take Ba Sing Se, of the news of his son's loss …
He firmly stood up and slowly removed his apron. He walked over to the counter and poked the Manager on his shoulder. "I would like to use all of my sick days …"
"You don't get sick days," the Manager retorted.
Iroh didn't hear him. "I do not know when I will be back." He turned and bowed respectfully to the Kyoshi Warriors. "Thank you for bringing this news to me. What will the Kyoshi Warriors do now?"
Suki smiled. "The seat of the Coalition's power is here in Ba Sing Se. The Kyoshi Warriors are gonna do some reconnaissance … get some intel. But what will you do, General Iroh?"
Iroh turned and walked toward the door as if in a daze. "I am going to see my son."
"Is that wise?" Suki asked.
Iroh stopped and stood in the doorway, his back to her. "I failed to save him all those years ago. I will not fail to save him now."
And with that, he was gone.
And that was when it started to rain.
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Long Feng stood there, utterly defeated in his Tammy the Talkative Taco costume, as the rainwater poured down in torrents upon him.
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Southern Tip of the Earth Kingdom – Night – The Autumnal Equinox Begins
"Hurry! There's a small Earth Kingdom temple not far from here!"
Jet led the way through a thicket of woods, slicing tree brambles down left and right with his hooked swords. Behind them, Sokka, Toph, Katara and Zuko followed. Sokka was dragging Appa, who was being very resistant to going through the woods. Momo lounged around on Appa's head doing nothing.
As they walked through the woods, they each took turns carrying Aang's limp body. It was Zuko's turn.
As Zuko held the Avatar's prone form, his mind wandered on how his life had changed with the past year. A year ago, this was his goal – the Avatar, in his grasp and broken, a tool to regain his honor. But now, Aang had become one of his best friends.
But yet, life goes full circle, does it not? Zuko was well aware of the irony. He had started out trying to capture the Avatar. And was he not now doing the same thing? Trying to find Aang's lost Spirit? He sighed. Uncle often told him that history rhymes. History was repeating itself. He was once again on a mission to track down the Avatar. He wondered if this was his lot in life. Was he was cursed to always chase the Avatar for the rest of his life?
"It's just through here! Hurry! The Equinox is beginning! The planets are already beginning to align!" Jet cut through a bunch of brambles and they had reached the edge of the forest. There was a very small town with three houses and a well. But there was also a temple.
A small building. Not as small as the shrine where Katara had met Sun Wukong. It could fit all of them minus Appa.
As they raced towards the temple, Zuko spared a glance upward and saw the moon and planets aligning. He gulped.
Jet forced open the door of the temple. Inside, an altar was built to the dedication of the Earth Kingdom's most recent Avatar, Kyoshi. Jet motioned to the altar. "Lay him here …"
Zuko gently placed Aang's motionless form on the altar. Katara hovered behind them, her head over their shoulders. "You're sure you can get into the Spirit World?" Katara inquired of Jet.
Jet nodded resolutely. "Of course. They taught me some of their tricks. How to get into Naraka, how to imprison someone in it. How to get out ourselves …" He looked Katara seriously in the eyes. "The failsafe, in case we get trapped."
Katara nodded, her eyebrows knit and her lips firm. "Then do it. Bring him back."
Jet struck a spark and lit several candles on fire. "The Equinox is beginning …" He turned to the rest of Team Avatar. "It's got to be me who goes in and gets him. Keep guard over our bodies." And with that, Jet kneeled down before the altar, and began meditating.
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In the skies above, the planets were in full alignment.
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Across the world, the bridge between the Spirit World and Mortal World aligned. And in every nation, the Spirits merged over into the mortal world through the Equinox.
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Jet remained kneeling, sweat trickling down his face. And suddenly, the candles flickered, then exploded into swelling flames.
There was a flash of light, and Jet's body collapsed limply on the floor as his spirit was taken into the Spirit World.
There was a moment of stillness.
And again, the candles in the temple flickered, growing larger.
And to Toph's utter amazement, Katara, Sokka and Zuko's bodies collapsed motionless to the floor.
Something had gone wrong. Jet was not the only one taken into the Spirit World.
Katara, Sokka and Zuko were taken too, leaving Toph all alone in the temple.
"Why is it never me?" she inquired to no one.
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Katara sat upright. She looked around. There was nobody in sight for miles. She was trapped in a frozen tundra. "The Spirit World? Again?"
She stood up, trying to tread carefully on the ice, but noticed that it was not slippery. She looked around at the waters lapping on the shores. Small igloos and huts littered the landscape.
She was in the Southern Water Tribe. Not the newly refurbished Southern Water Tribe, but the old one that she had grown up in.
She began walking, venturing through the tribe. It appeared to be abandoned. No one in sight. The utter silence was unsettling.
"Hello?" she called out. "Is anyone there?" No response. "Gran-Gran?" she asked hopefully. No answer came from the stillness.
And then she came to it. The old icy tent that she had grown up in. She heard a noise from inside. "H-hello?"
There was no response.
Katara gently peeled back the animal skin covering the entrance and furtively glanced inside.
Someone was sitting there with their back to her. Someone wearing blue furs and hair loopies.
"H-hello?"
The woman sitting there turned, and Katara's mouth dropped.
"M-mom?!"
Kya smiled warmly as she exited the tent. She stood there, face-to-face with Katara as the icy wind whipped around them.
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It took Katara a moment to compose herself. Then, without warning, she threw herself into Kya's arms, collapsing into her mother's chest. Kya warmly patted Katara's back.
"Mom! I can't believe it! I've missed you so much! It's been so difficult without you!" She nestled into her mother's furs.
Kya took Katara by the shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. There was a sad smile on her face.
"I am not your Mother, Katara. She has, fortunately for her, passed on into the reincarnation cycle …"
Katara backed away. "But … you look just like her!"
The woman bearing Kya's image smiled. "No one sees my true form. I appear to people as a person that had a profound impact on their life. In this instance, your Mother Kya."
Katara cocked her head, her eyes slits. "Who are you?"
Kya smiled again. "I am called Yama. I have been away for a very long time. But I have returned. And those who stand before me, will be judged by me."
"Judged?" Katara looked away. "And what if I'm not worthy?"
"Then you can never leave this place. Naraka will be your home forever."
"Can we just avoid judgment?" she asked hopefully.
Kya (Yama) frowned. "No one will evade me."
"But I've done a lot that I should be punished for," Katara lamented.
Yama agreed. "Yes. You have. All humans have." She waved a gloved hand, and suddenly their surroundings spun around them. The Southern Water Tribe was morphing, wooden walls and slats suddenly rising into place around them.
They were in a pawn shop in the Earth Kingdom. Katara recognized it. It was the shop set up by the pirates. Aang was busy negotiating with the Pirate Captain. "Three copper pieces!"
The Captain frowned. "It is less amusing the second time!"
Katara looked and saw herself swiping the Waterbending scroll. Yama looked down at her with her mother's face, and Katara recognized that all-too-familiar look of disappointment. "You acted as a common thief," Yama stated.
"I had no choice," protested Katara. "Aang needed to learn Waterbending!"
"Rationalizations. You humans are full of them. Always so eager to justify and explain away your behavior. It works with other mortals. It will not work with me." Yama waved her hand, and their surroundings changed again.
They were in a Fire Nation Village, floating on water. In the background, a Fire Nation refinery was smoking. The Painted Lady fled from the scene. She glanced back – it was Katara in disguise.
"You destroyed an entire refinery," Yama chided.
Katara stamped her foot. "It was to help that Village!"
"And supposing that a Fire Nation worker had been caught in the explosion? Or even prisoners from another nation, forced to be there against their will? Would you still justify yourself?!"
Katara looked away. "I hadn't thought about that …"
"No. You didn't. Your life is marked by one act of impulse after another. And yet you act like the Mother of your group. Always so judgmental of others and quick to point out their flaws. Correct their wrongdoing. Yet you rush to hasty action yourself without thinking through the consequences! Consequences are irrelevant to you!"
"That is not true! I-."
Yama waved her hand again. They were in the Fire Nation once more. Katara had agreed to a new scam with Toph. Only to have the tables turned and be captured by the Combustion Man.
"You got yourself into these predicaments because you never stopped to consider the consequences of your actions! To foresee what possible, far-reaching effects your actions might have!"
Katara nodded. "I am impulsive, maybe that's true! But I'm not a lost cause!"
"We shall see."
Their surroundings changed. Katara saw herself with Zuko. She was wearing a black jumpsuit and her hands were spread out aggressively. She was moving her hands like puppetmaster. And the man before her – Yon Rha – was crying out for mercy.
"Bloodbending," Yama spat. "A disgusting art used by only the most depraved."
"I showed him mercy," Katara replied defiantly. "I wanted to kill him, but I felt compassion."
"Yes. That much is true. For your faults, you do have many redeeming qualities."
They were in the Fire Nation's woods at night. Katara was confronting Hama. "But … to reach inside someone and control them? I don't know if I want that kind of power …"
Their surroundings morphed into a Fire Nation barge, with Earthbenders, including Tyro and Haru, sitting there. They watched as Katara stood up defiantly against the Fire Nation. "Some of you may think that the Fire Nation has made you powerless. But they can't take away your courage, and it is your courage they should truly fear! Because it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keeps you far from home! It is the strength of your hearts that makes you who you are, hearts that will remain unbroken when all rock and stone has eroded away! The time to fight back is now! I can tell you – the Avatar has returned!"
"Inspiration." Yama appeared to approve. "Yes, despite many of your wrongful actions, you have a tendency to inspire those around you."
They watched as the Earthbenders fought back against their captors, freeing themselves from the prison barge.
Their surroundings shifted. They were in a crystalline cavern. Katara was seeing herself trapped below with Zuko. "It's o.k. I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark."
"Maybe you could be free of it …"
"What?"
"I have healing abilities."
"It's a scar. It can't be healed."
"This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I have been saving for something important. I don't know if it would work, but …"
Yama folded her arms. "Compassion. On an enemy."
And the scene shifted. Aang was in the Avatar State, floating towards the ceiling, all the cosmic power of the universe bubbling through him.
Until his body jerked forward.
Azula had blasted him through with lightning.
Quick as an arrow, Katara rode on a wave of ice, catching him in her arms.
Yama was staring Katara down. "You risked much for the boy. For the Avatar."
Katara nodded. "Yes. He's become my best friend … and more …"
"And if you had to, would you do it again?"
"Of course." Katara was incredulous. "You've seen my past. Why would you think any different?"
Yama appeared lost in thought. "The Age of Kali Yuga is coming to an end. The forbidden art of Energybending is now rampant and the Beast has ascended. If the great error is not corrected, I will be forced to intervene …"
"You can't," Katara protested. "There's still time! We can free Aang! He can stop the Beast and put an end to all this before it's too late …"
"That is what I am counting on," Yama replied. "The Avatar will need all the help he can get. He must master the four elements once again, and in only a matter of weeks. If the chaos remains unchecked, I will be left with no choice but to intervene."
"I won't let it come to that!"
"I can sense your determination, the strength of your will. I will allow you to return to the mortal world – with this dire warning. If the Avatar fails to destroy the Beast by Autumn's End, I will wipe the slate clean. All you know, will be at an end …"
"Not on our watch," Katara spat.
"Save your defiance for where it is earned – at the Beast and his allies within the Fire Nation. Only the Avatar can stop him … and he can only do it with the help of his friends …" Yama waved her hand and a portal back to the mortal world opened. "You are free – to leave."
"Gladly." Katara spared a last glance at Yama. The spirit was still sporting the face of her mother. She stared hard at Kya's face, deep into her eyes as though wanting them to be forever burned into her memory.
With a final nod, she stepped into the void.
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Sokka sat up groaning. "Why can we just never have a normal day in the woods without my getting captured by freaky spirit monsters? Is it too much to ask that I can just have a simple day around a campfire with a leg of meat and Suki next to me?" He stood up, rubbing his head, taking in his surroundings.
He was in a bog.
His nose wrinkled before he finally shrugged. "Meh, I've been to worse places." He stepped into some sludge. "Eeew, Spirit gunk!"
"I've been waiting for you … to wake up."
"Huh?" Sokka turned around, and his mouth hung limply. "It can't be …"
Princess Yue was floating before him, her arms outstretched.
"Is it really you?"
Yue looked away sadly. "Unfortunately, no. I only appear to people as someone from their past that profoundly changed their lives."
Sokka's head lowered. "Oh. I knew it was too good to be true. But who are you?"
"I am Yama. And I have come to see if you are worthy to leave. The girl I tested … she was worthy. You, on the other hand … well, let us see …"
Their surroundings shifted and Sokka saw himself in the Southern Water Tribe, warrior paint adorning his face. He charged forward towards Prince Zuko, dressed in full battle gear.
"A brave warrior," Yama lauded. "if not a simpleton!"
"Hey, I'm an average guy just trying to make his way through the universe intact. I never asked for any of this."
"No. No one ever does," Yama chortled. "But people like you … the 'average' guy who does not seek adventure … you are the ones who inevitably shift the courses of history …"
They watch Sokka in Wan Shi Tong's Library, discovering the date of the eclipse. They scene spins to Sokka planning the invasion of the Fire Nation, to him strategizing plans with the rest of the team …
To him dangling helplessly from a Fire Nation airship, holding onto Toph for dear life as the Comet tore above them.
They watched Sokka, finally, in Iroh's tea shop, surrounded by friends, as he attempted to draw a picture of them all.
"A Simpleton," Yama repeated. "But one with a big heart. The Avatar will need that heart again if he is to save the world from annihilation."
"I don't know if I should be insulted or feel complimented." Sokka shrugged.
"I judge you free to leave." A portal opened. "But I would be curious to know, boy – I have seen much good in you. What, however, is your biggest weakness? Or rather, your biggest regret in life?"
Sokka turned to look at Yama, disguised as Princess Yue. Knowing that it wasn't the real Princess, he responded truthfully anyway. "The day I lost you …"
And he turned and disappeared through the portal.
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Zuko would be the third to be tested.
The former Fire Lord found himself in the Fire Nation's palace, in the bowels of its throne room. Flames roared behind the throne.
He heard footsteps behind him, and his own hands roared with flames. "Who's there?!" He stopped short when Ursa appeared from behind a column.
"Hello, Zuko."
"M-Mom?"
"No. As I've explained to your friends, I appear to people in the guise of someone important in their lives. I have come to judge you, whether you are worthy of leaving Naraka, or not."
Zuko lowered his arms. "What do I have to do?"
"We review your past as a guide to your future …"
"And if I fail?"
"Then you can never leave."
Yama waved her hand and the Fire Nation palace melted into differing scenes. Prince Zuko was threatening the people of the Southern Water Tribe. Raining fire and destruction upon Kyoshi Island. Using Katara's Mother's betrothal necklace against her. Attacking a helpless Aang at the North Pole.
Zuko stood there, his sins thrown in his face, every failure surmounting the last.
Stealing ostrich-horses from an Earth Kingdom family after they showed him and his Uncle kindness. Betraying Uncle in the Earth Kingdom – his greatest regret – and joining forces with Azula to take down Ba Sing Se.
Yama was speaking, narrating his life. "Looking upon your past, all I see is you sharing your own misery and pain with others. You rained destruction and violence on all in your path. Yours is not a life worthy of leaving here …"
"But I changed!" Zuko protested. "I'm different! I'm not that person anymore! I helped the Avatar save the world! Doesn't that count for anything?"
"One good deed does not outweigh a lifetime of cruelty …"
"But I -."
"You may never leave here …"
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FOOSH!
Aang stood there, rooted to the spot, watching Monk Gyatso's last moments, screams tearing out from his throat as he met his end.
And then the scene reset.
The Fire Nation attacked the Air Temple again. And Aang was forced to watch Gyatso fight a losing battle against their legions.
He watched Gyatso get backed into a room, his heart pumping blood into his ears, bracing himself to watch his friend's death.
But this time, nothing happened.
This time, a figure emerged from the room.
Jet stood there; eyebrows furrowed. "Aang … long time no see …"
Aang blinked, shocked. "J-Jet? What? How are you here? What in the world is going on?"
Jet placed his hand on Aang's shoulder. "There's no time. We have to leave. Come with me … I know the failsafe to get you out of here and back into your body."
Aang smiled. "And none too soon!"
"No one is leaving here today …"
A shadow fell over them and the two of them turned.
There, standing on a railing on the Air Temple's balcony, was the Owl Spirit, Wan Shi Tong.
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Zuko was protesting Yama's decree. "Look! My childhood!"
Zuko and Yama watched a young Zuko playing with Ursa, feeding the Turtleducks by the pond.
Yama was not impressed. "Anyone can be nice as a child. Even your father, Fire Lord Ozai, started out as an innocent little baby."
Zuko grit his teeth. "There's got to be something here to persuade you otherwise."
The scene changed again. And there, a pre-teenage Zuko, in his father's War Room, speaking out against his father's plans to jeopardize the lives of their own soldiers.
"This has got to count for something!" Zuko exclaimed.
"I am afraid not," Yama replied. "You defended those soldiers, true. But your actions resulted in your own banishment. And they did not change your father's decisions about those men either …"
"Please," Zuko replied. "There's got to be some way to convince you …"
"So far, I have seen nothing to change my mind."
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Aang stood there warily, staff in front of him as Wan Shi Tong cocked his head at the two of them.
"Great Owl Spirit," Aang began. "It's … nice to see you again!" He put on a corny smile.
Wan Shi Tong was unimpressed. "I wish I for one could say the same, but after I was forced to bury my library in the sand I cannot say that the feeling is mutual."
"I don't understand," Aang was saying. "Why are you here in Naraka? What's going on?"
Wan Shi Tong shifted his talons. "Things are in motion now that cannot be undone … holes are forming between the Spirit World and the Mortal Realm. The imbalance between worlds has grown in your absence and in the Beast's ascendance."
Aang nodded. "I know. I intend to put a stop to it just as soon as Jet gets me out of here!"
"You may not be able to restore it. By bending the spirits of others yourself, you have absorbed portions of their spirits. The Avatar Spirit within you is now tainted. Corrupted. A corrupted Avatar Spirit will not be able to bridge the balance any longer. If you do not remove the taint from your spirit, you will be unable to balance the universe. The end of all things is at hand, as foretold long ago …"
"I will do all in my power to stop it, you have my word!"
Wan Shi Tong stepped off the railings and onto the balcony. He took a threatening step towards them. And another.
"Unfortunately, it is too late for that. You will be unable to purge the taint. You have started on the path of the Energybender. Just as the Beast did. And what is to stop you from continuing his journey? What is to stop you from becoming another Beast?"
"I won't!" Aang shot back. "You have my word!"
"You have made similar promises in the past," Wan Shi Tong disagreed. "Did you not promise others that you would never bend energy again? Nav and Brother Truth both had your word, did they not? And yet you continued! Azula! The man in the Earth Kingdom! And then finally you tried to do it on Lu Ten! Your word means nothing when it comes to Energybending. Yama will put an end to your world, and an end to this technique. And I will not allow you to return to the mortal world to continue Energybending!"
And with that, Wan Shi Tong spread his wings, his neck stretched out like a giant jack-in-the-box. And he lunged.
"Look out!"
Jet grabbed Aang by the waist, twisting his body, ducking beneath the giant bird's beak. Jet helped the boy to his feet.
"We can't fight back," Jet replied. "We're in the Spirit World and even if you had your bending back it would do us no good!"
Wan Shi Tong plucked his beak from the wall of Air Temple's spires. His wings stretched out.
"I really hope you've got a plan," Aang replied.
"I didn't anticipate this spirit," Jet answered. His eyes fell upon the tower behind them. He grabbed Aang's arm. "C'mon!" Jet spun around and kicked in the door. He and Aang raced to the top.
Wan Shi Tong lunged, his beak smashing through the door. The door was too narrow, and the Owl Spirit could not fit in. Aang and Jet stood on the third stair in the stairwell, watching Wan Shi Tong's beak thrashing around in the staircase.
"Let's move!" Jet grabbed Aang's arm and they raced up the stairs.
Outside, Wan Shi Tong withdrew his beak from the door. Opening his broad wings, he took flight, circling around the top of spire.
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Zuko stood before Yama in silence, his head down. "Every transgression … every wrong decision … seeing it play out before my eyes again … I thought that by helping the Avatar I had redeemed myself." He looked up at Yama. "Have I not? Was it all for nothing?"
"As I have said, one good deed does not outweigh your crimes."
"I do deserve to be here," he finally answered. "I've hurt so many people, done so much wrong … I suppose helping Aang could never really, truly make up for all I've done …"
He turned and looked away. Yama stood behind him. She paused. "Perhaps we will review one more session in your life …"
Their surroundings changed once again. They were in the Agni Kai ring on the day of the comet. Zuko was battling Azula.
"No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?"
"Oh, I'll show you lightning!"
They watched as Azula separated her chi, preparing to fry Zuko alive. Her eyes darted to the Waterbender standing at the edge of the ring.
And in a moment of supreme cruelty, Azula pointed her fingers at Katara and discharged at full power.
"NOOOOO!"
It was happening in slow motion. Zuko ran towards the side of the ring and with a final burst of strength, jumped in front of his sister's attack. The lightning arced through his body, smoke and electricity coursing through his veins. He hit the ground limply, his body twitching and smoking.
Yama looked down at Zuko. "Self-sacrifice … an act of true redemption …"
Zuko swallowed tightly and nodded. "Katara had become one of my closet friends. She may have threatened me, but she still eventually accepted me. They all did. I would have given my life for any one of them."
Yama glanced down at him. "Truly? And would you do so again?"
"Without a second thought."
"Very well. You may be called upon to do it again very soon …"
Zuko was clearly confused. "What do you mean?"
"You are free to return. I have seen all I have needed."
"I can go back?"
Yama nodded. "The Avatar, if he can escape this realm, will need his friends if he is to emerge victorious before the end of Autumn. Be advised – things are beyond the control of myself and the Spirits. You must do whatever it takes – even sacrifice your own life – or else I will be forced to bring an end to this world."
Zuko nodded, watching the scene from his past continue to play out. Katara had just frozen and bound Azula, and she was now healing Zuko with her Spirit Water. He looked up at her weakly. "Thank you, Katara."
"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Zuko smiled at the bittersweet memory. A tear leaked down his cheek. He turned and vanished through a portal Yama had opened.
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"I can activate the failsafe from Naraka to the mortal world," Jet was saying as they raced up the stairs. "We have to get to the top floor! You know the layout of this temple better than anyone – is there a room at the top?"
Aang nodded as he kept pace with Jet. Outside, through windows in the stairwell, they could see Wan Shi Tong flying at pace with them. "My old room." He gulped. He dreaded revisiting that place, even if this was only a spiritual recreation of the actual Southern Air Temple. That was where he had departed, leaving Monk Gyatso with only a note behind.
"Then let's move!"
They raced to the top.
Outside, Wan Shi Tong alighted on the pointed roof. His claws bore into the superstructure of the roof. His wings spread out, and slowly, ever so slowly, he began pulling the roof apart.
Aang and Jet barreled through a doorway and fumbled into a representation of Aang's old room. Up above, they could feel the foundations of the roof giving way.
"We don't have much time," Jet replied.
"You said you knew a failsafe?"
"Yes. Lu Ten had to have had one so he wouldn't get trapped here in Naraka with you. We can summon a portal, but it can only be done from one of the highest peaks."
Jet kneeled down and began meditating.
Above, the ceiling gave way, the pointed roof ripped clean off the spire by the Owl Spirit. Aang looked up, mouth aghast, as Wan Shi Tong tossed the roof aside.
They were out in the open. Exposed. With no way out.
"Jet … you might wanna hurry …"
Wan Shi Tong circled, his talons sharp and gleaming.
"You're not helping," Jet argued.
There was a flash of light. Hovering hundreds of feet in the air, level with them a few yards away, a portal back to the mortal world opened.
Jet continued to kneel, eyes closed. He appeared to struggle.
Aang spun his glider and opened its wings. "Come on – we have to go!"
"I have to maintain it for a few seconds … go! I'll be right behind you, I promise!"
Wan Shi Tong was coming fast.
Aang leaped into the air on his glider, heading straight for the portal.
Jet's eyes flashed open. "Now!" He stood up and sprang into a run. He jumped up onto the now exposed girders from where the roof was ripped off and leaped behind Aang.
Aang was nearly at the portal.
Behind him, Jet had jumped clean off the top of the spire. He reached out in midair, his fingers aiming for Aang's leg.
He was going to make it.
Aang was nearly at the portal.
Wan Shi Tong came out of nowhere, his talons wrapping around Jet's body, snatching him clean out of the air!
"JET!"
The scream tore from Aang's throat. He wanted to turn around and rescue the Freedom Fighter.
But it was too late to do anything. Aang had already exited through the portal.
And the last thing he saw was Jet in the grip of the Owl Spirit's talons …
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Zuko's eyes suddenly opened. He bolted upright. He was in the Earth Kingdom's temple, Toph standing over him. "Boy, you guys sure get to have all the fun trips," she quipped.
Zuko held his hands in his head. "I wouldn't exactly characterize all that as fun, Toph."
Next to him, Sokka and Katara stood up shakily. "If I never return to the Spirit World, it'll be too soon!" Sokka spat.
Katara, meanwhile, rushed over to Aang's limp body. She threw herself down, cradling Aang's head in her lap.
"Did it work?" Sokka asked. "Was Jet able to get him back?"
Silence.
Katara stroked Aang's cheeks. No response. His head lolled helplessly in her lap.
"Aang … please … come back … we need you … I need you …"
Zuko, Sokka and Toph stood there sadly.
"He failed," Toph lamented. "Jet couldn't do it …"
"He had to!" Katara yelled. "I refuse to accept the alternative." She shook the small monk's shoulders. "Come on, Aang! You're stronger than this!"
"Katara," Zuko replied sadly. "It's over. We lost."
"I won't accept this!"
To everyone's surprise, a soft moan issued from Aang's throat.
Katara was overjoyed. Her tears dropped onto the monk's forehead. "Aang?"
Aang's eyes finally fluttered open. His vision swam. But the first thing he saw were Katara's eyes. He slowly sat upright in her lap, holding his head.
Toph and Sokka were in tears and behind them, Zuko was smiling softly.
"Guys?" Aang asked.
"We're here," Katara answered. "We came for you! He did it," she announced. "Jet actually did it!"
Aang averted his gaze. "Jet …"
Toph sensed something was wrong. "Aang … where is Jet?"
Aang shook his head. "He … he didn't make it … "
Everyone looked at each other, dread and sadness appearing on their faces.
Jet, the hero, the Freedom Fighter, had once again sacrificed himself for them. In the blink of an eye, their newfound friend was gone.
Aang lowered his head back onto Katara's lap, the tears welling in his eyes. "He's gone … because of me …"
Katara swallowed tightly. "He was a true Freedom Fighter. He gave up his life again … for you … for all of us." She embraced Aang again, pressing his forehead up to hers.
Their tears mixed.
Aang spoke up softly again. "K-Katara …?"
"Yes, Aang?"
"When this is over … will you … will you go penguin sledding with me?"
Katara held his face in her hands, staring into his eyes. She spared a soft laugh. "Yes, Aang. Yes, I will."
Their lips met.
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Eastern Air Temple
A cold wind rustled through the spires of the Eastern Air Temple.
A figure sat, meditating. He shivered in the Autumn wind. His eyes opened as he felt the breeze. "Ah, a new wind is in the air. But what is this?"
The breeze changed course, blowing in the other direction. An orange leaf flew past his eyes and the man reached out with his fingers and grabbed it. He examined it, and a smile spread across his face.
"He is back!" Guru Pathik stood up, hands held up high into the air, laughing ecstatically. "The Avatar has returned!"
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