AVATAR: Siege of the North

by VLFBERHTwolf

ONE-SHOT! The Fire Nation close in on the Northern Water Tribe. War has come. Aang, Sokka, Katara and Princess Yue must find a way to save the North from destruction. Zuko captures Aang but finds nowhere to run. Dante(DmC) faces off with Aang one more time to try make him see what he has abandon. Will is battle destroy the tribe, themselves and the Balance of the world? Find out!

BOOK ONE: WATER

SIEGE OF THE NORTH

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People give up their lives for many reasons. For friendship, for love, for an ideal. And people kill for the same reasons.

Long ago when before the world was what it is now in modern times it divided in Four Elemental Nations. In the land Fire Nation there lived a ruthless ruler. He had a vision- to end the Hundred Year war that his predecessors started and unite all under the banner of the Fire Nation. To put an end, once and for al, to war. This was an ideal soaked in the blood of his enemies. In any war there are heroes on both sides…

In order for his vision to realized he ignited many operations simultaneously; one of them was to employed an immortal warrior who traveled the lands of the world, who has experienced the flames of war many times over. That hunter was me.

Though I lived Fire Nation did, I never believe in the Fire Nation's new ideology that they were the masters over all other elemental nations and its peoples. Like all those I heard before them it was just a load of shit, basically fit for those revel in it. So it was in the reign of Fire Lord Azulon that I and Iroh achieve the title of Dragon, unique that one would have to through a special challenge in order to obtain it.

Azulon, pleased in my success in it as well as for my résumé for fighting in the Fire Nation Military to made sure I stayed on his side. But the gold, the lavish estate, elegant concubines and title of Noble were perks that were really hard to past up if one wished to live comfortably.

But I only later did I discover the cost of my comfort. When Azulon died and Ozai succeeded him, we got along like oil and water. But he was Iroh's younger brother so I tolerated him. If something was wrong and Ozai did nothing about it I would confront Ozai directly, even in the presence of the Fire court. Though the number who did was few, it became fewer when Zuko learned the price of having a brazen mind. When Prince Zuko was banished for his disgrace I went with him to help find the Avatar so he could Zuko could gain his honor again. I will never forgive Ozai for what he had down to his own son, that much I can promise you.

When we reached the South Pole, I saw the current Avatar was still the last that disappeared from the Southern Air Temple, My best friend . . . Aang. From his awaking to Kyoshi Island to the here at the North Pole a great many things will happen to show that hope is not lost in this world, not yet. As for North Pole and everything that happen after I'll begin by saying this: Few know the whole story. From what I recall it goes something like this . . .

-Dante Sparda

THE NORTH POLE

Dante opened his eyes and looked the cold sea in the frozen kingdom on top of the world. He came out on deck earlier to get some cold fresh air blowing through his dark hair, but know he seem to be fine now. A memory to a warrior comes and goes quietly like a dense fog.

General Iroh came up from below for some of that Arctic air, the freshest air known to man. With a great inhale he sighed with a pleasant smile on his face. His eye cut to the sided as he noticed his old friend leaning against the railing watch the waves below.

"Enjoying the waves, Dante?" Iroh asked to see how he was doing.

Iroh had asked him a question and he inhaled the cold refreshing sea air. "Yes and thoroughly bored. I am itching to reach land." "Well, you could jump into the water and make a mad swim to the Northern Water tribe. I mean it beats listening to Zhao's ranting any day. The two firebenders shared a light laugh before they cast their eyes to the lapping wave below.

"Iroh, the Avatar has been fled here in the north to learn waterbending from a master. We have cornered him and there is nowhere to run. I have a feel that . . . this could be it."

Iroh knew he was talking about him facing the Avatar again, and perhaps for the final time. He understood that Dante and the Avatar had a history long, long ago. They were best of friends but the details were as distant as Dante was silent on the subject.

"It could be." Iroh wished to see it from Dante's point of view. "But I like to know the events leading up to this, if that's alright with. We found the Avatar frozen in ice at the Southern pole . . . then what?"

Dante drifted backwards in his memories. He explained that he seeing Aang again for the first time since the beginning of the hundred year war . . . he could hardly believe it. Aang should have been dead. But he was preserved in the ice. After Aang and his new friends left the South Pole Zuko tracked them like a falcon, from the distance with a keen eye on them. Multiple times Zuko and Dante engage the Airbender. And multiple times the goofy kid slipped through their fingers. Each time he did Dante would smile seeing that his old friend still has his humor and wit at hand.

Back then, Dante saw Aang like a little brother he never had, Aang saw Dante like an older brother. Unforchantly the happiness would not last when Aang ran away on finding out he was the Avatar. And his people paid the ultimate price with Dante in the middle of it.

Iroh put a reassuring hand on Dante's shoulder. "Does the Avatar know how you feel?"

"No. I was going to tell him on Kyoshi Island, but I didn't. Even if I told him he wouldn't listen me."

"Hmm, perhaps. But how will any of us know a thing works unless we try." Iroh said.

Dante nodded and inhaled before stand up straight with a good stretch. "I'm going on ahead. Inform General Zhao of my absence." Dante reminded Iroh who nodded in acknowledgement.

Dante smiled and jumped from the side of the ship. Iroh looked to and saw a great red tipped falcon soaring high into the sky. Iroh waved to his friend as he flew past. With a sharp cry the falcon circled the ship again and went off to the Northern Water tribe before the siege begins in earnest. For there to be victory one must first scout the land.

The Northern Water Tribe is unlike its counterpart at the South Pole. Number one, there more Waterbenders here that can make even a non-bender feel uneasy. Number two, the tribe itself lives inside a fortification that is carved inside the mountainous glacier by hammer, chisel and very talented waterbending. And number three, if spears and swords fail then the fort itself can be a deadly weapon. From the water in the canals that run thru the levels to the very ice of the walls and ground they walk on. This place was ingeniously design and beautifully caved that Dante marveled in awe at its sight as he flew over. Hopefully he can find a good defensible position to observe before the fun starts - officially anyway. He eyed the palace and landed on the roof, reverting back to his original form, to observe a free sparring in progress below.

On one side was a nervous wreck of a kid fidgeting like a little jackalope. On the other was a confident excelling Katara quiet as a snow leopard ready to pouch.

With a simple move he lowers the water below him and formed a giant ball a snow. He launched toward Katara who spun around, turning it back into water, create a wave of water that overtook him and trapped him in a wave sculpture of ice. Katara smiled in winning the duel through using skilled waterbending she has learned.

"Nice try, pupil Sangok. A couple of more years and you'll be ready to fight a sea-sponge."

Maybe even the square sea-sponge who flips patties and jellyfishes at that, Dante thought.

The Waterbending master freed the pupil from his ice prison before turning to the rest of his students. "Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara?" The teacher asked the rest of his pupils who were too tired, snowed, iced or just embarrassed over the fact they were beaten by a girl. Dante on the other hand was impressed that she was learning well. She would be an interesting opponent to fight. He never complained when girls have defeated him before. It was always far and square.

"Katara, you've advance more quickly than any student I've ever trained. You have proven with fierce determination, passion and hard work you can accomplish anything. Raw talent alone is not enough . . ."

They turned and looked at Aang who was lazily airbending a globe of spinning air under Momo. The flying lemur was enjoying the ride until the Pakku got Aang's attention, again.

"Pupil Aang!"

"Master Pakku?"

The air sphere disappeared and Momo flopped onto Aang's bald head.

"Care to step into the sparing circle? I figured since you found time to play with house pets – you must have already mastered waterbending."

Momo jumped off his owner's head before he airbended himself to his feet.

"I wouldn't say mastered . . . but check this out."

Aang bended the snow around him to fire a happy snowman before Momo pouched on the weird entity that consumed his friend. Katara and Master Pakku were as one could imagine not impressed. Dante laughed quietly as Aang still could crack him up. "This kid would not last a day against the full might of the Fire Nation military." He said to himself before vanishing from the roof tops.

The armed forces of the Northern Water Tribe measure in the hundreds, housing them under the ice street in carved caves. He made a mental note off his observations: There are total of 1200 normal soldiers armed with tribal weapons. At hand are a total of 200 Waterbenders that are trained for combat, and finally the 800 royal palace guards which include Waterbenders and regular soldiers.

The Total enemy forces: 2200

"... Plus, the Avatar, and the two Southern Watertribe siblings." A familiar voice said. The spirit form of Roku's Dragon, Fang, appeared beside Dante. Fang has often guided Dante in his journey since he met him during the midpoint of the reign of Fire Lord Azulon.

With that he pushes off and slides down angled wall of the building. He stopped just in time to see a guard below. Given that it was luck that nobody noticed him by now, given the fact that he was where red armor of the fire nation, he figured a change of attire was needed before that luck runs out. He dropped silently tailed the guard that was dressed in the of the city guards. When he stopped and at one of the upper level bridges Dante made his move. He jumped down, quietly. Quick as a flash he knocked the guard out and hosted him over his shoulder and disappeared just in time before a mother and child walked the bridge. Minutes later Dante stepped outside of a build dressed in the guard's outfit. He personally found it warmer than the Fire Nation's coats as he adjusted the belt. He pulled the hood over his head and stepped out and began to explore without anyone being the wiser.

He past an ice column with totem images carved into and saw two people he never expects to see so soon. The wisecracking Sokka and the beautiful Princess Yue: Mister Sarcasm and Miss Mystery. The two headed for a bridge and Dante tailed them quietly.

Sokka walked on the edge of the bridge while Yue walked beside him asking personal questions about him. "So they don't have palaces in the Southern Tribe."

Sokka sat right down on the edge. "Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice. It's not exactly a cultural hub."

Yue laughed patting the grumpy Sokka's shoulders. He smiled when he realized he made her laugh. Maybe she did indeed like him.

Yue suddenly grew glum "Sokka . . . this is wrong."

"What's wrong? We are taking a walk." Sokka defended the innocence of his actions.

Yeah right, Dante thought to himself.

"I'm engaged. It just feels . . ." Yue trailed off. She never wishes to break a vow of any kind.

Suddenly Sokka had an idea to turn her frown upside down. "I know what you need; you need to meet my good friend Appa."

"Who?" she asked and Sokka lead her to the animal pens where Appa was munching on some hay.

Dante sat on the roof and watched the insecure goofball show her the giant Sky Bison gazing on some hay. "This is not going to go well. She is clearly out of his league. Then he shows her the big warm fuzzy lummox."

Sokka stopped once Appa spotted him. "Appa and I go way back, don't we boy?"

Appa gently pouched Sokka to the ground and gave him one big sloppy lick.

"GAHHH! EASY BOY! NO! UP!" Sokka yelled.

Yue chuckled again; to her this guy was just pitifully funny when he wasn't trying to. "Looks like you haven't been giving Appa enoughattention."

Afterwards, Sokka and Yue now were seated on Appa's saddle. He was going to give a first class tour of the sky.

"So . . . how does this work?" Yue asked a little nervous being onto of a massive animal.

"You hangin' on tight?" Sokka asked her.

She nodded.

Sokka grinned. "Yip . . . yip."

Appa immediately took to the skies in such amazing speed. Princess Yue gasped in utter surprise."Oh my GOODNESS!"

Dante wondered if she gasped like that because she was a protected princess. Nevertheless he decided to move along to continue his exploration.

Yue was amazed at how everything was so small from way up here. "Wow I can't believe we do this every day."

Sokka stretched his arms like a big shot. "Yep we pretty much live up here."

Yue suddenly scooted over to Sokka when she felt the cold wind through her layers. "Isn't it always this cold in the sky?"

Sokka was taken by surprise by this sudden contact but he adapted well to the sudden change in the wind.

"Not if you're with someone." He said and looked into her eyes.

Yue's smiled as her crystal blue eyes shine and her cheeks turned pink. Whether it was from the cold wind or the warm of being so close to someone she grew to like remains a mystery to this day.

"It's beautiful up here." she said.

"Yeah . . ."

Sokka and Yue slowly leaned in closer as they until they realized they almost made a huge mistake. Sokka breathed inhaled through his nose. "Oh yeah! Good times, good times." He said trying to change the subject. Sokka's face was then attacked by a large falcon scratching him with his talons and smacking him with its wings. Sokka immediately screamed like a little girl and as he tried to smack the bird of prey away. Finally Yue got the bird off his and let it go flapping away. She then turned around to see Sokka grinning with small painful scratches and small feathers on him.

Sokka blew a feather out of his mouth. "Good times, good times."

Yue laughed herself silly until Sokka noticed an interesting sight.

"Hey look."

"What's happening?"

Appa grumbled at the sight of the dark flakes falling in the way a huge snow storm

"Oh-no." Sokka said as Yue caught the dark flakes in her glove.

The black snow fall upon the Northern Water tribe, a mother and child stopped and look up into the falling snow. Aang was making a snow dough nut while Momo sat in the middle. When the black snow fell he stuck out his tongue and caught one in his mouth. He suddenly started hacking up the revolting taste. Aang stop playing in the snow and noticed the falling snow. Katara was shocked to see something she saw before a great tragedy. The waters of the fountain near Master Pakku turned black as oil due to how much it was collected in it. Dante looked at the ominous sight of that fell from the sky before looking at horizon and saw the darkness approaching.

Sokka picked up some of the dirty snow.

"Soot."

"What?" Yue asked.

"I've seen it before . . . right before my village was attacked. Its soot mixed with snow."

"But why?" Yue asked again not understanding the meaning.

"It's the Fire Nation. They closed in on the North Pole, and from the looks of this stuff. . . I say there a lot of them."

The sight of dark clouds on the horizon was a perfect sight of a storm that is yet to come.

On board the flagship of the Fire Nation navy, Zhao and Iroh stood on the observation deck. Their ship cut right through the chucks of ice in the water.

"This will truly be one for the history books General Iroh. Just think of it; centuries from now people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky your here to see it."

"Be careful what you wish for Admiral. History isn't always kind to its subjects." Iroh remained him.

"I suppose you speak from experience; but reassured this would not be like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se."

"I hope not, for your sake." Iroh said as that dark day flashed briefly flashed in his mind.

"Tell the captains to prepare for First Strike."

Iroh turned leaving Zhao alone with his cape flapping in the wind.

Iroh went through the corridors to meet a soldier waiting for him. Iroh waited until they were alone before he spoke. "We'll be landing soon. Dante is already there. Do you have a plan?"

The Firebender soldier removed his mask plate of his helm to reveal a slightly bruised face of Prince Zuko. "I'm working on it uncle." He said before they parted. He most definitely survived the staged explosion at the Fire Nation colony. Now things must be played behind the scenes from here on out. On a tower of the city tow water tribesmen beat the drums of emergence. The Sokka and Yue rush into the ice palace on an apex of the city. But Yue suddenly halted in her tracks causing Sokka to look back at her. This was as far as she goes with him.

"What's wrong? We have to go!" He tried to urge her up the steps.

"No Sokka, wait. I can't see you anymore. Not at all." she said.

"What? We're just friends." He defended the innocence of his actions but she knew better.

"I wish we could just be friends but I like you too much. And it's too confusing to be around you. I'm marrying someone else."

Judging by the sound of her voice there is more going on than just marriage and Sokka knows the signs.

"You don't love him do you? You don't even seem to like him."

"But I do love my people." she stated.

"You're not marrying them." he stated also.

"You don't understand; I have duties to my father – to my tribe! I have to do this. Goodbye." She ran up the steps and out of Sokka's heart.

Inside the great ice palace Yue and Master Pakku were seated in front of a waterfall. The Chief Arnook rose to the main platform to address the court and guests on the situation at hand. Dante sat down in the back to continue to stay out of sight. He looked and saw Aang seat with his friends. So close to his objective and yet patience is a virtue.

"The day we have feared for so long – has arrived! The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me. Knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence I call upon the great spirits: Spirit of the Ocean . . . Spirit of the Moon . . . Be with us!"

Dante yawned, waiting for him to get to the point of this meeting. The little elderly woman sitting beside him turned slapped him on the back of the head to behave. Dante rubbed the back of his head for it stung as bad as first-degree burn.

Chief Arnook did come to the point, though it was going to a grim task indeed "I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission."

Sokka stood straight up and declared aloud: "Count me in!"

"Sokka?" Katara said by his sudden choice.

Despite this several others stood ready to take the challenge. These no doubt pleased Chief Arnook to see the first of many brave souls to fight in the coming conflict. "Be warned: many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark, if you accept the task."

The volunteers formed line in front of the Arnook to receive the mark as his chosen. When Sokka stepped up to be anointed Yue a cast her gaze on him; when he turned to leave he took one last look at her straighten his back and continued on. Yue held her head high . . . but her tears still escaped, silently.

If he dies it going to be his fault because he choose to and it will be her fault for denying his friendship. But it's something she gladly accepts. Sokka, on the other hand, will not. And he most likely never will.

Afterwards, Aang sat at the top of the step railing staring past the city out into the horizon. Chief Arnook and Katara found Aang and stood on both sides of him. "The stillness before battle is unbearable . . . Such a quiet dread."

"I wasn't there when the fire nation attacked my people. I'm going to make a difference this time." Aang stood up with his airstaff at the ready for the battle to come.

Dante returned to the ship Zhao and Iroh were on to deliver his report. With a rough layout of the city and its levels Dante gave all the detail on where the sections of the wall they can strike at, the troop garrisons, and anything that would crucial to know.

Zhao was pleased. "Well down, Dante this will do fine. We could wrap this siege up in a week, instead of a hundred days." Iroh was raised a brow to Zhao's comment. Though one o

In the ocean jagged pieces of ice were Waterbended to stop the ships advancement. The soldiers on the clad in tribal warpaint will fight to the death to defend their home. Aang sat on Appa with reins in hand while his friends stood beside him.

On the ship and looked thru a spyglass toward the North Pole. By orders from General Zhao they were to be began first strike to test the enemy's strength.

Aang narrowed his eyelids to see a lone ship on the horizon. Then an orange glowing object was launched in the air and was coming straight for them. It was a giant fireball which hit the dead center on the water tribe symbol on the wall, blasting back everyone at or near the center.

More were launched soon after aiming further into the city and to weaken the wall more.

"Yip-yip!" Aang commanded Appa.

The sky-bison flew through the smoke and high into the air to meet the invaders. Meanwhile everyone was digging out of the snowy rubble. Sokka called for his sister who blasted the cement-like snow away so she can get out. They both looked up to see more bombs being hurled into the city.

Aang whipped the reins to make Appa fly faster to the fireship. A firebomb was launched from the ship and Aang smacked it out of the air with a gust from his airstaff which hit the side of a cliff safely.

"I'll take it from here boy." Aang said and Appa turned upside down sending Aang down into a dive toward the ship. Once he got enough speed he unfurled his glider and flew down. He evaded firebender and arrows landing on the ship and air blasted them back with a small turn and a big swing.

Next he jumped onto a catapult to take it out. When the big soldiers that worked the artillery came at him and missed, Aang capitalized on their mistake by air-smashed the dent at the top. He landed with a goofy expression that made Dante nodded his head in satisfaction.

Aang went to the next catapult and grabbed the hammer sticking it in the hole where the chain goes through. With another evasive maneuver he jumped out the way before the tampered catapult swung the fireball through air and right back down to the deck, damaging it right thru. Then he tied the chains together to connect the next two catapults and kicked start the trigger with his foot. The catapult dragged the other one with it in the launched. Aang really does take after Dante at times.

However this destruction of weaponry did not go unnoticed by the biggest guy on the boat. Aang turned to see a big guy with a shaved scalplock wielding two chained hammers swing toward him. He wrapped up Aang to the land was about to put the choke on him when Appa grabbed the brute and tossed him overboard.

Aang leaped and hugged Appa's furry head. "Thanks for the rescue buddy!"

Suddenly a tremor shook the boat. Aang was wide eye to see a sharp piece of ice jet thru the deck. The Waterbending Navy Seals rowed out to the ship to finish it off by trapping it and the crew in ice. However Dante jumped into the water and jetted through the water like a shark that just caught the trial of fresh blood in the water.

As for Aang, it was safety say he had to double his efforts in destroying Fire Nation ships . . . because there was a vast armada coming straight for the North Pole.

"You got to be kidding me?!"Aang said to himself.

In an ice bunker inside the warrior's barracks Chief Arnook gave his orders on the tasks for his chosen.

"Men, you'll be infiltrating the fire nation navy, that means you need one of these uniforms. . ."

Hahn stepped out in a fire nation uniform that made Sokka laugh out loud.

"What's your problem?" asked angrily.

"Fire navy uniforms don't look like that." Sokka replied.

"Of course they do. These are real uniforms captured from real fire navy soldiers." Hahn defended.

"When? A hundred years ago?" Sokka asked.

"Eighty-five" Arnook stated.

"The Fire Nation doesn't where shoulder spikes anymore." Sokka said while over and give the Hahn shoulder spike a flick. "The newer uniforms are more streamlined."

Hahn decided to be bold back at Sokka. "How do know we can trust this guy? Such bold talk for a new recruit."

"Sokka is from our sister-tribe, Hahn, He's a capable warrior and I'll value his input. Now, our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer."

Sokka chimed in again to fill them in. "His name is Zhao. Middle-aged, big sideburns, bigger temper."

"Sokka I want you to tell everything you know to Hahn. He's leading this mission. Hahn, show Sokka your respect. I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law." Sokka mouthed a gated so big a funeral procession could go thru it.

"Princess Yue is marring you?" he asked.

"Yeah. What of it?" Hahn asked back.

Sokka turned away, "Nothing, congratulations"

Outside fire navy continued the bombardment well into the evening.

"Stopped those fireballs!" commanded master Pakku.

The Waterbendered formed up in a 3x3 square and stopped the fireball in midair by creating an ice wall.

The fire navy continues their advancement, passing the ship that got totaled by the Avatar. They were in the area where the Waterbender can and would strike at the ship like the last one.

Inside the flagship General Iroh and Admiral Zhao watched the progress of first strike. It was going well for the most part but Iroh wanted to bring up a major concern.

"It's almost twilight Admiral. As your military consultant I advise you to halt your attack. The Waterbenders draw their power from the Moon. And it is nearly full tonight. You should wait until you resume the attack at daybreak."

"Oh, I'm well aware of the Moon problem. And I'm working on a solution . . . But for now, daybreak it is." Iroh stroke his beard; finding Zhao's words sounding very suspicious.

The fire navy ships halted and drop anchor. The smoke from the ships engine disappeared and all was quiet for now. Meanwhile ashore Katara and Yue watched the battle from a balcony.

"They stopped firing." Said Yue thank the spirits for their grace.

"Aang!" Katara pointed upon seeing him and Appa returned. The girls rushed down the steps to greet them.

Appa rested upon the snow and Aang slid down Appa's arm to the ground.

"I can't do it . . . I can't do it."Aang lamented clutching his head.

"What happened?" Katara asked.

". . . I must have taken out a dozen Fire navy ships, but there just too many of them! I can't fight them all."

"But, you have to, you're the Avatar."Yue tried to support her new friend.

"I'm just one kid." Aang spoke sadly before burying his face in his arms. Katara knelt down to comfort Aang in this stressful time.

But this respite would not last when Dante stood on a nearby the roof wearing in a mask with his northern Watertribe parka that flapped in the breeze upon his approach. He decided to make himself known once more. Sadly element of surprise wasn't in his favor this time when Appa smelled Dante's scent and groaned looking up at the roof tops. The moment they saw him Aang got up and he and Katara took a fighting stance.

"Well, shit! I had a special surprise prepped and everything. But it looks to me your hands are full." He looked to the right toward the stationary Fire Navy ships in the distance, "No biggy, you can always tweak the rules a bit." The Nephilim dropped down to the ground that at some point looked as if he floated once he neared the bottom. For a second it looked like he briefly . . . airbended.

Aang was a gentle pacifist by nature, so he deemed it necessary to seek not violent solution first.

"Dante, wait a second." Aang said.

Dante shrugged, "Okay . . . time's up!"

Dante punched and kicked bursts of fire at Aang who twirled his Airstaff blowing out the fire. Yue ran for cover and Katara bended ice from the grounds into ice shards and hurled them forward. Dante evaded them and summon Rebellion and closed in on the Aang completely ignoring Katara, as if he didn't perceive her as a threat. But that was not true, he did know she was a threat but his focus was on Aang at this moment. He flipped and kicked a wave of fire at Katara who shield herself from it by creating an ice wall. When she dropped it she saw Aang jump up toward the roof tops with Dante in hot pursuit.

"Why do they always run?" Dante asked himself.

Aang hoped on a section of building that was near one of the main bridges. Aang looked over the edge to see that it was a long way down. Dante grabbed him by using Ophion pulling Aang back toward him before jump kicking him right off the edge. Dante ran and looked over the edge to find no sign of Aang on the ground. Lucky that sly Arrow-tattooed lemur was hiding in the space between the edge and the outside wall. Dante turned around scratching his chin wonder where he could have went on this very high ice building.

Aang grinned with his tongue sticking out as he gripped the on the roof and flipped his legs back up and backwards. He seized Dante by the waist, catching him by surprise and arched him over the edge and in thru a window. The two crashed into someone's home. The woman that was sorting out goods out was startled away when two guys came through her open window. Aang trapped Dante on the floor with his feet and staff, pinning him down.

Dante made a used his inhuman strength, raising his fists and hitting the floor, cracking it until it shattered sending them both falling through the multi levels of hard ice.

"Ow! My head!" Aang exclaimed.

"Toe, toe, toe! OW!" Dante also exclaimed.

After seven more floors they landed into one that was solid enough to hold them. They lay on the ground floor with snow sprinkling down on as a few people leaned over to see the damage that was done. Aang sat up and brushing the ice from his head. He was surprised to see Dante still moving. He rolled over on to his side to sit up and with a one good neck pop to both sides he was ready to go. Katara and Yue ran to the building where Aang jumped out with Dante tailing him down. Katara waited till they were close to the ground then she tried to incase Dante in ice. Dante create a ball of fire around him and repulsed it out blasting the water away from him before it had time to freeze. Dante landed on the ground and saw an Aang and Katara taking a fighting stance. He began to circle the duo as he was pondering his next move. Yue watched them from a safe vantage point.

Dante knew the engorged moon will rise and all Waterbenders will be stronger. He began to think what to do next. Then he notices Yue looking out from behind the pillar, the white-haired dark-skinned girl at that seems too fancy dressed to be a commoner, this intrigues Dante. Could that be the famous Princess of the North? Dante had heard stories about her and wondered which were true and which were exaggerated. But they all seem to share that in all the world she has no equal with it comes to her beauty, her heart and sense of fairness.

Turning back to Aang's Airbending and Katara's waterbending Dante evaded them easily. Aang twirled in the air to evade Dante's leg swipe, Katara found and opening and attacked with a slash of her water. Dante dropped backwards as the water passed over him. With a gust of airbending Aang sent Dante toward the totem column the Yue was hiding behind. The impacted knocked the breath out of him as he fell to the ground. Still Dante forced himself to stand stood up deciding to bring this fight to an end. Night was falling and the sun was gone and the moon was out. Dante continues to Firebend at Katara who goes at while into a horizontal tailspin with two water whips spinning with her, she ploughs through Dante with enough force that he flies onto his back, bounces and tumbles into water fountain. Aang sees his chance and freezes the water to trap Dante in ice. Dante eyes widen as the water comes up and traps him just as he stood up again. Aang and Katara walk over to Dante to see if he will try to escape. Dante looks at them from inside his prison.

Frozen solid in ice that prevents me from move to try to get myself out. These two got better at waterbending. I could break myself out with a little fire or I could use waterbending to free me, but . . .

Aang caused the ice to melt around Dante's head. The hood and mask of the Water Tribe guard parka was wet and Dante breathed again as the air entered his lungs again.

"Okay, okay . . . I surrender." He said.

Aang and Katara looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Dante. " … Really?"

"I know when I'm beaten. But if it would convince you, I will stay in this block of ice." Dante says. After all that Dante figures that's enough for one day, but the fight has only begun between him and Aang. Yue, thinking it was safe, stood up and came out from behind the pillar and came over. Dante greeted the Princess in the North Watertribe language that he had to brush-up on before boarding ship of the invasion fleet, he was rusty but just in case he had to use it was wise to be prepared.

"Your majesty. Forgive me; I would below if I could but I am restrained at the moment." Dante said.

Yue tilted her head to the side with interest. "You speak the language of my people." she said with a bit of curiosity.

Dante shrugged. "It's not much; I learned it while on a hunting trip here many years back." he replied. "Back when I was alone had a lot of time on my hands. I hunted a powerful game in the frozen wilds of the north."

"What is your name?" Yue asked.

"My name is Dante. Dante Sparda."

Katara and Aang wondered what the two were talking about. Katara only knew a bit of the Northern Watertribe language but not enough to have a conversation. So imagine the twos reaction when they heard Yue said this next in the common tongue: "Release him."

"Yue, I don't think that is a good idea." Katara said."What if he escapes or tries to harm people?"

"I don't intend to harm innocent people!" Dante stated seriously. Katara released Dante from the ice and he landed on his feet. He stood up and popped his back and sighed.

"Remove your hood and mask and let me see your face." Yue Arnook stated.

"You already see my eyes. What do you think you will see if I do?" Dante inquired.

"For you to come this far and surrender, knowing that you can be captured by us, without having fear in your eyes. . . I have to see who you are."

Dante thought for a moment before he finally threw back his hood and pulled down his mask to reveal a very odd sight. Like Princess Yue's hair, Dante's was as white with the sides shaved and the top coming over the edges. Dante looked at her and shrugs. She walked around Dante examining the back of his head before coming back around noticing that Dante's eyes were a shade of blue that seem common among the Watertribes. And in her personal opinion, Dante was very handsome for a Fire Nation warrior. Regardless if he looked similar to the Watertribes or not he needed to know what his purpose here is.

"Why are you here?"Yue asked.

"He's here because he wants to fight me in a dual." Aang said.

"One-on-one. This has nothing to do with the siege." Dante added.

"We don't have to fight, Dante." Aang repeated to him on Kyoshi Island.

"I don't either … it's just something we need to settle. Until then consider this the start of the truce." Dante concluded. Everyone still was unsure about him. A sudden truce was too good to be true. But considering his options and the chance for peace is too promising to ignore. Whether this truce is genuine of not they would have to see.

As night fell on the North Pole the Fire Nation battleship sat silently on the water. But in section where cargo and be load up into the Zuko was planning on doing some fishing. Geared up in a suit that would provide warmth and stealth. As he gather enough rope Iroh sneaking through the door to check on him.

"If you are fishing for an octopus, my nephew, you need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze thru the tiniest hole and escape." Iroh offered his sage advice.

"I don't need you wisdom right now uncle." Zuko stated, confident his ability to capture the Avatar.

Iroh understands that Zuko need to stay focus on the task at hand, but does Zuko understand Iroh's reasoning. "I'm sorry. I just nag you because … well, ever since I lost my son …" Iroh voice chokes up from the grief of losing his own child.

"Uncle, you don't have to say it." Zuko said, fighting back his own tears of losing his cousin.

"I think of you … and Dante … as my own." Iroh finally admits.

Zuko turns around upon hear what his uncle said to him. It was touching and sad. "I know uncle." Zuko bows in respect before he leaves. "We'll meet again." Iroh quickly moves forward to give his nephew a loving hug. "After I have the Avatar." Zuko says and gets on a small boat and lowers himself to the water.

"Remember your Breath of Fire. It could save your life out there!" calls after Zuko.

"I will." Zuko acknowledged.

"And put your hood up, keep your ears warmth!" Iroh adds.

"I'll be fine!" Zuko calls back above.

Iroh watches forlornly as Zuko paddles to the Northern Water Tribe under the cover of darkness. Thru the jagged ice bergs Zuko paddled quickly and quietly as he passed under the shadow of the guards towers on the massive ice wall. He land on the shore of the near the wall; he saw there were many guards on patrol causing him to seek another way. He says a group of turtle seals diving into a pool.

"Where are they going?" he walked over and looked down to see it was an underwater tunnel. "Their coming up for air somewhere." Zuko pulled down his mask and with deep breath dive right into the hole.

Elsewhere Aang, Katara and Yue watch the moon as it is full. It is tradition within the North and Southern Watertribes as well as some parts of the world observe the moon. Some hold parties, a husband and wife may have a romantic evening under it, and some just stare at it waiting to transform into a Jinrou (or werewolf). The peaceful scene of the moon reflecting and ocean was something to kill for.

"The legend says the moon was the First Waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled tides. Learn how to do it themselves." Yue explained.

"I always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night." Katara commented.

Yue agrees. "Our strength comes from the Spirit of the Moon. Our life comes from the Spirit of the Ocean. They work together to keep balance."

Then Aang brightens upon getting an idea. "The Spirits! Maybe I can find them and get their help."

"How can you do that?" Yue asked.

Katara approaches Yue. "The Avatar is our bridge between our world and the spirit world. Aang can talk to them." Katara explains.

"Maybe they can give you the wisdom to win this battle." Yue said excitedly, see that hope is on the horizon.

"Or … they'll unleash a crazy Spirit attack of the Fire Nation!" Aang exclaimed waving his arms out in gesture. Katara, Yue and Dante look at him oddly; Aang looks at them and straightens up. "Or wisdom, that's good too."

"The only problem is; last time you got to the Spirit World by accident. How are you going to get there this time?" Katara asked a very interesting question.

"I have an idea. Follow me." Yue says and begins walking away. Behind the chief's Royal Palace Yue leads Aang, Katara and Dante into a clear courtyard with large pots lining the edges of it. Finally Yue stands by a small, round wooden door.

Aang walks up to the door. "So, is this the way to the Spirit world?"

Yue laughs. "No. you'll have to get there on your own." the leans down to open to doors. "But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole."

Aang steps inside to see a small verdant oasis with a waterfall flowing directly behind it with a carpet of green and flowers in bloom. Aang gasps in amazement. He runs to the back of the oasis and rolls around on the ground. "I never thought I'd miss grass this much!"

Katara Yue and Dante arrive and immediately feel a difference in the temperature. "It's so warm here! How is that possible?" Katara asked.

"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land." Yue replied.

"That's doesn't answer the question." Dante said.

"It's the only answer I have." Yue replies again. And with that Dante shrugs in accepting the answer.

The three remove their coats; the girls wear their causal outfits while Dante wore a black wide sleeved shirt. The two girls noticed his attire. "What? You don't like it?" He said "I can always take it all off if it offends you your majesty." Dante said with a smile with a hint of naughtiness behind it.

"No, no. It's fine." Yue said.

"Oh, okay." Dante said a bit glumly. He was hoping the princess wouldn't mind 'attire optional'.

In the center of the oasis is a small pool with two Koi fish, one black the other white who were was swimming about in the pond. Momo appears and sticks his hand in to try to grab the two fish from in the water. Then he looks behind to see the two girls standing over him, looking rather irritated.

"You're right, Yue. I can feel … something. It's so tranquil." Aang says and positions himself to meditate.

"So … How's life treating you?" Dante said to Yue, trying making conversation.

Meanwhile, Zuko emerges from the water through another hole in the ice. He lies on his back on the ice to catch his breath. He rolls over onto his side and begins shivering from the extreme cold of the arctic water. Quickly he remembers his uncle's advice breathes fire to warm himself up. Then he turns to barking turtle seals behind him.

"Be quiet!"

The pack of seals quiets down. Zuko walks past, pushing aside the heads of two them and once he's gone they resume barking. He makes his way through another opening where water is pouring out. he bores his foot into the wall as he crawls into the tunnel. He steadies himself and makes his way through the channel, where he slowly crawls his way through. Back at the warrior's base Sokka is crouched on the floor, sharpening his boomerang when his approached by Arnook.

"Is something wrong, Sokka?"

"Oh, no. Hahn's out there on the top-secret mission while I'm here sharpening my boomerang. Everything's fine." Sokka answers sarcastically.

"Listen to me I took you off the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you." Arnook said.

"What, you want me to scrub the barracks?" Sokka asked dryly.

"I want you to guard my daughter. Princess Yue."

When Sokka heard that he rose and tries to act cool. "Oh … Sure. That … shouldn't be too hard." Arnook exits leaving Sokka feeling more nervous that every. Protect Royalty, easier said than done.

Back in the ice caves Zuko continues to make his way through the channel of water. He exits from the channel and floats to the surface of the water. He emerges from the surface and inhales deeply several times. He proceeds to duck his head under the water, surveying the area. Zuko swims toward the channel and upward. As he attempts to resurface, however, the surface of the water had frozen into a thick ice patch. Zuko tries to break through the ice. He suddenly exhales for air. He heats his hands using firebending and melts a hole in the ice creating a tunnel into the city. On the other side the ice melts steaming and finally melting away. Zuko emerges and catches his breath. He relaxes against the wall of the tunnel.

Back at the Spirit Oasis Aang continues his mediation, seeking a way into the Spirit World, but it has been an hour and half. Katara, Yue and Dante were watching him.

"Why is he sitting like that?" Yue asked.

"He's mediating, trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration." Katara replied.

"You think someone who is spiritually tuned to crap like this would be able to do it in quicker." Dante commented.

"Yeah, is there any way we can help?" Yue asked.

"How about some quiet? Come one guys, I can hear every word you're saying!" Aang stated angrily.

Aang turned his attention back to the pond where the two koi fish circle each other. Aang stares at the fish, their moments seem mesmerizing. Then Aang sees their colors blend together like the Yin and Yang. Suddenly his eyes and tattoos light up.

"Is he okay?" Yue asked worriedly.

"He's crossing into the Spirit World. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world." Katara reassures Yue.

"Maybe we should get some help." Yue suggests.

Katara smiles in confidence. "No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him."

Dante walks until on the other side of the pond to look at the moon. "Well, that good to hear, I would hate fighting you once our truce ends." As he closed his eyes he could feel reality around him shift. He opens them to find himself in a dim lit forest with the blue otherworldly light of three moons. Dante walks over until he sees lanterns marking path. He makes his way to a cave filled with mist. Then out of the mist Fang, Roku's dragon, popped his head out to look at him.

"Fang … you summoned me?" Dante asked.

"I did. I see you have found the Avatar, before Prince Zuko did, like you said." Fang stated.

"I will get him out of here before Zuko and Zhao." Dante said.

"You dedication to your friend's safety is admirable. But it could be for naught." Fang's head moved back onto the mist.

"What do you mean?" Dante asked, confused on what he heard.

"You are selfish in protecting him when he's protecting the Northern Water Tribe. Your rage toward Fire Lord Ozai is blinding your to what matters. You say you want your friend back. That you want him to understand the full depth of what he fails to contend with but neither tells the other how they feel. You two dance around the subject like your fights, but both of you are holding back."

Dante exhaled at what he heard, he tried to hide it but this time there was no need to hide them. "You think you have me figured. You think I'm afraid?" Dante stepped, looking all around to where Fang eyes could be watching him. "You dare imagine what I THINK. I have dealt with worst shit that this. Even in this war for one hundred years I fought for the Fire Nation. I fought because is there any chance that they would find him; I would know and bust him out. But the years marched. And it got to a point when I knew that he was long dead. I accepted it and focused my efforts to the Water Tribes since they were next in the cycle. "Yeah … But, you know what? There is something I been meaning to ask you or at least any spirit in the loop of the Avatar stuff: Why did you not do anything thing about it in the Hundred Year Wars? If you knew Aang was frozen why you didn't intervene. Why didn't help them when they Fire Nation was attacking them, huh? WHERE WERE YOU?!"

Dante yelled, his voice echoed throughout the cave and forest. Fang was silent. Dante calmed down before continuing. "After Aang left and the Airbender genocide was done I did my part. True, I could've done a little more but if anyone was going to find the Avatar it would be the Fire Nation. It was gamble and it paid off double in the end. As for you and the other spirits … you all remain silent and shut yourself away from a hundred years" Dante stepped forward and looked Fang directly in his glowing reptilian eye. "So let's not talk about me holding back. Why did you summon me?" Dante wanting to get to the point of it all.

Fang shifted in about in the mist before speaking. "I have seen a vision of the moon turning red. The Fire Nation has stolen knowledge of us from the Great Library. They are planning to misuse this knowledge."

Dante heard the ominous message. "How?" Dante asked wanting to know the answer.

Fang's claw reached out from the mist and touched Dante on his chest. "Do not let the Avatar or the Princess out of your sight … and you will see. And if you and Aang do decide to fight again, then my prayers shall be with you both."

And with that the summoning was over and Dante opens them to find himself back at the oasis, he turns around to Katara and Yue who were still in the same spot as Aang, as if time had not past while he was away. The mind travels faster that time it seems. Katara once again asked a question getting Dante's attention.

"What?" he asked.

"If you'll eager fight us then, then why the truce now?" Katara asked.

"I have my reasons. Chief among them is this: I may be your enemy, but you, Aang, the Princess, and the rest of the Northern Watertribe are not mine."

"Then who is?" Yue asked.

"At the moment, Zhao." Dante said.

"Why is he your enemy? Aren't you both on same side?" Katara asked.

"Nationally, yes. We both live in the Fire Nation. As far as what we want to accomplish, that is where out similarities end." Dante said while having a seat on the grass. "Whoever wins here, Zhao will die."

Yue goes to Dante and sits on the grass near Dante, Katara followed suit. "Why must you kill?"

"To weaken the Fire Nation military power." Dante explained. "The more key players in this game I kill, the closer I get to my goal: Fire Lord, Ozai."

This news was ominous to Katara and Yue. Who would have though a Firebender would kill his own leader? The answer: Not many outside the Fire Nation.

"This isn't a game." Katara says "People's lives, including the world, are at stake. The Avatar is the only one destined to defeat the Fire Lord Not you."

Dante was quiet for a few moments before spoke again. "What is your name?" Dante asked.

Katara blink at the changing of the subject. "My name is Katara."

"Your majesty?"

"My name is Yue."

"Okay, Katara and Yue, my name is Dante. And there is a good chance we may all die at the end of this siege so I'm going to tell you this: Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing. Sometimes we may not be the chosen ones that everyone wants but we may be the right ones for the job. I'm not a hero, but I will fight!" Dante clenches his fist. "I fight for a chance for a better world. A world where everyone doesn't have to kill each other over every goddamn stupid thing, big or small. People mistrust one another just because there are of another race, skin color or opposing ideas." Dante then gets up and turns around to the shout to the moon. "CAN'T THE THIS FUCKIN' WORLD GET ITS OWN HEAD OUT OF ITS OWN FUCKING ASS AND GET'S IT ACT TOGETHER? I JUST WANT TO ONE MINUTE OF HEARING NEWS THAT DOESN'T SCARE THE HELL OUT OF ME! IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK? IS IT!?"

Yue and Katara were shocked by the energy coming out of Dante. They it would disturb Aang, but he's still in tuned with the Spirit World. Dante looked behind him at the two and saw their expressions and calmed back down. "But hey, if the world doesn't care then I don't care. It has nothing to do with me anymore." Dante said and turned back around.

The two girls look at each other. They surprised by all that they have heard from the Firebender. It he is pissed at the world and wants to do something about but he's seemed to be buckling the weight.

"Dante, hope is not gone. The Avatar is here. Your friend you thought dead is alive and well. He can save our world. You just need to believe he can." Katara says with confidence.

"Faith? Faith doesn't guarantee victory." Dante retorts.

"Faith is all we have against Fire Nation in this battle. It will give us strength." Yue adds to what Katara said.

Dante fell silent as he walks a ways off. Needing some time alone as he sitting down in front of the pond facing the moon.

"Sokka . . ." Katara suddenly realizes. "I haven't checked on Sokka yet. But I don't want to leave Aang alone."

"Go on, Katara, I'll watch over Aang." Yue said.

"What about Dante?" Katara said.

"I'll watch him as well. Don't worry." Yue reassures her.

Katara nods and walks over to get her coat. She walks past Dante and gives him the 'I'm watching you' gesture before leaving. When she did Yue walks over to Dante and sit down beside him.

"Do you ever miss your homeland?" Yue asked.

Dante look at her before looking away deep in thought. Princess Yue may have meant the Fire Nation. That is where he currently is calling his home, but it's not what comes to mind. When anyone ever asks him of his home his mind thinks of a blue planet far, far way across the stars: Earth. His homeworld, a world very much like this one with the Four Elemental Nations. But his distance past, or anything like what is beyond this planet, is no one's concern. But doesn't mean he can't tell half of the truth.

"I miss it every day." Dante says depressingly.

"Do you ever think of a life that doesn't include war?" she asked.

"You mean try settling down. Well, I … did. I meet someone; she and I had three children. But something happened and I had to send them away to a secret place. When I came for them the place was destroyed by fire. By the looks of the damage … they didn't make it."

"Dante … I'm so sorry." Yue said sadly.

"Yeah .. But that just it; I look inside but there was no remains that told me that this was them that died. But something tells me that they are truly gone. It doesn't make since – and this wasn't the first time. Either. But basically what I'm trying to say is that things happened and you don't really know why but you take the answer that you most comfortable with. Even if the world takes everything you love or … anything beautiful. "

In her moment of uncertainty of the future Yue opens up with an issue that she a thought through on more than one occasion. "Dante, as someone who has been married can I ask you on some advice on it."

"You're getting married? Congratulations." Dante said upon hearing the good news.

"Thank you. But, I need to ask: what can you say about it?" Yue asked.

Dante cleared his throat before answering. "Well, I'm no expert who you should ask, but all I can say is that ... there is a difference between the dream and reality. The dream is well what we all vision it, peaceful and easy. The reality is that it is a LOT of work. Sometimes you wonder if you are gonna go insane. But sometimes to keep the peace you grit your teeth and plow thru the crap of the day. But don't be afraid to speak your mind to whoever you married. He made need to know something that is important, even if he doesn't want to hear it. My wife raises her voice to make me listen if being I was being pigheaded. It would remind me of her strength and duty to those around her who she loved."

Yue nods. "I guess I would need that then."

"Why?"

"My father chose a suitor. I have my doubts about but it is what my father chosen."

"So, he's unworthy. But you have to do what is good for the tribe. That's not fair."

"You sound like some I met. He thinks so to."

Dante probably has an idea about whom this other guy is but even he's has to ask. "Do you like this other guy?"

"He's charming, sympathetic funny even, but … I think he only sees it one way." Yue said solemnly.

"You need to think of your own happiness. After a while you get tired of hearing about idiotic marriages ending badly. And if you do, you may be inspiration to others in your tribe."

"I don't know if there are others who are thoughtful like that. Who would like me for my heart." said Yue.

"Well you not like most people."

"So I've been told."

"Well that's what I like." Dante says without thinking but quickly clears his throat. "I-I mean, that you know, um …"

Yue looks at him with a smile of contentment. Not many have said they like her for her heart. But in this instance it peaks her curiosity. What did this Firebender see in her?

"Go on." she said.

Oh, um … you're pretty. Maybe that's because you have a kind heart. You smarter than most, But I think you want to know more about the world you live in." At this moment Yue and Dante started moving closer to each other very slowly with their eyes locking with one another. "You like having … friends. And you will do anything. Even if that mean you'll …" Dante stopped as he and Yue's faces were inches from one another. They then closed their eyes closed the gap in a kiss. They hands went up to their arms before wrapping around their backs. They came apart after a few minutes and a heavy sigh. They looked over at Aang who was still in the in sync with the Spirit World.

"Maybe this isn't the time …" Dante said.

". . . Or the place." Yue added.

The two clear their throats and resumed watching the moon. Finally, Katara returned and to the oasis finding everything is as she left.

"How is your brother?" Yue asked.

"Well Sokka just got kicked off the team." Katara said.

"What? Why?"Yue asked.

"He never really explained." Katara shrugged.

"It's probably his fault." Dante commented.

"You don't know that." Katara retorted.

"No … but I'm sure you know your brother. Of the time Zuko has been chasing you I've seen him in odd moments. You always are there to pull him out of trouble." Dante said.

"Someone has to be the one to pull him out of the fire."

"Well, aren't you a big girl now." said a familiar voice.

Katara became alarmed and dismayed as she turned to her right. "No …" she turned to her right to see Zuko on the bridge, cold, wet and pissed.

"Yes … hand him over and I won't have to hurt you." Zuko warned Katara.

"Well speak of the devil and he will appear."Dante said.

"Dante? What are you doing here?" Zuko asked.

"I'm on vacation." Dante said with a causal shrug. "You two duke it out I'll stay over here and … watch." He goes a ways and sits down. Yue makes her escape to get help.

Katara assumes a defensive stance. Zuko strikes first with upward leg kicks, sending fire blast Katara's way. He fires more from his hands as Katara conjures up water shields to deflect the attacks. She draws water from the pond and sends the stream at Zuko, who is preparing another attack. The blast pushes Zuko back several feet and knocks him to the ground.

Zuko rises to his feet. "I see you've learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to lose to you."

He turns around and fires another blast which Katara blocks by summoning another shield of water. She sends a powerful jet of water at her opponent. The jet collides into Zuko, who is sent farther back. As he attempts to steady himself from the impact, small juts office form around his feet. Katara s causes the water to rise around Zuko and encircling him. She waves her arms about wild, forming a ball of water around him which she freezes solid. Katara smiles triumphantly while Dante nods at her skill. "Nice."

Zuko glares from inside his ice prison. "You little bitch. You've found a master, haven't you?"

The globule of ice begins glowing bright orange with heat and the ground rumbles. It heats up intensely and melts freeing him. He fires repeated attacks at Katara, who draw water from the oasis to deflect the attacks. She prepares to strike him with another water blast, however, Zuko manages to slip away and head toward Aang. Just as his fingers grasp Aang's collar, Katara fires a water blast, throwing Zuko to the other wall. she whips up a large wave and sends the attack to Zuko. The rush of water sends Zuko up the side of the cliff; she freezes the water, encasing him in ice.

Elsewhere Master Pakku looks over the horizon in the city as the sun finally rises.

On Zhao's he walks out on deck and smells the morning air. "It's daybreak at last. Let's writes history."

Back in the Spirit Oasis, rays of sunlight beam down on Zuko who remains imprisoned in the ice. He feels the heat and sharply raises his head. With a determined look on his face, he breathes steam from his nose, melting the ice quickly. He lands on the ground and fires a blast at Katara, who turns around quickly in an attempt to deflect the blast by conjuring a water shield; however, she creates the shield too late. The blast sends her slamming into the gate to the Spirit World, knocking her out hard, as the smoke from the impact clears Zuko stands over her, holding the Aang by the collar.

"You rise with the moon … I rise with the sun." Zuko states.

"And I rise with coffee." Dante commented while standing beside him. "Can we go now?"

Zuko's eyes cut sharply to Dante; he tosses Aang to the side far enough and pulls out a small blackpowder bomb, lights it and drops it in Dante's pocket. By the time Dante knew what happened Zuko jumped to the side am grabbing Aang as he dived behind cover. The bomb exploded in a loud fiery *BANG* blowing a third from Dante's body. He rolled on the ground before stopping.

"What the hell-" Dante hissed through teeth.

"I know this won't kill you but I can't have you following me either, but this wound is deep enough to give me a head start while you heal."

"W-why?"

"I overhead your conversation with uncle. I can't your plans interfere with mind. I'm sorry." Zuko turns around with Aang in tow and leaves. Blow apart, charred and betrayed Dante passes out to give his body time to heal.

On the ocean the Fire Navy ships break through the city wall, their bows crumbling the wall, allowing soldiers armed with spears to rush in. War has come.

"The Water Tribe can resist the inevitable, but their city will fall today." Zhao said to Iroh who stands behind him.

Back at the oasis Katara eyes finally snap open as she regain consciousness, only to realize Aang is gone. She crawls around, desperately searching for him.

"Aang!"

Just then Sokka and Yue land on Appa. Katara turns to them, dismayed on her failure. "He took Aang. He took him right out from under me."

"Then where did they go?" Sokka asked.

No one had the answer. Momo looks sorrowfully from the edge of the pond.

Far above the oasis Dante with his Water Tribe guard parka walks the path up the cliff. He reaches the top and looks out on the blizzard in front of him. His eyes scanner the horizon; with Zhao pressing the attack from the sea Dante knew that Zuko could have gone this way. Dante once more uses his powers of transformation to take the form of a large Arctic Wolf. He sniffs the ground and found that there was a scent but it is faint. He start off until he disappears completely through the curtain of the blizzard.

Deep ahead in the wilds of the North Pole Zuko trudges through deep snow with the heavy winds of the blizzard whipping at him with Aang in tow. He been in rough scraps before but this … was a new one. Zhao must not know he was alive, but he wonders how he can escape without being seen by the two forces. They more the Fire Navy presses the more he's forced back into the darkness where he has to scrounge and scrap in order to find a way out, just like in the ice tunnel s that took him into the city. He knows that there's always a way out, even in blizzard.

Back at the city the siege continues. Four fireballs streak in the air before impact in the city in various locations with a thunderous boom. In the Spirit Oasis the two koi fish are swimming in their usual circular pattern unaware of the situation around them.

Sokka and Yue standing beside Katara, who is kneeling on the ground. "I can't believe I lost him." Katara said sorrowfully.

"You did everything you could, and now we need to do everything we can to get him back." Katara looks up at her brother with tears in her eyes. "Zuko can't have gotten far. We'll find him. Aang's gonna be fine."

"Okay." Katara closes eyes and gets up. Momo on the other hand remains motionless on the ground. Katara see him after having mounted the bison. "It's all right. You stay here, Momo, in case Aang comes back."

"Yip, yip." Sokka says with a whip of the reins. Appa takes off heading upward to a location above the oasis where a vast frozen tundra where a blizzard is raging. The icy terrain of the tundra as the bison progresses.

Ahead on the ground below Dante in his wolf form sniffs at a path visibly carved in the snow where someone has clearly been trudging along; He found Zuko's trail now he only has to follow it. further ahead Zuko plods through the snow, his face partially covered to protect him from the cold, Aang slung across his back, unconscious, his tattooed arrows still glowing.

In an unknown location in the Spirit World Aang is sitting in a meditating position on a small wooden platform

He looks around at his surroundings which are not that of the oasis of the icy tundra his body was moving across, but a mystical swamp dotted with trees. A large white cane-like bird of some sort flies past. Aang stands, watching the bird and begins wandering about. He sees a figure in the distance sitting beneath wooden entranceway. The figure utters the sound "Ohm". Aang turns his head in the direction of the sound and begins making his way toward the figure. Figure is a monkey-like creature dress as a monk deep in meditation.

"Hello? I'm sorry to disturb you. I just really need to find the Moon and the Ocean Spirits." Aang asked politely.

"Go. Away."The Bamboo Spirit pens one eye to see Aang hasn't moved. "You're still here?"

"Yes, I need -"

The Baboon Spirit who shuts his eyes tightly. Loudly, trying to distract himself. "OHM!"

A firefly suddenly flies past; points at the insect. "Perhaps that thing will help you. Chase it." Aang runs after it. The mystical monkey keeps his eyes shut for a second more before opening one to confirm Aang's departure. He shakes his head and breathes a sigh of relief. "Finally."

Aang chasing the insect throughout the swamp and up a tree. He leaps up and manages to grasp hold of it and is delighted in doing so. As he lands on a tree branch which instantly shrivels up and disappears entirely, causing him to fall. Aang falls into the water. Aang lies on his back in the water, the firefly having escaped his grip. It flies away as he tries to reach it again.

"Come back!"

He stands up and looking down at the dark water, when Roku suddenly appears before Aang in a reflection in the water. "Hello, Aang."

Aang looks at him; surprised. "Roku!"

"Roku, the Water Tribe's under attack. I need to find the Ocean and the Moon Spirits."

Roku physically pops out of the reflection in front of Aang. "The Ocean and the Moon are ancient spirits. They crossed over the Spirit World to the mortal world very near the beginning. There is only one spirit nearby I know of who is old enough to remember."

"Who?"

"The spirit's name is Koh, but he is very dangerous. They call him the Face Stealer." Aang looks horrified upon hearing the being title. "When you speak with him, you must be very careful to show no emotion at all. Not the slightest expression or he will steal your face." Aang looks even more horrified but calmly nods, understanding the situation.

Back in the real world Zuko continues his trek through the icy tundra. Before long he takes a step on the ground where the ice that cracking beneath his feet; his eyes widen in surprise at this as the ice begins to splinter and cave in. His on high alert as he begins running like hell through the snow. Finally the impact of the ice caving in throws him off-balance several feet away and lands roughly in the snow, losing his grip on Aang and kicking up a cloud of snow. The cloud dissipates with Zuko and Aang lying in the snow. Zuko, as he raises his head and looks back at the aftermath of the cave-in, the ground severely disrupted. He then looks forward and spots a cave off in the distance. "Shelter." Drags Aang into the cave and ties him up. Zuko is keeps himself warm with Breath of Fire while Aang remains in the Spirit World.

"I finally have you, but I can't get you home because of this blizzard." He stands up and looks outside the cave. "There's always something. Not that you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a firebending prodigy, and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am."

Meanwhile, back at the invasion, the Fire Nation continues their blitzkrieg. Rhino riders launch fire balls at a rapid pace. Waterbenders counters the incoming tanks. However large siege tank fire chain harpoons into the ice walks and reverse gears to pull the wall down. Once parts of the wall are breached the raiders charged forward with vow of favor in their hearts or the thrill of plunder on their brains. On the lead ship, Iroh and are speaks Zhao about things that he said before.

"I don't need to remind you we have a time limit. If we don't defeat the Water Tribe before the full moon rises, they will be undefeatable."

"I assure you I have everything under control, Iroh. I intend to remove the moon as a factor."

Iroh became shocked."Remove the moon? How?"

Hahn is his Fire Nation disguise appears behind them and points his spear at Zhao. "Admiral Choi! Prepare to meet your fate!" He charges at Zhao, who casually tosses him overboard as he is still screaming. A loud splash is heard, while Iroh shakes his head in disappointment.

Zhao continues as if nothing happened. "As I was saying, years ago I stumble upon a great and powerful secret: the identity of the Moon Spirit's mortal form."

"What?" Iroh asked in bewilderment.

"I was a young lieutenant serving under General Shu in the Earth Kingdom. I discovered a hidden library. Underground, in fact. I tore through scroll after scroll. One of them contained a detailed illustration, and the words "moon" and "ocean". I knew then that these spirits could be found and killed. And that it was my destiny to do so." Zhao says with determination.

"Zhao, the spirits are not to be trifled with!" Iroh warns, somewhat angrily.

"Yes, yes ... I know you fear the spirits, Iroh. I've heard rumors about your journey into the Spirit World. But the Ocean and Moon gave up their immortality to become a part of our world. And now they will face the consequences."

Back in the Spirit World, Aang walks up a giant tree, seeing the entrance to the cave Koh can be found in. in the distance a titanic brown wolf stalks the landscape. Aang stares and slightly steps toward the cave hearing creepy noises. He glances to his left noticing that the noise wasn't coming from the cave. Aang sighs in relief. "You're just a curly tailed blue nose."

The monkey turns its head toward Aang, exposing that he has no face. Aang gasps but soon takes a deep breath and speaks with his and Avatar Roku's voices combined. "Show no fear. Show no emotion at all." Aang steps into the cave with a straight face.

Down the steps Aang heads deeper into the darkness. "Hello? I-I'm looking for a spirit named 'Koh'." As Aang says the spirit's name, some "roots" on the ceiling begin to move. Aang looks around, sensing movement, but sees nothing. Then he sense someone … something behind him. Aang causes his face to become emotionless. Suddenly, a huge wrath-like being draped in a dark tattered cloak covering it's body arcs around Aang and appears in front of his face. The face of Koh is inches away from Aang concealed bay a hood from the outside world. The best way Aang could describe Koh true face up see it. was the words: Vegue, fangs, and shadows.

"Welcome!" Koh creepily, circles Aang to great him.

Aang, who bows with his hands clasped in front of him in a gesture of honor, emotionlessly. "Thank you."

Koh wheels around Aang to look at him from behind. His voice is low and melodic, almost purring. "My old friend, the Avatar. It's been a long time."

"You know me?"

Koh holds up his arm to Aang with his hand shifting into a mad face of a middle-aged, mustached man with thick eyebrows, long mustache, and beard; angrily. "How could I forget you? One of your previous incarnations tried to slay me! Nearly eight or nine hundred years ago."

"I didn't know that. Why did he, or I, try to kill you?" Aang asked confused, yet seriously.

Koh hold his other hand switches to Ummi's scared, sad face. Ummi was the lover of the last Waterbender Avatar. "Oh, it was something about stealing the face of someone you loved." Koh put Ummi's face to Aang cheek to give him a kiss, but seeing the beauty of a woman hasn't changed Aang's expression. Koh then shift his own face under the hood to a baboon's while laughing manically.

"Of course, that's all behind us. Why should I hold a grudge against you for something in a past life? After all, you're a different person now." Koh moves to speak into Aang's ear from behind. "You've come to me ... with a new face … Traitor."

Aang closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to the words into his ear, in the real world, Zuko seeing his breathing.

"Guess we'll be here awhile." Zuko says.

"Don't worry, Prince Zuko can't be getting too far in this weather." Yue reassured Katara.

"I'm not worried they'll get away in the blizzard. I'm worried that they won't." Katara said.

"They're not going to die in this blizzard. If we know anything, it's that Zuko never gives up. They'll survive, and we'll find them."

Back to the Spirit World to Aang's talk with the face stealer, Koh circling loosely around Aang like a mist moving on little cat feet. "It's been a long time since I've added a child's face to my collection." Right hand now face is now that of an owl. "So ... how may I help you?"

"I need to find the moon and the ocean."

"Their spirit names are Tui and La, push and pull. The offspring of Tsukuyomi, the Titan of the Moon and Asherah, the Titaness of the Ocean.And that has been the nature of their relationship for all time."

"Please. Help me find them. An entire culture could be destroyed if I don't get their help."

Koh turns away from Aang his puppet faces return to his original thin grey sinuous hands and fingers. Oooohhhhh, you think you need their help. Actually it's quite the other way round." In an instant, Koh turns and bolts to Aang, stopping just short of the young Avatar; with an angry Eel head with pale green eyes, sharp fangs lining the top and bottom of his mouth face with a secondary jawed maw in the back of the throat. "SOMEONE'S GOING TO KILL THEM!"

Aang closes his eyes briefly before opening them to look at Koh. "What do you mean? How can I find them and protect them?"

"You've already met them, actually." Koh moves to look away to the roof of his dwelling, turning his back on Aang. "Tui and La, your moon and ocean, have always circled each other in an eternal dance. They balance each other, push and pull, life and death, good and evil, yin and yang."

Aang's eyes open wide as he remembers the white and black Koi fish circling each other in the pond and the vision he had of them as they turned into the yin and yang symbol just before he entered the Spirit World. There were right in front of him the whole time.

The koi fish! Aang exclaimed excitedly. Hearing the emotion in Aang's voice, Koh quickly reels around with his eel face ready to bite at the now expressionless face of Aang.

"I must be going now." Aang leaves.

"We'll meet again."

Koh recedes into the shadows as Aang walks out of his cave. Cut to Aang running in front of the tree that is Koh's lair. He stops and talks to the ground. "The spirits are in trouble, I need to get back to the physical world."

Roku's image on the ground. "A friend is here, to guide you back."

Aang turns around to see the giant panda from before. "HeiBai!"

The Panda Spirit groans as Aang jumps onto him and sets off. The spirit groans as Aang jumps onto him and sets off. Back in the physical world all is not well.

Two fireballs hit the city as the Fire Nation continues they attack in a tremdous concentration of Fire Power. Two Water Tribe members fleeing as a tank destroys a totem pole behind them. two Water Tribe members trying to stop a tank. then the Full Moon looming behind the armada of Fire Ships on the Horizon. Two fire navy soldiers move across a ice waterbender drops down to move the bridge back from where the fire navy soldiers came from, taking the soldiers with it.

A waterbender faces off against a tank, submerging the tank in the snow and ice around it. waterbenders attacking fire navy soldiers with shards of ice, who use shields to protect themselves. Pakku who freezes and takes down eight oncoming soldiers. Pakku dodges a fire blast, having become surrounded with tanks and soldiers. Unleashing a wave of water he slices tanks wheels off and freezes soldiers behind him in ice. Pakku lifts himself into the air with water while being fired upon by firebenders. Avoiding the blasts, he knocks the firebenders away using his water cyclone as a wave. to waterbenders sending a tank flying toward Zhao. Some of the snow flew up on to a Firebender soldier beside Zhao, which was meated.

"We'll be following this map to a very special location. And when we get there, we're going fishing." Zhao smirks in satisfaction.

Back in the Spirit World Aang arrives at his starting location and jumps off HeiBai. "This is where I came in, but how do I get back?" he asked. HeiBai stands on his hind legs and sends a beam of energy at Aang, who disappears to the physical world.

"Good riddance." The Baboon Spirit sitting on a rock comments.

HeiBai, having assumed his monstrous form, shoots an intense beam from his mouth at the baboon spirit sending it flying, before reverting to his original form. Basicallyit's his way of says: "SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Aang finally returns to the physical world, "Momo!" Aang walking toward Momo and discovers he is still in spirit form. "Momo. Oh no, where's my body?" Aang looks around until he's

Surrounded by energy and flies into the air, over the tundra toward his body. Katara noticed something coming behind her and she turns around. Aang shoots past overhead to the cave.

"Look, that's gotta be Aang! Yip-yip!"

Aang's spirit entered the cave, filling it with light. Then Aang finally wakes up, attempting to get out of his restraints and noticed Zuko stand nearby.

"Welcome back to the land of the living." Zuko said stoically.

Aang narrows his eyes. "It's good to be back."

Aang airbends Zuko into a wall and propelling himself back out of the cave. Aang wriggling like a worm in an attempt to get away, only to be caught by Zuko.

Zuko pulls Aang up by his collar. "That won't be enough to escape."

"Good." Said a familiar voice causing Zuko look up to see a fist collide with his face knocking him to the ground. Aang was about drop to the ground when hand snatched him by the nap of his shirt. "I hate it when a hunt is easy."

"Dante!" Zuko exclaimed.

"One in the same, Johnny Depp's the name." Dante said.

"How did you find us?" Aang asked.

"I followed my nose. Oh, and Zuko here's some advice. If you really want to slow me down stuff a bomb in my mouth. Destroy the head but it puts me out for a day or two before I'm back in action."

"I'll bear that in mind." Zuko said.

Aang hears a groan and looks up to see Appa and company. "Appa!"

Appa lands and Katara slides off. Dante jumps backwards and Zuko readies himself.

"Here for a rematch?" Zuko asked.

Confidently while countering his fire blasts. "Trust me Zuko, it's not going to be much of a match." Katara uses waterbending to launch Zuko into the air before plummeting him down to the ground, knocking him out.

Katara turns to face Dante who had Aang in his clutches. "Unlike him I would go as easily."

"Release Aang!" Sokka shouts.

"Not without a fight." Dante said and summons rebellion on his back.

Katara furrows and takes a fighting stance, ready to face Dante with the power of the moon giving her more strength. Dante flexes his fingers in his grip of his sword ready to charge on the attack. Then out of the blue Aang speaks up.

"Stop!" Dante lifts Aang up and look at him. "I'll fight you, just leave my friends alone."

Dante glances at him for a moment before he pumps his arm and Aang went flying and landed sliding on the snow. Aang popped his head up and discover that his hands are free. Dante held the rope that bound Aang and dropped it on the ground. Dante readies Rebellion in his hand. Dante charges toward Aang with Rebellion dragging on the ground, kicking up snow behind it. Dante attacks Aang but Aang nimbly evades Dante's fast strikes. He rolls the side and blasts him backwards with airbending. Aang runs to Appa where Katara tosses him his staff. Aang catches it and almost failed to dodge Dante's sword coming at his bald head. The two go blow for blow with strikes, parries and bending. Then Dante strikes the ground with his rebellion sending out a light blue burst of energy that sends out a shockwave and kicking up the snow.

"I think it's time to switch it up." Dante said.

He returns Rebellion to his back. Everyone wondered what he's going to do next and readied for the worst. Dante put his hands together and moves them slowly apart causing the snow in the air to form a single-edged blade made entirely out of ice. This action shocked everyone excepted for Aang who was readied himself for what is to come. Dante then caused the snow to become water as it hovers around behind him like a serpent ready to strike.

"W-W-WHAT!? He's WATERBENDING! How can he do that when he's a FIREBENDER?" Sokka shouted his confusion lit every other time before.

"Thousands of years of practice, trials and errors, and now I'm crazy with it." Dante said to Sokka.

"Thousands of years?" Katara repeated.

"Only the Avatar can bend all four elements!" Sokka retaliated.

"I know. Whatever makes Aang the Avatar, I don't have it. But I wanted to see if it was possible. It wasn't easy but here we are. But anyone who says that its impossible do something that only one person can do CLEARLY has not done the impossible in their life. But I did, many times. And if I had a chance to do it again I would. It is what it is."

Aang realizes something and lowers his guard. "Back on Kyoshi Island you said you were there when the Fire Nation attack the Air Temple."

"I did."

"Then why didn't you protect them?"

"I did!" Dante charged with his waterbending and ice blade.

"You lie! They are all dead because you abandoned them!" Aang rebuked.

Aang blocked his strikes. The battle intensified as the wind howled more. Aang knocked the ice blade out of Dante's hand, forcing him to use Rebellion once again. The two clash in a deadlock with their feet digging into the snow. "Gyatso … Iio … The Mah twins… Airbender brothers and sisters – All dead!" Dante sends out a blast of energy forced Aang backwards. "Countless others butchered!" Dante raised his swords high in the air brought it down on Aang's staff. Aang remembered their faces in life and their bones of them in death, his eyes began to turn red as he was fighting back his pain. "I stood my ground and fought all of them but it was not enough. Each blow to the Fire Nation forces was a blow to Air Nomads. Where were you Aang? You were supposed to protect them! WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU OWN PEOPLE NEEDED YOU? HIDING! TRYING TO PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING YOUR NOT!"

Aang clenched his eyes shut as tears flowed from his down his cheeks. Dante pulled back letting Aang regain his footing. Dante lowered his sword and finally calming down. "You abandoned us all. You are just as guilty as the Fire Nation, and you don't even care."

Aang wipes his tears away and straightens up. "I ... I do care. I'm not going to run anyone. I will stand and fight. But I can't do it alone. I have new friends to help me ..." Dante looks over at Katara Sokka and Yue at Appa. "But I still need help of my old friends also. Like Bumi … and now you." Aang reached his hand out for Dante to take it.

Dante looked at it with a doubtful expression. Even if there is a chance to renew a friendship all Dante could see was the dead Airbends all around him. He remembers walking over their bodies and seeing their faces, the life gone from open eyes. The he stopped and got on his knees and picked up the body of an air nomad child. He cradled her in his arms. He wiped a tear from his cheek and discovered his hand had the child's blood on it. In his way he too felt responsible. If there was more he could do he wished he tried. So with that in mind he wiped the blood on his other cheek, marking himself with the blood of all the innocent that was slain so horribly. So that he will remember this injustice, avenge them, and never forget.

There is a saying: There no innocents in war, only various degrees of guilt.

Dante finally came back to reality and answered Aang. "I'm sorry. But … No … it's too late for me." Dante said depressingly as he walks over to Zuko who is still unconscious. "Go and hope you're not too late." Dante said and knelt beside Zuko.

"We need to get to the oasis; the spirits are in trouble." Aang runs back to Appa and gets ready to take when he looks back at his former captor, Zuko. "Wait, we can't just leave him here."

"Sure we can. Let's go." Sokka says uncaringly.

"No, if we leave him he'll die." Aang airbends himself off Appa and goes over to Zuko; Dante looks up to see Aang. "Come on; let's get him out of here."

Dante smiles, he picks up Zuko and carries him on his back to Appa. "Yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Let's bring the guy who's constantly trying to kill us." Sokka states sarcastically.

Dante had just about enough of Sokka's mouth, he tolerated him when he first encountered him and he was going to nip it in the butt right now. He places Zuko down before turning his attention to Sokka.

"What is your name?" Dante asked.

"My name is Sokka." Sokka answered.

"Well, Sokka … Do you every shut up?" Dante asked.

"Not until I have my fill." Sokka said.

Dante takes out a cloth and quickly stuffs it in Sokka mouth.

"Full now?" Dante asked.

Sokka nods. "Umm-hmm"

"I told before Sokka: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Katara said to her brother. Sokka rolled his eyes as Appa takes off.

Back at the Oasis Lake Tui and La circle each other peacefully. Then Zhao appears and grabs Tui from the water, placing it in a sack. The moon goes red, followed by everything else. the entire city turning red. Pakku, who is still engaged with the Fire Soldiers, loses his waterbending and falls to the ground. a waterbender attempting to waterbend but loses his bending. All of the waterbenders, bending water, too lose their bending. But Fire Nation continues their attack as the tables have turned.

As Appa flies in the sky the Aang in company notice the changes in the sky. Yue grabs her head as if in pain. "Are you okay?" Sokka asked with concern.

"I feel faint." Yue says her discomfort.

"I feel it, too. The Moon Spirit is in trouble." Aang holds his head with one hand as he flies Appa.

Dante pulled off his gloves and rolled up his sleeves to reveal strange glowing symbols appearing in geometric pattern on his hands and arms. Dante knows what is about to happen and starts to do controlled breathing to calm himself down and covers up his arm and puts the gloves back on.

Yue decides confess something that the others does not know. "I owe the Moon Spirit my life." Yue

"What do you mean?" Sokka asked.

"When I was born I was very sick and very weak. Most babies cry when they're born, but I was born as if I was asleep, my eyes closed. Our healers did everything they could. They told my mother and father I was going to die. My father pleaded with the spirits to save me. That night, beneath the full moon, he brought me to the oasis and placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white. I opened my eyes and began to cry, and they knew I would live. That's why my mother named me Yue. For the moon."

Yue looks up at Dante who seems to have sympathy in his eyes.

At the oasis Zhao revels in his victory. "I am ... a legend, now!" Zhao's hand, grasping the bag with Tui in it, down to his head. "The Fire Nation will, for generations, tell stories about the great Zhao, who darkened the moon. They will call me, Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer, Zhao the Invincible!" Just then Momo jumps on top of Zhao's head. "Ugh ... Get it off! Get it off!"

Momo flies away landing on Aang's arm and running to his shoulder, with Dante, Katara and Sokka are behind him. Zhao and his soldiers, readying themselves for battle as the two sides stare down each other.

"Don't bother." Zhao states as he lifts the sack up threatening to kill Tui with his dagger.

Aang drops his airstaff and holds up his hands as the others quickly surrender. "Zhao, don't!"

"It's my destiny, to destroy the moon and the Water Tribe." Zhao says with determination.

"Destroying the moon won't hurt just the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone, including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world." Aang explained.

Dante knew somewhere in the cosmos the Five Chaos Gods: Khorne, Nurgle, Malice, Tzeentch and Slaanesh were getting ready to act on what Aang said.

"He is right Zhao." Iroh said loud enough to hear so Zhao could hear.

Zhao looks calmly to Iroh who stood on one of the bridges. "General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"

Iroh he takes off his hood to reveal himself, and his true colors. "I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon too; we all depend on the balance. So, whatever you do to that spirit I'll unleash on you ten-fold. Let it go, now!" Iroh threatened.

Zhao was not budging. "The Fire Nation is too powerful … to worry about children's supertisitions. General Iroh."

"Commander Zhao, don't." Iroh warned.

"We are now the gods!" Zhao overcomes his hesitation and stabs the fish with his dagger.

"No!" Iroh shouts.

In the shock of Tui's death everyone looks up and sees the moon vanish from the night sky plunging the planet into a great darkness. "You are too soft, General Iroh." Zhao says while dropping Tui back into the water. Zhao looking up until Iroh begins firebending at him. Zhao dodges and counters his firebending while retreating toward his firebending soldiers. They are swiftly defeated as Zhao escapes. Everyone walks over to the pond. Iroh picks up the dead koi fish Tui from the water.

"There's no hope now, it's over." Yue greaves as Sokka comforts her.

With nothing left to lose Aang eyes glow a bluish-white as he enters the Avatar State. "No, it's not over."

Aang enters the water. And stands in a meditative stance as La circles him until he finally stops and looks at Aang; La's eyes and white forehead symbol lights up. then on beat Aang as he descends into the water. The whole oasis lights up as blue lightning-like energy expands from the oasis island into the water. Oasis begins to light up in the same blue color. Katara and the others watched the energy moves to the edge of the oasis, rising up to form a giant amphibious-like creature, facing out toward the sea, with Aang in the center, controlling it.

Fire Nation soldiers in the city looking on at this creature's sudden appearance. Pakku and other Northern Water Tribe members before look to see to see of Aang moving past a river, Fire Nation soldiers on one side, Pakku and his group on the other. The Water Tribe all bow down as the Fire Nation soldiers prepare to attack. Aang, controlling the massive creature, begins to head to the ocean, laying waste to any Fire Nation soldiers on the way.

Elsewhere Zhao who continues to flee for his life only to be attacked by Zuko. "You're alive?" Zhao said with disbelief.

"You tried to have me killed!" Zuko attacks Zhao in anger.

"Yes I did. You're the Blue Spirit, an enemy of the Fire Nation! You freed the Avatar. "I had no choice." Zuko continues his attacks, but they are blocked by Zhao.

"You should have chosen to accept your failure; you're a disgrace. Then, at least, you could have lived!" Zuko and Zhao begin to fight.

Back at the oasis, Iroh places the dead koi fish in the water. "It's too late, it's dead." Katara says in sadly.

Everyone hangs their heads in defeat until Iroh notices Yue, and senses unique. "You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you."

Yue opens her eyes, which seem to faintly glow blue with an otherworldly power. "Yes, you're right. He gave me life as a child." She said.

"Then there is still a chance. You can give your life back for the Spirit's." Iroh said, realizing there is hope.

"Don't listen to him, he's Fire Nation." Sokka tries to see sense.

"Nothing is ever truly lost." Iroh reminds him.

"Is it mine to give back, if I choose?"

"There are reasons each of us are born. We have to find those reasons." Iroh said.

Without any further hesitation Yue stands to do what must be done. "This was the reason I was born."

Sokka stand to take her hand. "Yue, please."

"There is no love without sacrifice." She said.

"You don't know what will happen." Said Sokka.

"I believe my life force will leave my body and return to the Moon Spirit."Yue said.

"And then what?" Sokka asked, fearing the answer.

"Her soul will no longer exist in this form." Dante said monotonously.

"Please don't do this. There must be another way. I can't let you do this. I'm supposed to protect you." Sokka protested.

Yue then turns sharply to Sokka. "My people are dying, Sokka." She states. "Those who are in change of others have a responsibility. It is time we show the Fire Nation we believe in our beliefs as much as they believe in theirs."

"But, Yue …" Sokka protested one last time.

"I'm scared. Do make me any more scared. I will miss you more that you know." Yue gives Sokka a final kiss and enters the pond. She leans back in the water and looks at the stars over head; somewhere her mother is watching her more proud that ever before.

As her life force leaves her to revive the Moon spirit, her white hair turns black. There is a pause in battle when the Moon shines again with it normal glow before it resumes, only this time the Water Tribe is fighting with renewed vigor. Dante carried Yue's lifeless body out of the pond and lays her down on the soft grass on the other side of the pond with the Moon shining on her left side and Tui swimming happily with La again. Distraught, Sokka cries over her lifeless body. Dante couldn't help but remember when he held the body of his mother, the Eva the Angel, in his arms as a child. Mundus may have eaten her heart but her heart was given to her family: Sparda her husband, Dante Vergil, V, her only children. She gave up her life so the four of them could escape. Dante will never forget his mother's sacrifice. And now he will never forget Yue sacrifice either. But there was still someone who is had to pay for this: Zhao. Dante summon rebellion and ran out of the oasis to join the battle, only this time he fighting with the Water Tribe against Fire Nation.

Aang, still fused with the Ocean Spirit, in front of the Water Tribe city ready to face the Fire Navy. Then Aang receives a vision from Fang. He sees both Fang hovering in front of him.

"I'm ready to drive them away them. Lend me everything you have." Aang says with confidence.

Fang leans closer and looks Aang in the eye from out of the darkness. "You are not dealing with the lost of you people, and your responsibility for their deaths. You're angry. You must let this go … As the Avatar, you are not meant to hurt others. Use the ocean. Show them the power of water. Go! Do this Now."

The vision endsand Aang recalls Pakku's earlier lessons: Water teaches us acceptance. Let your emotions flow like water. Then the images of his life with Gyatso and his friends, and then the fateful event where everyone bowed to him but after what he overheard earlier he ran away instead of bowing back. Freeing himself of his guilt at long last, Aang uses the Ocean's power to push a massive body of water up against the fort wall., and with the Moon's power to pull it toward the sky. The battle behind the wall pauses again at the incredible feat of waterbending. The Fire Nation soldiers in the city try to retreat through a breach but it is blocked by the water. Katara Iroh and Sokka, who is carrying Yue stop their walking to see such a awesome sight. Dante in his falcon form was amazed at the awesome power Aang possess. Aang bends the water toward the Fire Nation fleet but keeps it hovering threateningly above them. Knowing that the water could easily crush the fleet, the Fire Nation accepts defeat and turns away. Aang bends the water back into the ocean and watches the fleet retreat. Aang looks up and notices the moon has returned. The Ocean Spirit fades into the water and moves back to the city, dropping Aang off on a wall as he leaves the Avatar State.

At this same time Zuko and Zhao were still fighting on a bridge. Zuko gains the upper hand and Zhao notices the moon has returned. "It can't be!" Then he hears a falcon's cry and looks up to see one come down at him. It transforms back into Dante who delivers a flying kick to Zhao's face sending him to the ground. Dante lands behind him. He looks up to Zuko who looks over the edge down at them.

"I made a promise Zuko. I intend to keep it." Dante said.

Zuko then see Iroh appear behind Zuko. "Come away from him, nephew. There are too many soldiers now. They will never let you take the Avatar. We must leave immediately. He wants to fight you so he can capture you. Walk away." Zuko stands his ground, staring at Zhao with deadly intensity. "Come!" Zuko finally turns away. Iroh looks down at Zhao. "You stand alone. And that has always been your greatest mistake." Iroh turns and leaves with his nephew.

Dante then grabs Zhao by the collar and drags him away like he was a sack of potatoes to the edge of a river. Both the Water Tribe warriors and Fire Nation soldiers watched as Dante threw him across the ice.

"Dante! Let's talk about this." Zhao protested.

"Hmm … Nope." Dante said

Dante grabbed the side of Zhao's head and used waterbending to freeze it Zhao screams until his voice become a death rattle and fell silent. Dante smirked and shattered Zhao's frozen head into thousands of shards. He then used his foot to push him in to the river. Zhao's is consumed by the energy in the shape of a hand and dragged down into the depths of the river where it dissipates.

It is finished; the siege in the north is over and the Water Tribe prevails. The dawn rose finally came and Aang sighed at the rising of the sun. He then hears the crowd cheering him from below. She and Sokka help an exhausted Aang down the stairs into the courtyard. Aang sees the entire Northern Tribe waiting for him. They all kneel and bow before him. The remaining Fire Nation soldiers in the city also bow, in awe of his power, and moved by his show of mercy.

"They want you to be their Avatar, Aang. We all do." Katara said happily.

Katara and Sokka step back and alongside others, including Dante, bow before him. Finally, accepting his role as the Avatar, Aang bows back. They bow to accept him as the Avatar and he bows to accept them as his people to protect the world over.

Afterwards Katara spoke with master Pakku. "I've decide to go to the South Pole. Some other benders and healers want to join me. It's time we helped rebuild our sister tribe."

"What about Aang? He still needs to learn waterbending." She asked.

"Well, then he better get used to calling you Master Katara." Pakku said causing Katara to smile.

Arnook and Sokka while standing on the ledge looking at the moon as it slowly fades to the coming morning. "The spirits gave me a vision when Yue was born. I saw a beautiful, brave, young woman become the Moon Spirit. I knew this day would come." Arnook sighs sadly.

"You must be proud." Sokka says.

"So proud ... and sad." Arnook admits. There is no greater pain that a parent having to bury their own child.

The young perish and the old linger.

On the ocean Zuko and Iroh on a raft floating away from the city.

"I'm surprised Prince Zuko, surprised that you are not at this moment trying to capture the Avatar." Iroh said honestly.

"I'm tired." Zuko admits.

"Then you should rest. A man needs his rest." Iroh reminds him of good advice, which Zuko takes and lies on his back and closes his eyes.

Back in the city Aang looks out on the ledge in the city. Katara stands behind him. He realizes she's there and turns around. They embrace knowing that they have come through a rough storm. They looked down to see Momo chitters in wanting to join in on the love.

"You too, Momo." Katara said happily.

"Come here." Aang said holding his arm up.

Momo leaps on to Aang's shoulders as we see Sokka place his hand on Aang's shoulder. All four of them look out to the ocean and the moon as Appa rises up in front of them with Dante sitting in the saddle.

"Well, Aang you did it, I'm proud of you. You finally became the hero we needed. I guess you have a long journey ahead of you. I'll just get out of your hair." Dante jump off Appa and begins to walk away.

"Hold on, Dante." Aang said.

Dante turned around at Aang's call. "I just wanted to say … thanks."

Dante waved him off casually. "It no problem. I struggle with my personally demons and maybe I should force you to overcome yours."

"But without me knowing how much pain it cause you, how would I ever know. I could I help people if they don't tell me."

"I thought you wouldn't listen." Dante said.

"Well … I did. And I thank you for it." Aang said.

"I should be thank you. You guys including Yue help me see hope in the world and in my life again. I can't ask for anything else like that."

Dante began to walk away until Aang called to him again. "Hey, you don't have to leave. Why don't you come with us?"

Sokka and Katara look at each other. "HIM comes with US?" Sokka asked.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Dante asked with suspicion.

Sokka raises his arms up defensively. "Hey, I'm just saying, you were our enemy, and now we are recruiting just like that?"

Dante figured it would come to a head at some point so he decided to come explain his POV. "Look I know you all have your doubts." Dante said. "I would doubt myself at times. But I decided that now it was good enough a time for me to go rogue. The Fire Lord and I aren't the best of friends. I want to take him out. And I realize this was the best way to do it. Look, we fought a lot upon your reawaking in the Southern Water Tribe. But I would have it any other way. Someone I know once said: Honest conflict has more social value than dishonest harmony. And the most honest thing I can do is take responsibility when I'm wrong and kick the ass of those who are, like Ozai. And frankly that's all I can say. Take it or leave."

Aang look at Katara and Sokka for their approval. Katara and Sokka though for a few moments before giving their approval. "You were Aang's friend from a hundred years ago. He doesn't have that many besides Bumi. I'm fine if you come with us. But don't try any fun business." Sokka warned with his pointer in his face.

"Happy to help, and if you get your finger out of my face I wouldn't break it on reflex." Dante said with a smile. Sokka pulled his finger back quickly. He won't admit it but Dante is one scary son of a bitch when he wants to be.

Aang ran over and hugged Dante. "It's nice to have you back buddy."

Dante froze a little bit and looked down at Aang. "Umm … Yeah. It's nice to be friends again." Dante patted Aang's back. "I'm giving you the 'hugs over' pat."Dante said. Aang didn't let go and Momo climbed on Dante's back and rested his head on top of his head. At this point Dante had nothing to but take out a gourd of that had rum in it and took a swig while he waited the hug out. Then the spirit of Fang appears in front of them.

"At last you have found a purpose again. There is nothing more I can teach you."

"I struggled for a long time. I'm still dealing with my pain and failures. But I learn from them. I'm always learning something new … or relearning something I forgot. Thanks." Dante said.

"I'll be around when you have need of me. Until then, have faith!" Fang takes off into the and out of sight.

In the Fire Nation Ozai received word that the siege as well as other details. So to fix this he directs his daughter Azula who kneels before him with a new mission. "Our forces in the Northern Water Tribe have failed to take the city. General Zhao was killed in battle, Lord Dante has vanished and my brother has become a traitor. My son's proven himself a failure. Now, Sozin's Comet is returning in three years. It will empower all firebenders bending a hundred-fold. That is the day we will win this war and prove the Fire Nation's dominance. Now you must stop the Avatar from mastering earth and fire. You must give us the time to get to that day." Ozai turns to his loving daughter. "Do you accept this unspeakably important task I'm putting in your hands?"

Azula raises her head and smiles as her golden eyes shimmer in the sunlight. "I do, Father."

Author's Notes: Holy Christ this is something, but I got it done. I started doing because this someone pointed out that there was no Book One. So I pondered on the issue and came to the decision to do a one shot of Book One of the two part Episode of Siege of the North. Since I enjoyed as a kid I decided to go back and do it. But in this story I want to present Reboot Dante as in this as antagonist. Sometimes the best characters are the one who are villains, or villains who become heroes later on in the story. These are flawed characters especially protagonists who have to overcome their own obstacles. For this story Dante, after one-hundred years of non-stop, bloody warfare, and loss Dante begin to become cynical in a harsh way. It doesn't help that Ozai is Fire Lord does it. But of it was the need to find hope, to find something to fight for. Believe his friend Aang dead was not an easy thing, coupled with the fact Air Nomad genocide it was amazing he didn't tear his own brain out.

Ask me anything about this and other things within the lore or what else.

Until then. ;3