Cranefish town
Avatar Aang
Aang slumped over the chair, holding his head. "I don't know what to do," he confessed. "This lightningbender is causing too much trouble to be left alone, but we're supposed to leave for the Fire Nation this afternoon. Zuko's wedding is only a week away. I can't miss that!"
"Surely it won't take that long?" Katara gave him a worried look from the closet where she was putting clothes into a trunk, her long hair pulled back in an intricate plait. "Just deal with him or her and fly back. Simple."
Aang sighed. "Katara…"
She slowly looked up, clutching a boot in her hands. "There's something you aren't telling me," she said.
Aang closed his eyes. I wasn't going to say anything…
"Aang," she said, more firmly. "Tell me."
Aang looked up at the ceiling. "The report… mentioned that the lightningbender also had unusual fire," he said softly.
He heard the thump of a boot falling to the floor, accompanied by Katara's gasp. "No," she whispered.
"Yes," Aang said grimly. "I think it may be Azula."
"But… but she hasn't been seen in years! Surely not…"
"Even if it isn't her, they are wreaking havoc in the south and I can't leave it alone. Earth King Kuei has all his men tied up to the west searching for the supposed 'Bandit of a Thousand Stars'. And if I'm right, then the situation is far more critical."
"What if you miss the wedding?" Katara asked, and Aang groaned. "I can only hope I get this done in time. I'll fly you and Toph down to the Fire Nation, talk to Zuko, and then take off for the southern Earth Kingdom to track down this lightningbender."
Katara looked back down at the clothes she was packing. "I wish you weren't gone so much, Aang," she whispered.
"Me too." He stood up. "But I'm the Avatar. I have to take care of the world. Our world."
