The Mysterious Traveler


Managed to get this one done in time before bed. I'm hoping to be able to write more often now that things are settling down for now.

I bet you didn't expect the last chapter to end the way it did. To anyone who was complaining about this being nothing but a recap on the show with Severus along for the ride: "You satisfied now?"

This chapter will be super important. I've been waiting to write this one for so long.

Enjoy!


Chapter Thirty-Nine:

The Confession


"The north has fallen."

Katara's words rang in Severus's ears, like an echo down a dark tunnel. He barely could comprehend the meaning behind them. It felt surreal to him like his whole body had gone numb. Just four months previous they had set out to find the Northern Water Tribe, a destination that had been on their minds for so long.

And now…

Severus shook his head, getting his mind back together.

"How many survived?"

Katara held back the cry she was about to let out, tears becoming heavy in her eyes, "Less than one thousand of the tribe. And even less than a third of them are waterbenders."

His heart sunk, closing his eyes as he imagined his own kind being so few. That number would have been barely enough to fill Hogwarts.

"With the Northern Water Tribe gone, the Fire Nation will be able to focus all of its efforts on Ba Sing Se now," Katara continued. "The Earth Kingdom is now the last nation to stand against them."

Severus took her words to thought, "Ba Sing Se will be your next destination?"

She took a moment, "We haven't decided yet. Everyone is still trying to let everything sink in. The last surviving members of the Water Tribe has already begun building new homes. Pakku was just elected the new Chief last night."

This didn't surprise him, but it did make him realize…

"How long was I out?"

"About three days."

He nodded, "What about the others? How is Kori faring?"

Katara's face fell, looking toward the ground.

He intuitively knew what that meant, barely hearing her when she spoke again.

"After the palace was transported back here, Kori… her body… it just… turned to dust… right before our eyes. It was like the light radiating off of her was… consuming her."

He stared at her, keeping the shock from showing on his face.

"But she wasn't herself. When she spoke to us before… doing what she did, it was like someone else was speaking through her. It was her voice, but also… not her voice."

Severus closed his eyes and tightened his hand into a fist.

He mumbled, "That bastard!"

"What?" Katara stared at him in confusion.

"We need to talk!" he cried out, staring up towards the ceiling.

"Who are you talking to?"

"HEY, RIGHT NOW!"

The anger in his voice made her jump.

Suddenly, he felt his body falling to the floor, darkness rushing up to greet him as his surroundings became blurry and a distant voice calling his name as he lost consciousness.


The moment he was back in the void, he turned and searched for the boy, his anger driving him.

"Show yourself!"

"I see you've regained your strength."

Severus turned to find the boy to the right of him, smiling.

"That's good. Now we can begin phase two."

He walked up to him, immediately being halted by an invisible force when he got too close.

"You!" he pointed at him. "You killed her!"

The boy's face fell as guilt filled him.

"Yes, I did. Even if it was never my intention."

He ignored him, "Do you have any idea what you took away from Kiri?!"

"No, I'm afraid I do not."

Shaking his head, Severus tried to control himself, already frustrated enough about what he had just learned and for letting his emotions get the best of him.

"Why didn't you choose me?"

"Because it would have killed you. You're not yet ready to accept the power of the Infinity. You're my best chance at making sure I do not fall into the hands of the Forsaken."

"And who are these 'Forsaken', you speak of?!"

"Another story for another time. We already have so much to discuss."

"Alright, let's start with why you choose Kori to be your sacrifice? Why weren't you able to save her if you're so powerful?"

The boy sighed, "I'm not all-powerful. I can do a great many things, with the right host, of course. But to do what I did, I needed someone who was willing to make that sacrifice. Plus, she was closest to your body, allowing me to transfer just enough of my energy to gain control and use her to transport the palace to the valley you and the other found.

"Normally, I would have been able to do what I did and spare the person I would use, but that requires full access to my power. You were not ready to do so."

"Oh, so it's my fault, is that it?! Trying to pass the blame onto me?!"

The boy looked offended, "Not at all. Everything that happened was on me. And I intended to make sure that never happens again."

"By?"

"By training you to access the full power from within and take full control of me."

He was at a loss.

"What are you talking abo- Actually, better question, you say you choose me?! When did that happen?! And why did you?!"

The boy tilted his head at him, curious and surprised, "You really have no idea, do you?"

"No, I don't! Spell it out for me!"

The boy laughed, slowly approaching him, "Have you ever wondered how you were physically healing? How you were able to perform wandless magic?"

He didn't answer, instead he let the questions sink in.

"How about the dreams you've been having? Or how every dream has been steering you to face your past sins and pain? Or better yet, how do you think you came to this world in the first place?"

Slowly, the realization settled in as his eyes widened.

The boy smiled, "Now we're making progress."

Severus suddenly felt vulnerable, "What are you?"

"I'm one of the ten Infinities. Born at the beginning of the megaverse, whenever that was. Waiting for the day to choose a host and model that person into a suitable position to become one with me. Just like the others."

"So… you've been alive? This whole time?"

"Well, not really alive. Just existing. That's how the other nine always start."

"You just have consciousness, like a wand when it chooses its master."

"I'd say that's accurate. It's only through our host that we can gain sentience."

"But you said you choose me because I choose to rescue someone."

"That was based on a logical point of view. I saw that you were willing to die for something more than just yourself. And I was forced to make a decision within seconds."

Severus stared into his eyes, "Why are you doing this? Why help me?"

"Because it is my nature to find a host and prepare that host to merge with me. Once you are ready, I will no longer exist."

The knowledge drop surprised him.

"Wait… you will die?"

"To die means that there would be an afterlife waiting for me. No, I do not have the luxury as those like you do. I will just simply cease to exist."

"Will… will the same happen to me?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"If you are destroyed as a host, then you will cease to exist. While the power will live on, your life essence will be converted with the rest of the Infinity."

"I thought you were the Infinity."

"In this sentient form, I am."

Severus was pulling at his hair, trying to comprehend it all.

"I think I get a general idea of what you are, but I still have so many questions."

"I recommend you organize those questions. It'll do you no good to just saw them randomly."

Severus nodded, "You said you wish to begin phase two. What does that mean exactly?"

"It's part of a three-step system I am supposed to help you get through to merge completely with me. Phase one has yet to be completed but you've progressed far enough to begin the next phase, which will be your training."

"Training?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. While I am not all-knowing, I do have far more knowledge of magic than a good number of Hogwarts across your multiverse. However, I wish to speed things along."

"How do you mean to do that?"

"In the physical realm, time will always be an issue. But in here…" the boy opened his arms to the void, "Here, time is a tool that can be reset and manipulated. Minutes in the physical world can be hours here."

"That's not how it felt when I've been here."

"Only because that's its default setting. It's just a matter of changing the setting."

"What about my physical body? I will still need to train outside of my mind."

"Over time, your mind and the power of Infinity will slowly transfer all you've learned into your physical body. You will still need to train yourself in what you've learned here, but soon enough your body will become accustomed to it and your muscle memory will soon follow. Everything done here will speed up the process that would take years to do."

Severus nodded, "I reckon I have no choice but to go through with this."

The boy nodded, "I cannot choose another host until you have mastered the power to undominated me completely. If I force myself to even leave your magical core, it will kill you."

"Then we better get right to it tonight."

"Oh, before I send you back, I recommend keeping my existence a secret from your friends, especially the young girl. It'll do you no good if she were to learn of what I've done."

He remembered why he was here as he began to glare at the boy, "You did take her mother."

The boy nodded, "When you consider that punishment will almost be impossible without effecting you in any way, there's truly little justice be achieved. And her mother agreed to it. She knew what it meant to say yes."

"You could resurrect her."

"I can't resurrect someone if there is no soul to bring back."

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

The boy sighed, "By using her as a temporary host, she didn't die in the normal sense."

Realization sunk in as Severus's stomach felt like it was twisting from within. If it were possible, he felt like he would puke. He fell to one knee, barely keeping himself from falling all the way.

"That's… that's…"

The boy sadly looked upon him, "I meant no ill-will against the girl. I only wished to save you and those around you, because I believe you all have a part to play in the coming Calamity."

"Oh, so her life didn't mean a thing?!" he spat out, rising to his feet.

"According to the laws of the megaverse, all life is precious. But sacrifices must be made to save the many. She wasn't the only one who gave her life. Chief Arnook and his soldiers paid the ultimate price to keep the people of the Water Tribe safe. Arnook was willing to do it for the very same reason Kori gave her life. Nothing was forced upon anyone, aside from the difficult situation. They made the choice available to them, same as me."

Severus wanted to argue with him, to curse him, and blame him for Kori's death. But… he couldn't argue with the logic behind his words. If what he was saying was true, then he offered Kori the choice to be used by him, not to be used against her will. No, it was a decision made on the best of circumstances presented.

He sighed, "When all of this is over, I wish for this power to be passed on to someone else. I'll train to become able to access this power within me but only as a means to get back home and find someone worthy."

The boy nodded, "If that is your choice, then so be it."

Severus nodded back just before the boy and the void disappeared as light appeared, awakening him from his dream.


He nearly flew off the bed the moment he awoke, almost hitting Sokka in the head for being so close to him as he fell to the floor and yelped.

"You're awake!"

Severus turned to see Aang, Katara, and Renee standing over him, quickly joined by Sokka.

"Seriously, is this a regular thing with you?" Renee asked. "Every time you do something magical, you pass out."

"You'll get used to it," said Sokka as he smiled at him. "Welcome back to the land of the living."

Katara approached him and placed her hand on his head, "I can't detect any sickness of any kind."

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"Only a few minutes."

"Better than a few days."

Everyone nodded.

He looked around, quickly realizing that a few people were missing.

"Where's Kiri and Yue?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Yue is in her room, but Kiri… she's…" Aang whispered.

"At her mother's grave," Katara finished. "She's been going there when she isn't by your side."

"The worst part is that there's no body to bury," said Sokka. "She just evaporated into… dust, I guess. Whatever that was controlling her must have caused her to die."

Everyone lowered their heads, being silent.

Katara's eyes widened as she turned to him, "Who were you talking to earlier?"

Severus looked at her and felt the pressure to provide an answer. He debated whether to tell them or lie. He knew the consequences for both and felt the desire for either one. Within a few seconds, he made his choice.

"When I was unconscious during the invasion, I met an entity known as the Infinity. He spoke of needing me for something before he left. He said that could help save the day but needed a sacrifice to do it."

Everyone gasped.

"That must have been what was controlling Kori!" exclaimed Sokka.

"But… why help us?" Renee asked. "What doe this… Infinity get out of saving our lives?"

"And why did Kori have to die?" Katara asked anger deep in her voice. "If it's so powerful it could have saved us and kept Kori alive."

Severus took a breath and replied, "That's who I was speaking to when you told me about Kori. I made the connection about what happened and contacted him."

"And?" Sokka asked as everyone held their breath.

"I demanded the answers to the questions that you most likely have too. All he said was that he offered Kori a choice and she chose to sacrifice her life to save us all, though I'm sure it was to protect Kiri."

"But why didn't he save her?" Katara demanded.

"Because he needed a host to do it but doing so meant that the body would be destroyed in the process. I couldn't do it because my body was too weak at the time. Regardless of how it was done, he saved us through Kori."

Everyone processed the information before asking their next question.

"Why us?" Renee asked again. "Why would a powerful being have his eyes on us?"

Severus remained silent, trying to decide whether to reveal this last part. It felt easier to just lie and say he didn't know, but another side argued that it would cause more trouble than it was worth.

Sighing, he closed his eyes, "Because he resides in me."

Everyone stared at him for an uncomfortable period of time before they all shouted…

"WHAT?!"

Cringing with his eyes closed, Severus groaned, "Let me explain. As it turns out, the reason why I'm suffering from blackouts and being tired is because Infinity has been using me as a host. The only problem is that he can't act within me because my physical body and mental mind won't be able to withstand him. If he were to at any time, even during the invasion, he would have destroyed his own host in the process."

Everyone continued to stare at him, trying to comprehend what he had said.

"So, let me get this straight," said Renee. "A magical being has been residing inside of you, this whole time, without your knowledge, and saved us all from the Fire Nation?"

Severus nodded, "That about sums it up."

Sokka rubbed his eyes, "Just when I think you can't get any more weirder, you keep on surprising me."

Severus felt someone touching his hand and looked to find Katara staring deep into his eyes, a stare that told him that she was about to ask something serious from him.

"Alex…" she paused, "… we've been talking about this for the last three days and… we've all agreed that you haven't been completely honest with us. And we've figured out that Alexander Prince isn't your real name."

Severus's heart sunk and began to race.

"Except for me. I wasn't there for a lot of it," said Renee.

Katara continued, "When I witnessed your dreams back at the cave, I remembered someone calling you 'Snape'."

He quickly realized what had truly happened that night, anger rising in him as he internally cried out, 'Damn you, Infinity'!

"And when Avatar Roku appeared before us, he called you by the same name," added Sokka.

He felt his stomach twist from within, hoping for this conversation not to go the way he was fearing it would.

"And when… that Infinity guy was speaking to us through Kori, he- wait, is it a he or she?" Aang asked.

Severus closed his eyes and forced himself to answer, "It appears as a boy to me. So, it would be fair to call it a he."

Everyone raised an eyebrow at him.

"Eh, well, he asked us to help someone named 'Severus'."

Severus sighed, feeling any hope in his mind fleeing as he realized there was no withholding the truth any longer.

"Alex," Katara tightened her grip on his hand. "We've given you all the time you've needed and respected your privacy, but it's time that you've started being honest with us. Every time we think we understand you; something happens that puts everything to question about you.

"We saw you fall out of the sky, perform magic, mention places we've never heard of, heard different names that others call you. The only conclusion we come to is that either Snape or Severus is your true name."

"Or another alias," said Sokka.

Severus sneered, 'Of course, you would believe that.'

"We also theorized that your homeworld is an island that no one has discovered yet. We've been discussing this for a while, even before the Northern Water Tribe," she paused to collect herself. "But we need to know. Who are you? And where do you come from?"

Severus stared at her as they both refused to look away, almost like a challenge to one another. He gave up and sighed, crawling out of his bed as he withdrew his hand from hers and walked to the window, looking out towards the valley and the people in the distance.

The four behind stared at the back of his head, waiting.

As he watched the men continue to build their new homes, women with their chores, and children playing, memories of a castle in the middle of nowhere returned to him. He could picture kids and teens by a lake, wizards, and witches on their brooms, teachers grading papers, others in the library to study for their upcoming exams, and a certain redhead who sat under a very specific tree, shining bright with her beauty for all the world to see.

Closing his eyes, he tightened his hands into fists and prepared himself.

"My homeworld is similar to yours. Only, instead of showing off our gifts to the world, we hide in the shadows and in the wilderness to protect our societies. My race is called Wizardkind, while non-magical are known as Muggles."

Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Renee gasped, unable to believe that he was finally speaking about where he comes from.

"But I come from a world that hasn't known war for over thirty years. We live in a peace that was built off the defeat of a Dark Lord, only for it to now be threatened by another. A wizard who wishes to do what the Fire Nation is doing to your world."

Fear pierced their hearts, feeling overwhelmed by the idea of someone like Zhao, Zuko, or the Fire Lord.

"In my world, we have schools for the magical. Castles that house all wizards and children alike across the world. The one I come from is known as Hogwarts, said to be the best of them all."

He sneered.

"As a kid, I idolized a legend who comes from my family line. A wizard who traveled the world achieved wealth and success through his adventures. A wizard I wished to be as a kid, as I still do now. He was known as Alexander Prince, an ancestor of my mother's family tree."

Their eyes widened, realization sinking in.

"I grew up in poverty," anger rose within, resentment that he had almost forgotten making its return. "My mother chose to leave behind her wealthy family for a man who could never make her happy. Instead of choosing a happier life, she chose my father."

He laughed.

"The day I arrived at Hogwarts, I was ready to begin my journey. To become a powerful, wealthy, famous, and recognized wizard. But instead, I was looked down upon and treated like garbage, used by those who were supposed to be my housemates. It was there that I quickly realized that only the ones born lucky get to have that privilege, I was just lucky to be born a wizard.

"And that's all I was, lucky to be something of value. A friend, a target, a gullible victim, expandable. As long as I was just a Slytherin, I was nothing but what they wanted me to be. And so, I was exactly that, for five long years.

"Until one day, everything changed."

The four barely realized that they had been holding their breath the entire time, mesmerized by his story.

"On my first day back at Hogwarts for my sixth year, one of my teachers was presenting a magical orb to the class. It became… unstable… and was going to hurt someone I cared about. Or so I thought at the time. So, I took her place and found myself falling from the sky, landing in the middle of the South Pole on a glacier."

He paused.

"Where I found the three of you."

Aang, Sokka, and Katara stared at him with shock, a weight being taken off their shoulders. Like him.

Katara spoke first, "So, this orb transported you from your island to the South Pole?"

Severus shook his head, trying to figure out how to tell them.

"No, not an island. Where I come from, isn't anywhere in this world, because it doesn't exist. Because our worlds are separated."

"I… I don't understand…"

"Me neither," Sokka and Aang said at the same time.

"I do!" declared Renee.

Everyone, except for Severus, turned to her.

"You're the answer! Proof that my father is right!"

"What are you talking about?" Sokka asked.

Renee walked to her bed and searched through her bag, returning with three acorns, and presenting one to them.

Severus turned slightly to watch from the corner of his eye.

"My father theorized that the belief of the world being flat is wrong, that there is no such thing as 'the edge of the world'. He believes that the world is round, like how this acorn is."

"But, how is that possible?" Katara asked.

"Simple! Instead of the world going on until reaching an edge, it just reconnects somewhere else, like how this acorn does," she turned the acorn as a demonstration. "After all, if the world was flat, then how come there's an ocean?"

Aang nodded, "The monks had similar suspicions as well. Old transcripts from ancient monks who traveled the world, detailed being able to reach their destination by going west or east. I remember one translation once said, "To reach the West, you must go East. To go up, you must go down."

"Even the Fire Nation seems to suspect this. My father believes that there might be islands we've never discovered. Maybe even continents as well."

"But how does this prove that Alex is not of this world?" Sokka asked. "He could just be from one of these lost continents."

Renee held up another acorn, "Another one of my father's beliefs is that other worlds exist like ours. Think of an entire ocean, with different worlds as islands. An endless ocean of hundreds of thousands of worlds, all with life. Think of these acorns as worlds like ours. We just don't know because we don't have the ability to travel to them."

"My head hurts," Aang rugged his forehead, moaning.

"She's right!" said Severus, turning their attention back to him. "On my world, Muggles have already ventured out into this ocean, as you call it. They've come to call it space, where there is no oxygen. And they've already landed on a world close by, only it has no life. Many planets that they have investigated do not. I suspect the same is true here."

They all looked at him in awe, like a lost treasure.

"So, you're really not of this world?" Katara asked.

"Are there benders there?!" Aang exclaimed.

Severus shook his head, "No, only magic exists there. Though there are some who can control the elements with magic."

"One thing still bothers me," said Sokka. "If Alexander Prince isn't your true name, then what is it?"

He could feel their eyes on him, making the moment feel even more uncomfortable. Sighing, he turned around and faced them.

"My name... My true name... is…

"Severus Tobias Snape!"


After thirty-nine chapters and close to 200,000 words, we finally get to Severus revealing his true identity to the Gaang. Been a long time coming and I feel relieved to finally have written it. There were so many times when I wanted to do it but it never felt like the right time. Now that we have officially completed the story-arc of Book One, it felt like it was time to do it.

I should warn you that things are really going to different from how it is in the show. Sure, some things will remain the same, but it will ultimately be different. I'm still planning and changing things to try and write the best story I can write, but it will be different from what you are used to.

Don't worry, Toph will be introduced into this story and will be part of the Gaang. As well as June the Bounty Hunter and others who we haven't gotten to yet.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading!

I'll see you all in Chapter Forty!