Avatar The Last Airbender - BOOK 3: FIRE - DmC Definitive Edition

by VLFBERHTwolf

Having survived the terrible battle with Azula, Aang faces new challenges as he and his brave friends secretly enter the Fire Nation. Along the way they meet the brave souls of Atreus Jötunn/God and Aisling the fairy, Mimir the head, the dwarfs Brokk and Sindri and the infamous Ivar the Boneless while preparing for the Day of Black Sun.

4. Chapter 4

BOOK 3: FIRE

CHAPTER 4: NEW BEGINNINGS

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PART 1: Sokka's Master

The night sky was alive with sights of stars, distant galaxies, and a meteor shower. On the side of a hill with Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka Dante, Valen, Atreus and Mimir watched the meteor shower.

"Wow, this is amazing to watch." Katara said with amazement.

"Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are." Sokka said.

Toph shrugs causally "Eh, you've seen nothing once; you've seen it a thousand times."

"Mimir, Valen said something about being from another world. Where is that world?" Katara asked.

"You're looking up at it, lass." Valen said as he pointed his cane to the sky. "Somewhere our homeworld, a distant and beautiful planet."

"There are other worlds in the stars?" Aang asked.

"Indeed, lad."

"Do humans live there?"

"Some live there but there are many other strange, new and fantastic looking people and cultures."

With that in mind, Katara turned to Dante. "So, Dante what you told me in Omashu, about you being born in the fire Nation, wasn't the truth."

Dante had expected Katara to it up after the whole thing with discovering Ivar the Boneless. He breathed though his nose before speaking. "I didn't lie about me and my brother's upbringing, just the location. Where are all from is our business. Doesn't change the now."

"Are you kidding you're. You're all from another world! And there is life out there. This changes everything we know about the sky we are looking at."

"Yeah. That there is not woman up there that wants to fuck you either, Sokka." Griffon Jabbed.

"Shut up, Griffon." Sokka retorted.

Dante smirked. "It's like Toph said: 'you've seen nothing once, you've seen it a thousand times.'

Suddenly they see a big meteor heading for the ground and let out gasps of amazement.

Sokka stands up. "Oh man, you've never not seen anything like this."

The others, minus Toph, stand up next to him. The meteor roars past the group in all it fiery glory. Sokka turns to see the meteor crash nearby to the other side of a hill as Toph climbs up. She felt the power of the impact through the earth the group looking toward the crash site with concern and immediately hopped on Appa. The team arrives at the crash site on Appa to discover that the impact has indeed created an blaze of fire.

"The fire is gonna destroy that town!" Katara stated

"Not if we can stop it!" Aang said.

Everyone but Katara and Atreus jumps off. She takes a quick look of the situation before jumping onto Appa's head to take the reins. "There's a creek over here. I'll bend the water onto the fire." She signals Appa to take off.

"Toph, let's make a trench to stop the fire from coming any closer." Aang says.

"I'll keep the fire from spreading." Dante added.

As the three move off to the task Sokka looks down. "What should I do?" he asked.

Toph and Aang stop to respond after a slight pause. Momo flies by and Aang points at Momo. "Keep an eye on Momo."

The three move on as Momo lands on Sokka shoulder. "So what, I'm just a lemur sitter?" Sokka pets Momo; sarcastically and in defeat. "There, there, feel better?"

Aang and Toph as they begin to earthbend a trench. Briefly cut back to Aang and Toph continuing to earthbend. As soon as they finish the trench Dante used Firebending to pushing the fire back, technique that was taught to students to suppress wildfires. Sokka sees the flames fly near him and land on the ground promptly puts out one with his machete, however Momo ups him by putting out five in the same time, much to his dismay. Cut to Katara on Appa flying over a river. Katara grabs some water and they return to the crash site. Cut to side-view of Katara, on Appa, with a large globule of water following behind. Katara begins to waterbend the water behind her. Sokka and Momo look on while Katara puts out some of the fire with her waterbending and Atreus uses his Frost Axe to extinguish the rest. Cut to Toph uses earthbending to put some of the fire out on her end. Sokka just sits, watching, along with Momo as the earth Toph is using rolls past. Aang as Appa flies past with Katara. Katara gives Aang some water to bend. Waterbending and airbending to put the rest of the fire out, but the water hits Sokka and Aang's blast also makes it snow.

"Sokka, stand clear!" Aang remind his friend.

"Right." Sokka sighs and picks up Momo and makes to move away. "Staying clear, got it."

Aang as he begins to use both the water and airbending. Sokka still walking away as the water overwhelms him. The water expands to put out the fire. The dome of water explodes into snow. Cut to Aang as Appa, along with Katara, lands behind him as Toph, Dante and Atreus walks toward him, too.

"Good work, everybody." Aang said a word of praise.

Sokka as he emerges from a pile of snow. Momo slides across the icy surface. he may not have did much but t least he was alive.

…

In the Fire Nation Capital Prison where Iroh still remains in his cell, alone with only the rats to keep him company; just then the door to his cell opens, lighting up the face of Iroh.Warden Poon enters the room and approaches the the bowl lands on the ground which is kicked into the cell by Poon the bowl which tips over and the contents spill out. Iroh approaches hurriedly and eats it like an animal.

"Look at you; you're just a fat, disgusting old man. You do nothing, you say nothing, you just eat and roll around in your own filth like a pig. You're a disgrace." Warden Poon spits on the floor in front of Iroh and leaves.

As the cell door shuts Iroh as he stops eating. He smiles and moves his hair out of his face. He sits up and starts eating like a normal person, not eating anything from the floor. He definitely has something in mind but for now he must play the fool in the jail cell.

Warden Poon walks down the hallway passing Princess Azula who was sitting in a chair. The warden asked if the princess should she need any body guards when visiting a particularly hostile prisoner. Azula declined that she could take care of herself.

"Colonel Xion. You asked me to come visit you and after days of considering what you could want I decided to pay you a visit." Princess Azula spoke with her usually prideful tone.

Colonel Xion expression was calm and as she placed what she was working on in a leather folder and stood up from her seat and walked to the bars of her cell.

Azula eyes it curiously. "What is that? A plea to my father? You know that would take . . ."

"Did you know you have gifted way of speaking?" Colonel Xion said abruptly. "Could kill someone with you words, very easily."

"Of course I do. I am royalty." Azula stated.

"No, you're not." Colonel Xion retorted stoically.

"Oh, I'm sorry? Remind me who is currently inside the cell for being a traitor." Azula said with irony.

"Without traitors, there would be no loyalists." Colonel Xion.

"Do you have anything to show me or are we just got to make pointless conversation?" Azula asked already exhausted from talking to the incarcerated cannibal.

"Here." Colonel Xion handed Azula the leather folder.

"What is this?"

"My gift to both the Prince and you. Individual sketches of the two of you."

"And that's it, Xion?"

"That's all I can give, Azula."

Azula opened the folder to reveal the first sketch was of her. Azula expected a drawing made a former enemy o a tasteless drawing with exaggerated features, but no, this drawing of her professionally done. Azula in the picture was sitting in looking rather majestic with a calm expression as she observing what appeared to a shining stone, most likely a diamond.

"Well … this is … unexpected. Thank you." Azula with strangely genuine gratitude for the gift she had received.

"To and your brother, you're welcome." Xion said before turned back to her desk. As Azula left out of the prison wing, Colonel Xion sighed and lay back on her bed knowing that what she gave Azula and Zuko will mostly likely change them in some way or form.

…

Back in the town Team Avatar saved they decided to eat at a outdoor restaurant. Aang joins the others at a table.

"These people have no idea how close they were to getting toasted last night." Aang said.

"Yeah, the worst thing about being in disguise is that we don't get the hero worship anymore. I miss the love." Toph grumped.

"The sight of burning corpses always makes me lose my appetite for a half-hour or so." Atreus said and ate some noodles.

"Boo-hoo, poor heroes."Sokka laments sarcastically.

Sokka with the others sat further behind him

"What's your problem? You haven't even touched your smoked sea slug." Katara asked her brother.

Sokka continued his mope as he spoke. "It's just, all you guys can do this awesome bending and powers and magically weapons and summon supernatural animals and stuff like putting out forest fires, and flying around and making other stuff fly around. I can't fly around, okay? I can't do anything."

"That's not true. No one can read a map like you." Katara said to cheer him up.

"I can't read at all!" Toph, the visual challenged, added.

"Yeah, and who keeps us laughing with sarcastic comments all the time? I mean, look at how long Katara's and Dante's hair is, right? What's up with that?" Aang pointed out from example.

Katara blushes while Dante takes one of his long chest-length strands and looks at it. "What? What's wrong with our hair?" she asked.

Aang realizing his mistake and shakes his head. "Nothing. I was just trying to ..."

"Look, I appreciate the effort, but the fact is each of you is so amazing and so special and I'm ... not. I'm just the guy in the group who's regular."

"There no need to fret, lad. Look at me – look how useless I am. I a HEAD" Mimir added.

Sokka noticed and realized that Mimir did have it worst. "Yeah, but your super smart who can remember a whole bunch of stuff from the past and can tell great stories."

Katara approaches and sits next to him. "I'm sorry you're feeling so down, but I hope you know, none of us see you that way." Katara looks down for a moment deep in thought before putting her hand on his shoulder with an idea. "I know something that's going to make you feel better."

"You do?" Sokka saidsadly.

Team Avatar took their pal Sokka to a shop full of weapons and armor.

"Shopping!" Sokka claps excitedly and runs off into the store. He approaches to view some weapons eagerly. "Maybe a little something to reinvigorate my battling." He quickly pots some nunchaku. "Hey, how about these?" Sokka tests the nunchaku, making attacking noises, but he hits himself in the crouch and falls into some of the other weapons.

"FATALITY." Dante said in a deep voice.

Katara trying on some gloves consider how effective it would be in protecting her hand in a fight. Aang then gets her attention. "What do you think?" Aang is now wearing a strange, scary armor. "Pretty slick, huh?" Katara has a scared and surprised expression before approaching Aang, holding a hand up to avoid the glare coming off Aang's helmet. "All I need to complete the outfit is a wind sword."

"What's a wind sword?" Katara asked.

"It's where I get a sword handle and then I just swing this around and bend air out like a blade." Raises a sword handle, swishing it around like a sword. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

"Yeah ... nice." Katara replied unconvincingly.

Aang begins to fall over. Katara tries to stop him from falling, but Aang and the armor fall to the floor with a loud noise, causing Katara to cover her ears.

"I'll just stick to what I got." Aang sighed.

"The Chi is with your Aang. But you're not ready so that type of weapon." Valen commented as he observed some spears.

Sokka observes a guan dao. He swings it to one side, swings it over his head and spins it in a circle. The weapon flies up toward the ceiling and Sokka puts his hands behind his back, innocently. Next, Sokka dragged an enormous, metal club across the floor. He groans as he tries to lift it, but loses his grip and falls. Sokka is next seen holding two swords. He marches and chops downward with them. After that, Sokka spins a chain over his head, but he wraps the chain around himself and falls over. Sokka then is running, carrying a very wobbly spear. Sokka then walked up into the frame inspecting a sai, before using it as a toothpick. At that moment, something to his left gets his attention. Sokka turns to look as sees a sword rack on the wall, and a particular sword framed and positioned above the others.

"Ooh!" Sokka walks to the sword inspecting it. "That's what Sokka's talking about."

The weapons store shopkeeper approaches Sokka. "You have a good eye. That's an original from Piandao, Katara, Toph, Aang Dante, Atreus and V approach as the shopkeeper continues. "The greatest swordsmaster and sword maker in Fire Nation history. He lives in the big castle up the road from here." The shopkeeper walks away leaving Sokka with his thoughts.

Aang snaps his fingers in realization. "That's it! That's what you needed all along, Sokka."

"A sword?" Sokka guesses.

"Not the sword, a master. We've all had masters to help us get better. You should see if you can study with Piandao." Aang said.

Katara nods in agreement. "That's a great idea. I could've never gotten to where I am without Master Pakku. Everyone needs a teacher."

"I learned from badgermoles. They don't talk, but they're still good teachers."

Sokka takes the sword from the rack. "It would be nice to be a master sword fighter. All right, I'll talk to him."

…

Back in the prison Iroh where is held lying on his back on straw mat in the corner, hands behind his head. He realizes that he now has a lot of time on his hands. With that in mind his eyes open wider as he begins to do a series of sit ups, grunting as he does so. He was planning on something but to reach he needs to regain his strength. For he knows the clock is ticking and he must prepare himself.

…

Elsewhere Team Avatar stands before the gates of Piandao's majestic castle, located on top of a large grabs a knocker and taps it against the large door a few times. He waits a moment and looks around, but there is no answer. Sokka knocks the door and waits again. Still receiving no answer, Sokka becomes frustrated and grabs both knockers, banging them loudly and frantically. The right door is opened by the butler, known only as Fat, frightened Sokka.

Fat looks at Sokka little annoyed with his excessive knocking. "I heard you the first knock. Can I help you?"

Sokka still looking frightened, quickly composes himself and assumes a more mannered persona. "I've come to train with the master."

"You should know The Master turns almost everyone away." Fat holds hand out in front of Sokka. "What did you bring him to prove your worth?"

"Well, uhh ..." Sokka feels around, patting his clothes for something to offer.

"Right ... another village cracker." Fat shakes head sadly. "Let's get this over with."

Fat gestures for Sokka to enter. Sokka steps through the gate and Fat closes the door, Sokka and Fat walk toward the main structure of the castle, the tallest tower. In a large room with a red carpet and tall windows, giving a view of the valley. Rows of lit candles are places on both sides of the windows. The man known as Piandao sits at a small table in front of the windows, his back to the door. He has dark skin and wears a black cheongsam. Cut to a close-up of Piandao's hand holding a calligraphy brush and dipping it into a tray of ink, carefully holding his sleeve with the other hand. Sokka and Fat are standing behind him some distance.

"Master, my name is Sokka, and I wish to be instructed in the way of the sword." Sokka introduces himself.

Piandao, who remains silent and with his back toward Sokka, continues to his calligraphy of a complex character in the Fire Nation language. Sokka stood there waiting, easily annoyed by this but he will do whatever it takes to learn from the master. At last Piandao finished his painting and laid his brush to the side and stare at the work he created.

"Sokka." Piandao finally spoke, repeating the alien name. "That's an unusual name."

Sokka becomes nervous in Piandao statement. "Oh, uh, really, uh where I come from, the Fire Nation colonies, it's a pretty normal name ... for Fire Nation colonials."

"Not really. Let me guess. You've come hundreds of miles from your little village where you're the best swordsman in town. And you think you deserve to learn from the master." Piandao replied dryly.

"Well, actually, I've been all over the world." Sokka replied.

"Yep, here we go." Piandao sighs exhaustingly.

Gets down on his knees and hangs his head. "And I know one thing for sure: I have a lot to learn."

Piandao glancing back at the young man, "You're not doing a very good job of selling yourself." he said.

"I know. Your butler told me that when I met you, I would have to prove my worth. But the truth is I have nothing ... and I don't know if I am worthy." Sokka says honestly.

"Hm, I see." Piandao Smiles and turns his head. his sword; the sword to back to slowly rise into the air and float over into Piandao's hand. "Well, then, let's find out together how worthy you are."

Sokka looks up as Piandao's shadow passes over him. Piandao's sword's scabbard strikes the floor of the red carpet standing before Sokka, sword firmly planted before him.

"I will train you." Piandao states causinga huge smile spreading across Sokka face.

Sokka and Piandao stood in a sword fighting ring in front of the building. Sokka is wearing an almost identical outfit to Piandao's."The first thing you must learn is that your weapon is also a tool and not a toy. To show respect for it is to show respect for you. Also to note is that is also an extension of yourself." Piandao unsheathes his sword and begins performing a sword form. "You must think of it as another part of your own body."

"Like a second head." Sokka said.

"Well, that is an interesting analogy, but more like an extra-long, really sharp arm. The sword is a simple tool, but in the hands of a master it becomes the most versatile of weapons, and just as the imagination is limitless, so too are the possibilities of the sword."Piandao sheathes his sword and assumes a stance.

Sokka smiling in amazement before he nods his head in understanding. outside the castle to the rest of Team Avatar lying on their back in the countryside while Appa is sleeping under the makeshift roof.

"What should we do today ?" Aang asked.

"I'm tapped out. I already picked my toes, twice." Toph said.

"Twice?"

Toph wiggles her toes. "The first time was for cleaning, but the second time's just for the sweet picking sensation!"

Katara began to scratch her hair. "Sokka's been in charge of the schedule. I'm not sure what we should be doing."

"Plus, it's so hot today." Toph added while picking her nose.

"How hot is it?" Aang asked.

"I dunno. Real hot ?" Toph replied.

Katara decides to lighten the mood by attempting to tell a joke "I-It's so hot, it's so hot ... Momo is shedding like Appa." Katara pets Momo and flicks tufts of fur from her fingers. "Huh, huh ?"

Aang scratches his head and Katara's joke receives no laughs from anyone, leaving her disappointed.

"I guess the jokes don't run in the family." Aang said.

"Oh, everyone's a critic." Katara concluded.

Appa grunts in response. At least someone agrees. But some are too busy to care. Atreus slept under a tree, Valen was reading and Dante was off in the field practicing his swordsmanship with his blade, Temüjin.

Back in the castle Piandao and Sokka standing in front of a table that is calligraphy stationary.

"The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid." Flattens out a piece of paper on the table. "The first you will learn is calligraphy." Piandao delicately hands a brush to Sokka, who takes it, messing the bristles up with his thumb. "Write your name." Piandao instructed.

"Writing my name will make me a better swordsman ?" Sokka asked with skepticism.

Piandao takes the brush and positions it correctly in Sokka's hand. "When you write your name, you stamp the paper with your identity. You must learn to use your sword to stamp your identity on a battlefield." Sokka holds his sleeve back. Sokka dips the brush in to the ink. Sokka readies himself to paint as Piandao looks on. "Remember, you cannot take back a stroke of the brush, or a stroke of the sword."

Sokka's hand quivers and he sweats nervously, the brush barely an inch above the paper. He scratches his head and places the tip of the brush on his chin, thinking hard about what to do.

"You are getting ink on your face." Piandao points out.

"I am?" Sokka looks at the brush before he gets an idea. "I am! So this is about putting my identity on the page, right?"

Piandao nods. Sokka smiles as he proceeds to brush the ink over his face; Sokka presses his face onto the paper and rolls his head around. Once finished Sokka picks up the paper and shows it to Piandao, smiling cheerfully. On the paper is a large inkblot which vaguely resembles a face. Piandao simply closes his eyes in response. It is what it is.

Now, Sokka and Fat facing off in the sword fighting ring, both wearing training equipment and holding wooden swords. Piandao sits at the top of the steps leading to the building, watching. Fat wipes his nose as he waits for Sokka to make a move. Sokka he lunges at Fat and thrusts his sword; Fat effortlessly parries the attack and knocks the sword from Sokka's hands. Sokka runs away in fright and Fat chases after, whacking him in the rear with the wooden sword. Dante, Valen and Atreus sit on the wall watching Sokka's training, with a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment seeing Sokka run for his life in a non-lethal practice match.

Afterwards Piandao guides Sokka blindfolded through the countryside. "Landscape painting teaches a warrior to hold the lay of the land in his mind." Piandao stops Sokka, turns him to face left, and pulls off the blindfold. "In battle, you only have an instant to take everything in." Sokka rubbed his eyes. Before they grow wide and he smiles with excitement and amazement at what lies before before them is a majestic view of a mighty river flowing into a series of waterfalls that drop into a canyon. Piandao suddenly grabs Sokka's head and turns him away, making him sit in front of a table with a piece of paper, paint, and paint brushes. "Now, paint it." Sokka, who gasps in disbelief at the fact that he forgot what he just saw. Slyly, he tries to turn to look at the waterfall, but Piandao turns his head back. "And no peeking."Piandao walks away as Sokka takes a brush and begins to paint the intricate view.

"I'm finished!" Sokka announces to his master.

Piandao opens his eyes from a silent meditationand looks at Sokka. Sokka presenting a very childish and colorful drawing of the landscape, which bears little resemblance, including a rainbow and a sun with a smiling face.

"You added a rainbow." Piandao pointed out.

"Is that ok ay?"Sokka asked worriedly.

Piandao sighs and shakes his head. Back in the main building of the castle Sokka and Fat in the sword fighting ring with the training gear. Sokka thrusts forward and he and Fat begin their practice fight. Sokka fares much better than before. Frontal view as he grunts as he parries a strike and attempts to swing his wooden sword down, but is distracted … by a butterfly.

"Sokka." Piandao says to remind his student to focus. Sokka looks over to Piandao, giving Fat the opportunity to circle behind him and kick him in the back, causing a slightly painful fall to the ground. "Concentrate on what you're doing."

Sokka, who frowns and drops his head, giving Piandao a half-hearted thumbs up. Later, Sokka and Piandao walking to the top of a stairway leading down to an empty, tiled area. A small statue of a lion turtle stands before them while a Rock garden lies behind it. "Rock gardening teaches the warrior to manipulate his surroundings and use them to his advantage."

He places a hand on his chin and thinks carefully. "Hm, manipulate them to my advantage ... oh!"

Piandao watches as Sokka runs down the steps. A look of worry comes over him as Sokka rolled a huge stone across the ground groaning at the strain of it. Sokka sees a sheet of moss lying on a rock and examines its texture before taking it and running back to the other side of the area. Sokka throws the moss on the huge stone and lays down on it, sighing in relaxation. Sokka lying on the easy chair he made from rocks and moss, expressing his content. Fat walked up from behind Piandao, suddenly gasps in shock of stones scattered all over the tiled floor, creating a mess. Sokka waves at Fat.

"Hey, would you mind grabbing a cold drink for me ?"

Fat gasps and turns to Piandao who only says: "I'll take a slice of lemon in mine, please."

Fat groans in resignation, hangs his head, and walks off to fetch the drinks. Once again Sokka and Fat dueling in the sword fighting ring again, Piandao sits on high observing the duel. Sokka and Fat thrust and parry a few strikes. Sokka swings his sword in a circle and tries to hit Fat's leg, but Fat pulls his leg up and he avoids the attack. Then, Fat swings his sword and Sokka parries it. Sokka returns the strike and is also parried. Sokka continues his offense with four quick thrusts. Fat blocks all the attacks and tries to attack Sokka. He misses, and Sokka uses this opportunity to slip the blade of his wooden sword under Fat's hand and fling the wooden sword from it. Fat is shocked and raises his hands in defeat as Sokka thrusts his sword forward and places the blade on the side of Fat's neck, ending the duel. Sokka steps away from Fat, puts his hands together and bows to Piandao, while Fat frowns angrily at him. Piandao sipping a drink from a cup with a slice of lemon stuck on it. He sees improvement.

…

Over the land at the Fire Nation prison inside of Iroh's cell Iroh doing push-ups on his knuckles, clapping his hands together at the apex of each push. Warden Poon sitting and eating a piece of bread. He hears the clapping and goes to investigate. Warden Poon walked toward the door to Iroh's cell to open sliding panel to looking in through the barred window in the door.

"What's going on in there ?" Warden Poon demanded to know what the entire ruckus was about. The only thing Warden Poon saw was Iroh sitting against the wall and lazily clapping his hands side to side with a delirious expression. The warden was not surprised. "Crazy old man."

Warden Poon leaves and Iroh, clapped a few more times and smiles when he is sure the warden is gone, ceasing his clapping and pushing back the stray hair hanging over his face.

All is going according to plan.

…

Across the country at the Team Avatar's campsite near the river, things are as one could say: 'Going at a snail's pace.' are the better words.

"So where are we going next ?" Atreus asked as he studied the map with the rest. "We're starting from here ..."

Aang Pointed at a different spot. "No, we're over on this island."

"You noodle-brains don't know what you're doing. I miss Sokka." Toph admitted while lying down.

"Ooh, I got one: if you miss him so much, why don't you marry him ?" Katara teased.

Katara grins at her own joke. Toph rolls over on her side, away from Katara. Strangely she did not come up with a retort to object idea of marrying Sokka. But it's too earlier to tell and Toph on several boys, some of which are part of their team. But only she can truly tell. A winged insect buzzes in front of Aang, who simply blows it away with a quick blast of wind from his breath.

"Perhaps, we should wait for the master of the map to return to us." Valen said as he lies on his back and watched the clouds roll on by.

"I'm with you, V. it the only thing we can do, methinks." Mimir added.

Back in the castle the day is done and it was time for a report. Piandao and Sokka sat in the dueling ring.

"You've had a good first day of training." Piandao congratulated his student.

Sokka was surprised by his master response. "I have ? But I thought I messed up every single thing we worked on!"

"You did. But you messed things up in a very special way. A true swordsman is not perfect in their beginnings. You are ready for a real sword."

"Are you giving me one of yours ?" Sokka asked excitedly.

"No." Piandao simply stated.

Sokka groans disappointedly and slumps down.

"Your sword must be an extension of yourself. So tomorrow, you will make your own sword." Piandao explained.

Sokka immediately perks up and grins. Piandao and Sokka enter a the forge where a rack of swords and other weapons are hung all about the room. The two stand at a table with several of steel ingots.

Piandao points the materials. "Choosing the correct material is the most important step in crafting a must trust your steel with your life. Choose carefully."

Sokka takes two bricks and weighs them in each hand. Sokka sets them down and takes another brick. He sniffs it and bites the brick to test its quality. Sokka puts the brick down and puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully. An idea comes to his mind and he turns to Piandao.

"Master, would it be possible for me to leave and bring back a special material for my sword ?" Sokka asked.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Piandao said with great approval.

At night Aang, Katara, Toph, Dante, Valen, Atreus and Appa all were asleep and sitting around the map as they were before. Toph suddenly sits up as she sensed familiar movement.

"Sokka's coming!"Toph shout excitedly.

"Hey, guys. What are you doing ?" Sokka greeted everyone as he entered the campsite.

Aang, Katara, and Toph all jump at Sokka and give him a group hug while Dante Valen and Atreus give Sokka pats on the back.

"You're back!"

"Sokka!"

"We missed you so much!"

"Say something funny!"

Sokka becomes confused. Funny how ?

Aang and Katara both laugh heartily like lunatics. Toph smiles and crosses her arms.

Sokka leans over to where Toph and Dante are standing. "What's their deal ?" he asked.

Toph nonchalantly shrugs. "I don't know. They missed you or something. I didn't care." she then turns away, blushing and smiling.

"I said it before and I say it again: You are a son-of-a-bitch." Griffon stated bluntly.

Sokka frowned for a moment before smiling. "Aaaannnd?"

"Nothing else. You are a son-of-a-bitch." griffon repeated. Valen then clears his throat causing Griffon to roll his eyes and come clean. ". . . but it is nice to see you back after just one day with the these weirdoes."

"Thanks. That warms my heart. Anyway, I need some help." Sokka gets to the point.

"I miss that when it seems that Sokka wants to say 'hi' when actually he just wants something from us." Dante commented.

Sokka points a finger at Dante in agreement. "Normally, yes. But this time I need something that none of you can give." The gang running over to the edge of the crater created the night they stare at the meteorite at the bottom of the crater. From then on everyone pushed the meteorite up the slope to Piandao's castle. Toph is behind the meteorite, pushing it forward with her earthbending. When the group arrives with the meteorite at the large doors Sokka runs to the doors and bangs both knockers frantically. Piandao opens one of the doors almost immediately and steps out.

"Who's this ?" he asked.

"Oh, these are my friends. Just other good Fire Nation folks. They bow to Piandao, who bows back. They show the meteorite and Sokka turns to his master. "Do you think we can make a sword out of a meteorite ?" he asked.

Piandao lays his hand on the meteorite and examines it, thoroughly. "We'll make a sword unlike any other in the world." Piandao declared.

The Create of Sokka's sword begins in a fiery forge. Sokka stands bare-chested and shoveling coal into it, to Piandao and Fat carry a large sledge hammer. Sokka held a chisel against the meteorite while Fat hammers it as Piandao watching in the back. Sokka then taps the chisel with a smaller hammer. A piece of the meteorite breaks off and falls to the floor. Sokka takes a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow before picking up and put it in a wooden bucket filled with the other meteorite fragments that were chiseled off. Fat takes the bucket and he brings it over to the forge. Sokka is works the bellows diligently. Katara and Aang peer in at Sokka from around the corner. Dante, Valen and Atreus observe Sokka's work.

"The lad is working very hard." Mimir commented.

"That is because he is very serious about this." Dante stated.

"Has he ever been this serious about something?" Atreus asked.

Dante nods in confirmation. "Up at the Northern Watertribe. Sokka meet someone chief's daughter. The two really liked each other, despite the fact she was engaged to another. Sokka became jealous. When the fire Nation closed in on the North Pole Sokka became protective of her. But in the end she gave up her life to protect him and her people. Sokka believed he failed. I believe he succeeded. Nobody puts forth that much effort into something for nothing, he loved her. But she was more mature than him given who she is and the circumstances that shaped her life before their meeting. There we never meant to be. But h gave it his all."

"And it seems he's doing it again for the proof of worth to himself." Valen said.

"So it seems. But hopeful this sword his making may given some purpose" Dante added.

"Nothing is guaranteed brother. We can only hope for the best, brother." Mimir added.

"Yeah … But I for one want him to succeed." Dante stated with an upward inflection.

"Aye, brother. Aye." Mimir concluded.

The bucket sits in the fires of the forge Sokka holding his legs to his chest, asleep. He wakes up and looks behind him at the forge. He stands up and resumes shoveling in coal. The camera zooms out to show Piandao observing Sokka from outside. The bucket being pulled from the forge by Sokka with iron tongs. He carefully positions the liquid space metal over a mold of a blade and pours it in. The red hot metal is hammered against a stone. Piandao as he raises the hot blade and looks carefully at it before he finally walks over to a trough of water and dips the blade in. The blade makes the water bubble and boil as it hisses and cools, turning black. It is finished. Sokka is seated in front of Piandao. The rest of Team Avatar sits behind Sokka while Fat stands behind Piandao, holding Sokka's sword.

"Sokka, when you first arrived, you were so unsure. You even seemed down on yourself. But I saw something in you right away. I saw a heart as strong as a lion, and twice as big. And as we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me." Fat kneels to Piandao and gives him the sword. "No, it certainly wasn't your skills. You showed something beyond that." Piandao unsheathes the sword, showing its black blade as he strikes out to the side. "Creativity, versatility, intelligence ... these are the traits that define a great swordsman ... And these are the traits that define you." Piandao as he sheathes the sword kneels and presents the sword to Sokka, who takes it. "You told me you didn't know if you were worthy, Piandao he stands up after the gift was given. "But I believe that you are more worthy than any man I have ever trained."

With the sword in his hands and words of praise echoing in his ears, Sokka as he lowers his head, in shame; he finally got what he wanted but he had lied to his teacher. A man who was hailed as the greatest swordsman and swordsmith in the world took time out of his busy schedule teaches him the ways of the sword. Such honesty must be paid back a hundred fold.

"I'm sorry, Master. You're wrong. I am not worthy. I'm not who you think I am. I'm not from the Fire Nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe."

Aang, Katara, and Toph all gawk at Sokka with shock and disbelief. Dante, Atreus, Valen and Mimir were as silent as the grave. "I lied so that I could learn swordsmanship from you. I'm sorry." Sokka said and in a sigh of genuine respect for his teacher and offered his sword back.

"I'm sorry, too." Piandao said.

Piandao quickly turns back around and swings his sword at Sokka who avoids the attack. Sokka unsheathed his sword to blocks a thrust from Piandao. Aang, Katara, and Toph who get up and go to help Sokka but stopped when Sokka who raises his hand to stop them. "No, this is my fight, alone."

…

Back in to Iroh's cell. Warden Poon enters, carrying a tray of food. "You used to be the pride of the Fire Nation. Our top general, the Dragon of the West." Now, look at you. Warden Poon drops the food to the floor. letting the trays contents go everywhere. Iroh grabs a green fruit from behind the bars and moves the fruit to his mouth. "Look what you've become."

Warden Poon may have started off ranting at Iroh in disgust, but it seemed to more like pity. Regardless Iroh watches the warden leave and stands up putting the fruit to his mouth and holds it in his teeth as he begins to untie his belt. His shirt comes off and a thick, folded sheet that had been covering his belly falls to the floor. Iroh's new, incredibly buff physique was just the tip of the iceberg. Iroh takes the fruit from his mouth, bites into it, and jumps up. Now, grabs a bar above with one hand, takes another bite of the fruit and begins doing one handed pull-ups. What Warden Poon doesn't know is that the Iroh wasn't general just because he made good tea. No. Part of a good strategy is know when to sit and wait for the opportune moment.

…

Back at Piandao's Castle Sokka and Piandao squared off in the sword fighting ring. Aang, Katara, Toph, Dante, Atreus Valen and Fat watch from the upper part of the main building. Sokka, ready with his black sword t face his master. Piandao lunges forward and begins his attack forcing Sokka to back away. Piandao strikes four times, each one parried by Sokka. Sokka attempts a strike of his own. Piandao moves his head out of the way and stabs at Sokka, who sways back and avoids the attack; Piandao sweeps his sword at Sokka's legs, but Sokka jumps over it and lunges at Piandao, thrusting his sword forward. Piandao deflects Sokka's blade and pushes him back. Sokka as he is knocked back several feet and slides over the ground. Sokka as he flips himself backward and grabs a post of a small bridge to regain his balance. He quickly climbs onto the post and leaps to the other one just as Piandao thrusts his sword at him, Piandao spins around and tries to slice Sokka's foot. Sokka quickly jumps away leaping away to the end of the bridge, dodging as Piandao swings his sword at him. Sokka blocks Piandao's next strike and runs to the left and jumps on to the railing again onto the bridge and jumps to the other rail of the bridge. Piandao stabs at Sokka again, but Sokka jumps off the rail and rolls to the side. Piandao strikes again, but Sokka rolls under the blade.

"Excellent! Using your superior agility against an older opponent ... smart." Piandao commented.

Piandao charges at Sokka again and Sokka as he readies his sword. Piandao strikes at him and pushes him up a large stone stairway. Up the stairs they clash, Sokka blocks all of the attacks, but the force pushes him against the wall of the stairway. Sokka's back hits the wall and he deflects a thrust from Piandao upward, and ducks as the blade slices through the part of the wall above his shoulder. Piandao swings his sword around his head and body in two large circles. Sokka barely dodges Piandao's blade, cart wheeling to the right. Sokka spins back around, hops a foot off the ground and pushes off the wall with his legs, propelling himself forward, sword extended. Piandao deflects the attack. Sokka rolls across the stair to the other wall, climbing to the top.

"Good use of terrain ... fighting from the high ground." Piandao added.

Sokka swings at Piandao below him, who parries and swings at Sokka. Piandao thrusts his sword at Sokka, who pins the blade under his own blade, weighted down under his feet. Sokka stands on the swords before Piandao, who tries to wrench his sword free, steps forward and pushes his sword upward, throwing Sokka off. Sokka grunts, stumbling back into a tall stalk of bamboo.

With a few strands of hair falling over his face Sokka as he looks up fearfully as Piandao raises his sword and charges at Sokka. Sokka ducks Piandao's attack that slices through the bamboo just above his head. He turns to run off into the bamboo thicket. Sokka runs through the bamboo thicket, slicing through as many surrounding stalks of bamboo that he can. As Piandao chases after, the stalks all begin to fall. Piandao skillfully sliced through the bamboo. Sokka runs through the bamboo and turns, grabbing a stalk and pulling it. He lets it go just as Piandao catches up. The stalk whipping around but Piandao cut through it with ease as Sokka tries to attack from behind.

"Yes, use your surroundings." Piandao deflects the attacks as Sokka runs away. Sokka grabs two stalks and pulls them back before releasing them. They whip around at Piandao, who slices through them. "Make them fight for you!"

Sokka ran out of the bamboo and back toward the sword fighting ring, screaming in terror and Piandao not far behind. Sokka is very frightened and takes a look behind, but Piandao has run off to the side and out of sight. Sokka turns to look ahead only for Piandao to strike out in front of him, trying to make him run into it. However, Sokka leans back in time to narrowly slide under the blade. Sokka stands back up and stumbles forward, stabbing his sword into the ground to stop his fall. Sokka as he uses his momentum to swing his sword back around, flinging dirt and dust at Piandao. The dirt hits him in the face, blinding him. Piandao spins around and positions his sword behind his back to defend any sneak attacks.

"Very resourceful." Piandao says with his eyes closed.

Piandao turns his head and listens for any sounds. Sokka nervously raises his sword defensively. He slowly tries to sneak away, careful not to make any noises that would give away his location. Sokka steps on a twig on the ground, snapping it. Piandao turns his head toward Sokka when he hears it. He twirls his sword around into an offensive position and charges forward. Sokka takes a step back as Piandao closes in. Piandao strikes. Sokka parries the attack. Piandao catches Sokka's blade with his own. He pushes Sokka's sword around in two circles and flings Sokka's sword out of his hands. Sokka watches his sword fly into the air and stab into the ground several feet away. Sokka looking worried as Piandao moves to attack. Piandao swings his sword in large, horizontal arc at Sokka. Sokka is not cut by the blade, but is instead hit in the chest by Piandao's arms, knocking him on his back. Sokka lands on the ground before looking up and leans back in fearfully. Team Avatar jumps from the building to the ground and run toward Sokka and Piandao. As for Piandao, feeling the point was made finally swings his sword away from Sokka, halting the rest of Team Avatar.

"Excellent work, Sokka." Piandao congratulated his student.

Sokka squinting at Piandao curiously, what is his angle? Fortunately there was none. Piandao raises his hand and he signals to Fat. Fat flings the scabbard of Piandao's sword toward him. Still blinded, Piandao turns and points his sword upward as the scabbard flies right onto the blade.

"I think I'm a little old to be fighting the Avatar." Piandao admits.

Aang, Katara, and Toph came out of their bending stances. Aang and Katara look at each other in surprise. "How did you know ?"Aang asked.

Sokka stands back up as Fat walks on screen carrying a drink and a white cloth. "Oh, I've been around a while. You pick things up." he wipes the dirt off his face with the cloth. "Of course, I knew from the beginning that Sokka was Water Tribe." Piandao looks at the others. "I know that you are from the Water Tribe also, you are from the Earth Kingdom. But you three, including the head …" Piandao turned to Dante, Valen, Atreus and Mimir. "… You are Gods and are not of this world."

The two Nephilim and Jötnar look at each other in surprise. "Okay I get you know who they are but how do you know we are Gods?" Atreus asked.

"As I said, I've been around a while. I remember as a child going to the Shinsien Temple. Though you look different now, you three still resemble your portraits in the temple."

"Oh." Atreus rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. How did he forget for a moment is anyone's guess?

Piandao turned back to Sokka. "You might want to think of a better Fire Nation cover name. Try "Lee." There's a million "Lees". Piandao says and sips his drink.

"But why would you agree to train someone from the Water Tribe ?" Katara asked.

"Knowledge is power to be guarded well. But guarded for too long it will become stale and possibly forgotten, lost to history." V says words of wisdom.

Piandao nods in agreement. "The way of the sword doesn't belong to any one nation. Given that whole world uses swords it ridiculous to hide it. Knowledge of the arts belongs to us all." Piandao gives his sword to Fat before he walks over to Sokka's sword and pulls it out of the ground. Piandao returns to Sokka and gives the sword back to Sokka. "Sokka, you must continue your training on your own. If you stay on this path, I know that one day you will become an even greater master than I am."

Sokka and Piandao bow to each other before the group leaves Piandao's castle through the front gates. Just then Fat is running up to them from behind causing everyone turns to him. "Wait! The Master wanted you to have this, as something to remember him by."

Fat gives a small, brown bag to Sokka. They all bow as a farewell and Fat walks back to the castle. The Sokka opens the bag and pulls out a white lotus Pai Sho tile.

"It's a Pai Sho tile." Sokka says.

Aang leans closer and notices the symbol on it. "The White Lotus. Huh."

Mimir watches from the back of Atreus as Fat closes the doors to the castle. On the doors he clearly sees a lotus design on the doors surrounding the Fire Nation symbol.

Very interesting …

"Can I see it for a moment?"Dante said. Sokka handed it to him and Dante examined both sides. He reached into his shirt and pulled out his own White Lotus Pai Sho tile and compared the two. "It's real." he finally concludes.

"Huh, I didn't know you played Pai Sho?" Mimir said a bit surprised.

"I didn't until Iroh showed me how to play." Dante handed the tile back to Sokka. "That's when I learned Pai Sho … was more than just a game."

"What does it mean ?" Katara asked.

"I have no idea." Sokka reaches into his pocket and discovers something. "Ooh, that reminds me! Toph, I thought you might like this since you've probably never had a chance to bend space earth before." Sokka offered her a chunk of the meteorite.

Toph takes the rock and smiles in sensing it. "Sweet! Check this out." she says as the space earth floating between Toph's hands. She shapes it into a swirl, a star, and a splatter shaped similar to the Dante and Valen have seen long ago when they were kids. The group finally walks off down the trail.

"You know, I don't think there's such a thing as "space earth". If it's from space, then it's not really "earth"."

"Must you ruin everything ?" Sokka grumped.

"I can't believe I missed you." Katara pats her brothers back.

"Nature abhors a vacuum." Valen said.

Sokka said while narrowing his eyes. "Are you saying I'm fat?"

"I thinks he means he missed you and there is no one in the world who can replace you yet." Atreus said.

"That's nice to hear … Sokka said before becoming suspiciously. "Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'YET'?"

"Well …" Atreus was about to answer until he saw some coming to them with all due haste. "Hey! Its Sindri guys!"

"It feels like he has something urgent to tell us." Toph added.

Sindri finally reached them and stopped to catch his breath. "H-hey … I reached … you."

"What's wrong Sindri?" Aang asked.

"You said to let you know when Ivar the Boneless is awake, right? Well … he's awake. We are some distance from here I can show you."

Sokka gets into a dramatic pose and says: "To the Appamobile!" Sokka was ready for anything with his new meteorite space sword.

---

PART 2: Through the Eyes of Time

I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, and wolf. I have seen the Northmen, invading Ireland, destroying all in search of gold. I have seen suffering in the darkness...yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the Book, the Book that will turn darkness, into light. I have seen the first men land in Ireland, struggling to subdue the land they turned to the Dark One. Their worship gave it strength they could not control. I have seen the Tuatha De Danann, my people, fighting to subdue it. The ages march on into the modern world and land has changed. Wars and strife everywhere, yet peace is still a desire that people in these dark days. I meet someone who became my friend he and his friends are like me, the last of a kind. I would anything to help them. When an ancient evil returned resurfaced we vowed to stop it. Across the world to many countries to the beauty that was outer space and the planet beyond, I was in awe. But war was on the horizon. Then we landed to this planet, ruled by the Four Great Elemental nations, to stop the enemy from claim it's their hands. I saw the enemy flee from the world and all that was left was to hunt his stranded servants. But the truth has forced us to remain on this world. For the day was coming when the enemy will return from the stars reclaim his lost prize . . .

Appa descended out of the sky down into a thick forest to the location Sindri showed them. They landed on the ground to find the dwarves have set up their shop. Brokk was hammering away until he noticed Appa's landing. Brokk set his hammer down as walked over to the bartering table to meet them.

"Well it a about time you guys showed up. Beginning to think my brother would get you lost out there." Brokk said.

"That was one time, please give it a rest." Sindri rolled his eyes.

"So … where is this Ivar?" Atreus asked.

"He's over their sitting by a tree. He's been quiet since he woke up again. But he tries something use this, knocked him out in one hit." Brokk tossed the Mjolnir to Dante who and give it a spin in his grip.

"Will do." Dante said with a smile.

They walked over to Ivar who was sitting against a tree sleeping.

"Ahhm." Sokka cleared his throat to get Ivar's attention.

Ivar opened one eye to see them. He opened the other eye and gave them his full attention the people that very weird watching him with curiously. Whoever these people are, whether they were going to kill him or not, Ivar was completely at their mercy. To be honest Ivar was rarely at anyone's mercy. So he would take his time and see what they want. Which to that end he will not let them have the chance of killing if it came to that. But first he was going to see what they want. Sokka, being the man with the plan, decided to ask the guy questions.

"Alright, you tried to attack us once but I think you realize now that there is NO escape from us now." Sokka said getting into Ivar's face. Ivar just lend back in amusement and due to the fact the kid really smell bad. Has this guy ever to a dip in the river or what.

"Who are you and why did you attack us and what are you doing here?" Sokka asked in his usual dragnet tone. Ivar smirked and spat a thick wad of mucus in Sokka's face causing him reel back in disgust and wipe his face clean with his hands.

"Eck! Okay, you want to pay dirty?" Sokka took a swing at Ivar who lean to the side and letting Sokka miss and hit a tree. "Okay … take this!" Sokka shouted, lunging at him. Ivar, while still sitting down on the ground against the tree just flipped the Sokka over on his back. Sokka groaned and Ivar plunked him on his forehead several times until Katara sighed and decided to break it up.

"Sokka, maybe I should handle this?" Atreus said as Katara said as she dragged Sokka out of there.

Sokka scoffed at him. "What makes you think he will respond to you?"

"I don't." Atreus said, "But maybe he will respond to something unexpected. Like someone who speaks his own language."

"What language is that?" Katara asked.

"The language of the people I grew up around. Norrønt." Atreus stated.

Atreus stood before Ivar who stared at him, waiting to see what he wants when Atreus spoke Ivar taken back. "You cannot walk. Are you wounded?" Atreus asked.

Ivar smiles at Atreus, almost laughing in disbelief that someone in the world could speak Old Norse. Ivar shook his head. "Nay," Ivar then dragged his limp legs over in front of him so that he can sit up comfortably. "I'm a cripple. From birth." Ivar said narrowing his eyes and looked at Atreus. "You speak my language!"

Atreus nodded, "I was born in the same land, as you. Norway. My name is Atreus. But to your people know me as Loki: God of Mischief."

Ivar's eyes widened in surprise; when he was little he was told the stories of the gods of Asgard, that they were mankind's protectors and patrons. In battle they charge forward with the hope of victory and that if they die they are chosen by the Valkyries to be taken to Valhalla. Now when he heard of all the tales heard of Loki, he was always a very mysterious individual. Known as an enemy, a trickster and even a helpful person and revered as one of the giants and gods. To if he truly is what he says then wonders does he want with someone like Ivar.

"What do they call you?" Atreus asked in the common tongue.

There was a momentary pause before Ivar replied back in the common tongue. "My name is Ivar. They calledme Ivar the Boneless."

Through Atreus and Ivar where speaking a different language that Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph did not know why they heard the name "Ivar the Boneless" in words that sound as if they were in the common tongue. It is interesting that in every known language and dialect in the universe when it comes to the specific name of a person, place, or a thing it most of the time it is pronounced as it would be in the common tongue. Why is that the case, it will forever remain a mystery.

Dante exhales through his nose as the answer to their question was answered. It was one thing to hear about or recognize a person with your own eyes; it is another thing when you hear it from the person's own lips when they introduce themselves. So many people can look alike or have the same names, both one can had both.

Atreus cocks his head to the side and smiles. He holds up his Leviathan Axe pointing to Ivar, sizing him up as he looks down the his weapon as if he was taking aim. "I heard of you: Ivar ... the Boneless." He finally lowers his axe and returning it to his back where it hung in a holster in the shape Ω symbol. "Your name has echoed great distances beyond Norway. Even unto the modern age of our homeworld, your name still echoes within history books. But why have you appeared on that island a while back and attacked us out of the blue?" Atreus asked.

Ivar thought for a moment in how to answer. He remembers attacking them, he remembers what he said but part of his mind is clouded from being forced back together, to say the least. "I was lost. I saw one of you had the sword I had long ago. I only sought to reclaim the blade and go about my merry way. But you defeated me, if you wish to kill me for trying to stealing the sword and hurting you giant fluff-ball thing … or what I said earlier, I accept. I will not fight you." Ivar concluded while crossing his arms to lean back against the tree as before.

"Ivar, why do you want that sword?" Atreus asked.

"For protection. It's a hostile world after all." Ivar said.

Dante entered the conversation. "Not anyone can wield a weapon like the Yamato?" he asked.

Ivar looked at Dante with confusion. "Who are you?"

"My name is not important and you and I meet before in that battle long ago."

Ivar blinked and sized him up before shaking his head. "Sorry, I don't know who you are and I don't think I met you in a battle, Not-important."

"How could you forget that battle?" Dante asked.

Ivar shrugged. "Easy. I just do."

"Okay, fine, whatever. But one thing is certain. This blade …" Dante gestures to Valen who hands him the Yamato, "This here doesn't belong to you. It belongs to someone you know and since you fought beside him in The Great War long ago."

Ivar thought for moment but he name came to like slow wind. He mouthed the name but no sound came out of his mouth. He then looked at them with a questioning glare. "If you have nothing else to ask me, go away now." Ivar said make a waving motion with his hands.

Afterwards Team Avatar spoke in private about Ivar But as expected not much could be deduced from the progress that was made.

"One question is answered but two more took it place." Dante said.

"And those answers will remain unanswered so as long as he refuses to speak." Valen said.

"Let me go at him. I can get him to talk." Sokka proposed.

"He'll kill you." Dante said causing Sokka to glare at him briefly.

"Can he? Can he still do the whole beast mode thing on us like he did before?" Toph asked.

"He could, but I may have temporarily weakened him in that area." Valen said.

"How?" Sokka asked.

"I stabbed him in the forehead with my cane, remember?" V replied.

Everyone remembered back on Roku's a thrust his silver cane pierced through the helm and jerks it back out. Blood flowed down the neck of the warrior as stood up and dragged himself to the shore and finally collapsed just before the water's edge. His monstrous form began to dissipate back to his human form.

"Of course." Aang suddenly realized. "Guru Pathik taught me all about charkas; The Light chakra, located in the center of the forehead, deals with insight and is blocked by illusion."

V nodded. "Yes, I studied quite a bit about Charkas in my spare time; when we were fighting him on the island I sensed the nexus of his of his power was located there. So took aim and wounded that practically charka area. It appears for the time being he is powerless and has lost a bit of his memories."

"But he's certainly not harmless." Katara added.

"True. History in our world states Ivar is known to be a capable warrior and brilliant tactician. Like an octopus or jellyfish he's able to slip out of situations. But given that he's now and the fact he's separate from his master I believe he would like to play this carefully." Valen said.

"Do you think he'll try to kill us?" Sokka asked with skepticism.

"I have no reason to kill any of you unless you give me a reason." Ivar said as he tries to take a nap.

"How can we be sure?" Aang asked while pointing a finger Ivar. "You hurt Appa, you're dangerous!"

"Yes, I am." Ivar grinned wickedly. "I'm so dangerous …" he yawns for a moment before continuing, "I'm, so dangerous I'm going to take a little … nap." Ivar closed his and proceeded to sleep. Aang frown for a moment, this guy hurt Appa and all he could do is smile and take a nap without apologizing for it. Does he not have a shred of remorse? Who's like that?

"Well if there no more to be said then I'm going to settle down for now." Dante walked into the tent.

Brokk shrugs. "Well, you do that while I and my brother step up shop just in case someone around here is interested. If Ivar bites you hands while you feed him don't come crying to me."

Regardless they decided to keep watch of their prisoner as they settle down for the day. Sometime later Momo begins to look around the trees for any bugs he can eat. He crawls out on a limb and noticed a grasshopper on the edge. He readies himself, leaps out but the grasshopper jumps at the last second onto the ground. Momo heads down to the ground and begins to stalk it. The grasshopper twitched a little as Momo came closer. Finally, it was time to strike. He sees an opening his prey is not going to escape this time and leaps into the air at him . . .

At the last moment a hand comes down over the grasshopper, causing Momo to reel back just before he hit the hand. Momo landed on the ground blinking a few times before lookup the arm to the face of the person who stopped him. It was none other than Ivar the Boneless. Momo really wanted the grasshopper but that glare, full of malice, caused Momo to crawl away with it large ears laid back in defeat. Ivar smirked at the creature before he held up his clenched hand and slowly opened it to reveal the grasshopper still alive and unharmed. He opened his hand completely to allow the insect to jump away, and after a few moments it did.

"Hey, Atreus has been gone for a while, someone should go try to find him see if he's alright." Katara said noticing.

"I'll go." Aang volunteered. "And I could find Appa at the same time."

"Okay, just be careful." Katara said.

"Come on Momo." Aang said and Momo flew after him as he disappeared into the jungle.

As Aang ventured off he walked further out than they went on their first attempt. Eventually he stopped and looked all around him to find he was surrounded by columns of trees. He smiles, as the newfound confidence pressed him forward, confidence that he may find Appa again. Momo crawled on the ground among the purple flowers. Woodpeckers peck, Songbirds sing and sparrows fly of soft currents. All was in the perfect balance in nature. Aang, beginning to lose himself, spun around as he walked until he stepped on a branch causing it to snap loudly, a flock of crows into the air making Aang gasp at their sudden cawing.

Then a pair of green eyes watched Aang, following his movements as he and Momo run off into the brush. Aang and his lemur tripped and fell down a short hill into tall grass. Aang stood up brushed himself off and looked around in the grass for Momo who was nearby at his feet looking at him with a worried expression. Aang picked Momo and held him close in his arms he looked up and found himself in the middle of a ring of trees. The crows cawed ominously high above in the sky. Without knowing where he is, he figured that he should continue on cautiously while being mindful of his footing.

"Atreus? ATREUS!" Aang shouted into the forest around him, but no response, none except more of the crows cawing. The woods at his point became darks and the ground was covered in a mist. Aang climbed over the roots of the tree as a bird of prey watched from a branch in a tree. He came to a standing stood and placed his hand on it to rest for a moment and think. But a sound from the trees caused him to snap toward it just in time to see a group of shadows darting away as a deep growl their emanated within the deep wood.

Aang and Momo stop when fog surrounds them completely and they could not see the trees around them except a pair of large tall standing stood. "Maybe we better go back to the campsite." Aang told Momo.

The Avatar turned to see a pair of standing stones. With no sense of direction like a compass or a map Aang entered through before disappearing into the mist between the stones. "Was it this way? Do you remember?" Aang asked Momo. Momo only chartered a 'No'.

Aang looked around and saw he had entered a ring if stones that circle a large smooth rounded standing stone in the middle. "Don't panic, Momo, we just have find our way back before dark—AGH!"

Aang have tripped over a root and lost his grip on Momo who dropped to the ground. Momo back arched as his back fur stood on end, frozen at what was standing before them. Aang rubbed the sides of his head and stood up as he sat up. A deep growl caused him to looked up to see, standing only a few feet from him stand hunched low with fangs bared, a big black wolf with red eyes; Aang's eyes widened in fear as he walked backwards until he was flat against the middle stone. He looked to his right to see three more black wolves snarling as they stalked toward him. Momo leaped up and warped himself around the back of Aang's neck. More of them appeared out of the mist until what looked like a whole pack surrounded them. Aang furrowed with determination and to a defensive Airbending stance; he fired a blast of airbending at the close group of wolves only to his surprise the dart out of the way before it even hit them. He launched another and another until he was convinced that I wasn't going to work. He tried earthbending and stomped the ground and sent a tremor fissure to them followed by the jetting of rock under their feet. The wolves evaded them all before it could reach them. Out of options and fearing the safety of Momo, Aang climbs to the top of the middle standing stone away from the wolves' jaws. One however leaped up into the air and ripped off a piece of cloth of his suit. Momo then jumps down onto the ground. "Momo!" Aang called out as he watched his furry friend nimbly evaded the jaws of the wolves and disappear into the dense fog. The wolves growled more as they turned their attention back to Aang who raised his arms up to shield himself from the wolves jumping up at him. Then a howl echoed through the forest and the wolves suddenly fell silent.

Someone or something has come. . .

Aang lowered his arm to see the wolves seated on the ground, sitting up at attention. Their expression was neutral as their eyes glowed red and as they stared into the direction of the howl, between the stones. It was another wolf; Aang breathed heavily as he watched wolf stalk the outside the ring of stones. The other wolves, remaining silent, answered the howl by dart off into the woods in opposite directions, leaving Aang alone. The new wolf growled softly, without aggression, as it watched, pondered, weighted and ultimately, decided. Aang saw the beast stalked outside the ring of stones, every now and again turning its head to Aang. Aang saw it eyes glowed green, unlike the others that glowed red. Then, as he thought the wolf had disappeared into, it finally revealed itself as it finally emerged out of the mist as a beautiful and dangerous white wolf. Aang blue-grey eyes widened as the white wolf's green eyes narrowed. Aang closed his eyes and prayed aloud to Roku and the other Avatars would protect him from . . .

"Is this your lemur?" asked a voice.

Aang eyes snapped open as he jumped at the sudden at seeing something total unexpected. Standing some ways off stood a girl with ghostly white skin and white hair that is as long as her body. She had deep green eyes, wears a grey fur vest that ends above her legs, she was wears a pair of thick wide grey fur boots that come up to the top of her shins below the knee. She had dark thick eyebrows that expressed her glare as she lifted up Momo, who was displeased to be captured by her. Aang, surprised by the person in front of him, lost his balance and fell backwards on the ground.

Aang, meaning no harm but still afraid of her, held up his hand with a stick in it, is if a stick was able to take care of something that can transform in to a wolf. "I was told about you . . . you're the Spiritual being, right?" He said, while waving the stick about from behind the rock. As if the stick was going to take care of … whatever she is.

The girl gave a questioning look to Momo who only gave a nervous look back. Considering that this human is mostly his first time in these woods (or any woods for that matter) she decided to get right to business and sat Momo down on the ground, who just grumped and walked away while giving her a glare.

"What're you doing in my forest?" she asked in more of her demanding tone. When Aang didn't answer she leaped on the rock startling him. "You've come to spoil it, haven't you?" she asked again before darting away quickly before he could answer. She reappeared behind him, "You were probably sent here by your family, to get food, weren't you?" she asked accusingly from on top of the middle stone. Aang watched as the girl leaped in air, the long white hair moving with her fluidly, and landed right in front of him with her hands on her hips causing him to press himself against the stone. She poked him with her pointer on his chest and gestured to the woods behind her with her thumb, "Well, you can go right back where you came from." She said, "If you don't, I'll make the wolves get you. RUURGHH!"

"No!" Aang raised his hands up innocently. She snarled at him half-jokingly with wide open mouth roar showing him four sharp and elongated wolfen canines while playful scratching at him. Seeing him reel back in fear, and the point was made, she turned her back to him and away with her arms crossed and her head held up high. Aang finally managed to speak again and explain his side of things while he was on trial. "I-I didn't mean to. Look. I'm sorry, alright?" Aang apologized sincerely. "I'm not here to get food for my family. I'm look for someone who is chasing some else. I don't have a family and we have plenty of food in our camp, so I won't here for it anyway. I was just a bit lost . . ." Aang concluded as his voice trailed off when he saw the girl's unexpected saddened reaction.

When she heard him say the words 'I don't have a family' that caused her to stop dead in her tracks and turned, looking at him with eyes of sympathy. "You have no family?" she asked forlornly.

"Eh … no." Aang said.

"No brothers, sisters, cousins? No grandparents, aunts, uncles? No father? No mother?" she asked further. Aang became quiet as he looked down to the ground. The girl closed her eyes sadly having received his answer and faded into the mist, not before admitting: "… I am alone too."

When she did Aang stood with his mouth agape for a moment before shaking his head to wake up. It was safe to say he was enchanted by this mysterious girl of the woods. Aang then gets an idea, "If this is your forest, then you must know everything about it."

"Of course!" she said while sitting on top of a standing stone before jumping away into the shadows of the trees.

"No, Wait! HELLO?" Aang called out loudly.

"Shhh. Not so loud." The girl said while hanging upside down before she darts up into the tree branches and reappearing in a different spot on one of the standing stones. "Go away."

"No, uh. Wait please." Aang implored. "I'm looking for someone, a friend. He had long red hair and has a bow and arrows. He is hunting and I just want to find him to make sure he's alright."

The pale girl popped up on the middle stone scarring Momo into the air with startled screech. "Why are you chasing him? Aren't you just a child?" she asked.

Aang answered. "I … I'm a monk. I help people." He admitted half a lie to show that he was a friend. To his surprise when Momo to cover on his head and he pulled him off he gasped upon seeing her disappear. Aang looked all around him until he heard rustling in the branches directly above. He looked up to see the girl looking down at him with sunlight peeking through the leaves around her.

"You're too Young to be a monk?" she asked curiously before moving through the branches again.

Both Aang and Momo were getting exhausted by all her wired movement, darting here and there. Regardless Aang did his best to explain answer her question. "Uh … I'm a Warrior-monk … in training. We face enemies, but also are kind to them as we fight them … I think. Is it's a little hard to explain sense I got separated with the rest."

"I don't know what you are talking about, and I don't want to know." she said, her voice echoing through the trees above Aang before she finally dropped in from of him. She crawled on the ground like her wolfen alter ego before sitting and delivering her ultimatum. "I will only help you find the person you seek, on one condition: you, and your 'Lemur', must promise, to never come into my forest again."

Momo frowned at being told what to do by someone who monkey-handled him earlier. Aang was about to saying until he saw she expression. Neutral, but all around dead-serious; She was not asking much but at least he must be respectful to the Spirit.

"Alright then. We promise." Aang reluctantly agreed.

"C'mon then. I'll ask the forest where they are." the girl said. With a way her hands she parted the fog between two standing stones, revealing a lush beautiful green forest with the sunlight in full shine. Both Aang and Momo were caught off guard and were left in utter disbelief by the scenery of the forest. "Ask the for-, wha-!" Aang ran and slide down after here and she ran down a slope of green grass and did a cartwheel that ended with a flip. Daffodil seeds flowed in there air on a gentle breeze as they came to a waterfall and a sparking river. The girl played leap frog with a frog by leaping onto a rocks in the river. "Hey, wait! My name is Aang, what's yours?"Aang asked.

She stopped with a looked over her shoulder at Aang. She giggled and bounced away quickly, the frog that landed on her head remained in the air briefly before plummeting into the water. Aang and Momo fell into the water when Aang slipped on the wet rocks. They got out and saw her into of a stone structure that had look like it has been sitting there for ages. She cups her hands to her mouth and blows out a life-giving breath that created little silver flowers that covered the stones in it, give it more vibrancy.

"It a miracle. Just like Monk Gyatso said." Aang said to himself as he thought of something that he his beloved mentor told him about the woods and nature for the first time; back when Aang was smaller and afraid of the outside world. But know he sees someone who nature seems to be in tune with the forest around her.

She ran off to the edge of the clearing to where the rest of the forest was and when Aang finally followed she did a back-flip and ran into the woods where she weaved between the trees at incredible speeds. Two stags crossed Aang and Momo's path as they finally reached where she stood, under a massive tree trunk. Avatar and flying lemur were tired when they finally stopped. Momo stretched out and laid down on the soft grass while Aang lean back against a tree.

"You're fast." Aang commented as he breathed heavily.

"Yes, I'm the fastest! Ha, ha, ha!" the girl boasted, for she certainly earned the right too.

"So ... where are they?" Aang asked, going though the beautiful forest was great but he needed to find his Dante.

The girl smiled and pointed straight up. Aang looked up and stared in awe of the glorious tree that he ever seen. It was so tall, thick and woody.

"You have climbed a tree before, haven't you?" she asked.

Aang looked back at her and nodded. "Yes, of course! It's easy!"

Momo opened his eyes and rolled his eyes ironically. Aang is a good climber – when he is using airbending to do so. But without, it isn't as good. Sure, he still climbs like a normal person but when it comes to very, very high places . . . it has varied results, one includes falling.

"Come on so." she said with a shrug. She quickly climbed the trunk with animal grace the way small animals like the squirrel and giggled as she disappeared through the branches. The leaves from her movements fell on Aang's face as he slowly made his way up the trunk, without airbending.

Gosh, this is hard.

Aang finally climbed onto a branch and walked to the next ones like steps, while his sudden presence caused all the nearby birds all around him to chips frantically in chorus. The pale girl watched him swinging from tree branch to another laughing and giggling at the fun she was having, waiting for the boy to catch up. Through the tree's levels he climbs until he lost his bearings of where she could be he walked along a limb until he lost his balance and plummeted down until he branch saved his fall. As he struggled to bring himself up the girl dropped down on and grabbed his arm and keelhauled him onto the branch like a fish. Good thing she was watching him.

"Saved your life, second time today." she amused. "I thought you knew how to climb trees." she asked with irony.

Aang sat up and furrowed. "I do … smaller ones."

"Yeah, like bushes!" she teased. Aang grumped at her playful teasing, compared to this one the other trees would be like bushes.

She jumped on the wall of the trunk and resumed climbing, "Don't look down. Come on!" she called to him. With that in mind he followed her until reached her. From her showed the sights within the branches of the massive oak tree. They passed a family of owls nest with three of them watching him with one eye while the others sleep, She shushed him to let them rest from the heat of the day. She showed how the beetles court. "Look. Aithnionn ciarog ciarog eile." she said. The two beetles on the leaf meet and flew away together. Aang didn't understand the language she spoke just now but he got what she meant from the beetles themselves. "One beetle recognizes another." he said. The two balanced themselves along a coyly branch. They reached a thick wall of butterflies and upon climbing through them caused them to disperse into the air in a riot of color. Finally, they reached the summit of the tree where the wind blew freely and unrestrained. Aang climbed the branched where the girl waited for him. He stood, having finally got the hang of it. Then he looked down and felt gravity pulling him down. The only girl stopped him from it was too late and push up against the vertical part of the branch. He was so embarrassed. Without his airbending he could have fallen. But if he uses it she may tell on him and there would be more problems that they are already are. He breathed heavily, while his eyes were closed so he won't look down. Cursing the crazy of it all . . .

"Come on. Open your eyes and I'll tell you my name." she said.

With a deep inhale and exhale that he learned in mediation he opened his eyes. The girl's silvery hair blow in the wind as she stood with her hands behind her back in slight shyness, blushing slightly as she finally introduced herself.

"Aisling."

Aang smiled, repeating her name so he wouldn't forget. Aisling then gestured, with pride, to her realm that she rules over. ". . . And this is my forest." Aang looked out at the vastness of the forest. He saw Dante's manor and the dirt road that lead to his house from the main road that went by the seaside town nearby.

He felt the heat of the sun which was cooled by the wind blowing against him. This is really nice. He thought.

"Here's what you're looking for. Your friends are down that way." Aisling said and pointed in an east side of the forest.

"How do you know?" Aang asked.

"I hear sounds of a battle." Aisling answered.

Aang and Aisling climbed down the tree and made their way to Atreus and saw he was indeed in a battle. He found deer tracks and followed them which lead him to be ambushed by a group of ogres that happen to be in this part of the woods.

It swiped with their clubs and with the fists. Atreus defended himself with his father's mechanical shield and attacked from long range his arrows and used his Leviathan Axe while it got too close. The ogres then swung its club around and knocked Atreus into a tree. When they came closer Aang was about to jump in when Aisling stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.

"Don't … he's got this." Aisling said.

"How do you know?" Aang said.

"Watch." Aisling replied.

Atreus tightened his gripped on his father's axe rolled out of the way of the ogres club that was about to come down on him. He got up and hacked to the brute's leg causing to drop to the ground on knee. He threw his axe to hit another one straight in the head killing it. He called it back and jump into the and brought it down another one and chopping it arm off sending blood gushing out to make Aang sick. With a yell and tackled the injured one to the ground before he brought his axe down on the ogres head so hard that he slip the thick skull in half like two loafs of breads. Finally He breathed out of his nose heavily before the fire fade from his eyes and returned his axe to his back hoister. He's face and body was red with the blood that spattered on him. Aang, who was watched the fight, cringed at the way he killed the ogres but was relieved that Atreus was alright.

"Atreus!" Aang called.

Atreus raised his head up and called back. "Aang?"

"It that you, lad?" Mimir said from behind Atreus' waist.

Aang dropped down from a tree and went over to him.

"What are you doing out here?" Atreus asked.

"The others sent me to find you to see if you were alright." Aang answered before looking around at the Atreus' slain foes. "It, uh … looks like your fine."

Atreus laughed a bit lightly. "I found a deer and shot an arrow at it. But when I went to get it I found it was right next to where the ogres camp. Just lucky to find a deer is all. How did you even find me?"

"I had so helped from … her." Aang turned around to find Aisling walking toward them.

"Aisling!" Atreus said excitedly.

"Atreus!" Aisling ran and jumped up at's. They laugh in joy of seeing each other again. Atreus puts her down and Aisling notices some of the gore got on her and she stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Is Mimir still with you?" she asked.

"I'm still here, Lass." Mimir replied. Aisling walked around to Mimir's side. Aisling patted Mimir cheeks happily.

"Umm …" Aang began as he was finding his words to say. "Do you guys know her?"

"Of course, lad. She's one of us." Mimir acknowledged.

Atreus went over and picked up the deer he shot and hoisted over his left shoulder. "Well, I better get this back to our camp. Dante, V, Brokk and Sindri are here as well."

"They here too?" Aisling asked,

Atreus nodded. He gets an idea to invite her over to their camp for dinner. "Say why you don't come over to our camp for dinner."

"Yeah, you can meet my friends." Aang added.

"Oh, ah … would I be intruding." Aisling replying shyly.

"Don't worry, they're nice. You'll love them." Atreus reassured Aisling.

Aisling reluctantly nodded. "Go on, so."

Back in the campsite Toph is on guard duty watching their prisoner Ivar. Ivar himself was getting bored and picks up and small rock and looks over at Katara. He throws it which hit her in the back of the head. Upon making contact Ivar pretended to be asleep. Katara looked behind her at Ivar and Toph and the surrounding forest before narrowing her eyes in suspicion and returning to what she was doing. Ivar opened his eyes and saw Katara's back to him he look for another rock and readied to attack again.

"Wait a minute." Toph whispered over to Ivar. Ivar stopped and looked over to her. "Throw this." Toph tossed Ivar a very smooth river rock.

Ivar aimed and threw the rock at Katara bum. "Ouch! Who is throwing rocks at me?!" Katara shouted as she turned around.

Ivar looked at Toph before speaking up. "It was I."

Katara opened her waterskin and summon her water transforming it into a ball of ice. Ivar's eyes widened and she fire it at him. Ivar raised his hands up to shield himself from the impact of the ice. After not feeling the impact he opened his eyes to see the ball of ice hovering a few inches from his face. Ivar became curious and reached up and touched it. Seeing him fall into her trap Katara caused the ball of ice to explode drenching Ivar in water. Everyone laughed at the sight as Ivar wiped his face.

"People, who are prisoners, should not throw stones unless they don't want to be feed." Katara stated with prideful smile.

But the wily Ivar the Boneless smiled back to Katara. "A friend of mine would say: 'For a joke.'"

Aang and Atreus announced their return. Atreus placed the deer carcass beside the fire before sitting down on the ground in front of it. Katara knelt down beside Atreus with concern due to his gore appearance.

"I'm alright. I just ran into trouble upon retrieving the deer."

"You could use a bath though." Katara suggested.

"Yeah …" Atreus agreed.

Aang was very excited to tell the others of the news. "Guys, listen up! I met someone out in the woods."

"Great. Is it someone we can see or it just another one of you Avatar weed hallucinations?" Griffon joked.

"She's real and my Avatar experiences are not hallucinations, Griffon!" Aang said annoyed by the remark.

At Aang's statement everyone uttered a muttering that caused Aang to look at them with suspicion. "What a minute. You guys don't think I hallucinate talking to Avatar Roku or the spirits do you?" Aang asked with a downward tone.

Katara walked over to Aang and place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "No! Of course not; we all believe that your experiences are real … Right?" Katara's tone for a moment had a hint of doubt when she turned to the others.

"Officially, the lad's supernatural experiences are part of the job." Mimir stated.

"Thank you, Mimir." Aang said.

"Unofficially, things like visions and out of body experiences could fall under the category of hallucinations." Mimir added.

Aang nodded. "Right … BUT this is different. She's real and she saved me from falling."

"Sounds like a nice person. Where is she?" Sokka asked.

"Oh … uh? Aisling!" Aang called out into the forest.

"Aisling? What a strange name." Toph commented.

"That, lass, is just her name." Mimir added.

Aisling watched them from the trees. She recognized the faces of those she knew. But given that there are four others that are unknown to her she decided to observe them. When Aang called out to her she felt her heart races as she crept about the branches of the trees above. Ivar noticed there was something moving in the branches and grabbed a rock and hurled it straight into the branches. Everyone heard a small yelp and Ivar smiled. However he didn't' expect the rock to be hurled back at him, hitting him right in the forehead. Ivar held his forehead and rubbed as she growled in annoyance. Katara laughed. "WOW. Karma."

Aisling peeked out from behind tree with one eyes watching them. She then walks of the shadows of the trees and into the light of the sun. Her pale skin made her shine brightly in the sunlight. She stopped until she was only seven paces from them.

"Aisling. This is these are my friends; Katara, Sokka, and Toph. Guy's this is Aisling." Aang introduced.

They said their hellos and Aisling bowed to them. "I am she and she is me."

Sokka blinked at her strange statement before he shrugged. "Oookay."

Ivar crawled toward Aisling prompting her to turn to her. "Who are you." she asked.

"He's our prisoner. He has no name." Sokka said sarcasm.

"He doesn't look like a no-name." Aisling said.

"I am Ivar the Boneless." Ivar introduced himself.

Aisling raised her brows upon here that name, one of which echoes through the h. "You are a Northman, Prince Ivar Lothbrok, Son of Ragnar Lothbrok, yes?"

Ivar raised a brow as his fascination deepened. "How did you know?" he asked.

Aisling knelt down to eyes level with Ivar. "Your people made raids of my homeland, the island of Èire."

Ivar remembers the name. "Ireland? Are you a Celtic?" He asked.

Aisling stood up with her hands on her hips. "I'm the last princess of the first people of Èire. I am Aisling of the Tuath De Danann." she stated with proudly.

Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph were surprised. To hear they have a prince and princess in their midst was certain something that didn't happen every day. Albeit, not for a while, but the fact remains.

"What will you do, princess?" Ivar asked. "Do you seek to punish me for what my people have done to your land?"

Aisling thought for a moment before replying."Who's hungry?"

Night fall over the land and the deer Atreus hunted was skin and roasting over an open fire. Once it was roasted and cooled off it was served to everyone. Aang was the only one who looked as his hunk of venison with uneasiness. He was raised on the belief that the eating of animals was not a very peaceful. To respect the animals is the same as respect mankind and life. But life is precious and should not be wasted. Aang looked down at the meat and gave it a good sniff … it did smelled good. This was all they had and Aang made an effort to change to satisfy his hunger. He opened his mouth and took a bite and chewed slowly. They asked question to Aisling about how she meet Dante and the others. Ivar listened to Aisling's tales until he tired and went back to his tree and lean back against watching them huddled around the orange glow of the fire from his place in the shadows until he fell asleep. In the night Ivar began to feel the cold crept on him causing him to shiver while a dream of darkness came unto him.

Darkness - That was all Ivar could remember s he drifted off into the embrace of death in his last battle. He stood his ground and saved his brother Hvitserk and now he awaited the Valkyries to summon him home to Valhalla. When he finally awakened he was on his knees, bound in chains and in a large room with the sunlight was beaming in from behind a throne. Ivar raised his hand to shield his eyes as he tries to see who it was. At a guess, he called out the name of who he thought it was. No response he spoke again only to be meeting with the silence. This individual on the throne raised his hand slightly causing the chains on Ivar to disintegrate. Ivar was surprised at this but confused on why he was bound in the first place. He looked back to the individual and saw him standing right in front of him. Ivar, in the beginning thought it was Odin the Allfather (not that he knew him in any other form other than the one he saw when his father Ragnar was murdered ), but the strange being was not Odin, but for many centuries after he called him Master. One who, when it came to the grand scheme of things, demanded much, but also offered the greatest of gifts: Powers beyond imagination – immortality – things that make up a god. Ivar, in his long service to the Dark Lord was on a power trip from start till now. After the titanic battle long ago he Ivar wander the planet for many ages armed with only Vergil's Yamato, believing Vergil dead, and left to fend for himself on an alien world. Even though his captors have weakened him temporary Ivar will endure until his powers return. To survive is what made Ivar the Boneless what he is.

Early next morning Ivar was greeted by a sight of Momo on his stomach looking at him while sniffing his face. Ivar growled quietly and Momo quickly moved away allowing Ivar to sit up yawn and stretched. He saw everyone else was up and about and then something unexpected appearing in front of him. Aisling's face suddenly appeared in front of him as she hanged upside down on a low branch.

"Good morning!" Aisling greeted in a kind smile.

"Aisling! That is your name?" Ivar asked.

"Yes." Aisling said.

"Okay. Go away." Ivar said dryly.

"Why?" Aisling asked.

"I just want to be alone, is all" Ivar said.

"Why be alone when you have others to socialize with?" Aisling asked. Ivar remained silent; he looked away as if he was ashamed of something.

"Because I … I did something that the others objected." Ivar muttered.

Aisling sat down on the ground in front of Ivar. "What is it?" she asked.

"I burn that thing." Ivar gestured to the giant sky-buffalo.

"You hurt Appa? Why." Aisling asked.

"To get their attention so they could face me head on." Ivar replied

"But to hurt an innocent animal …" Aisling felt her heart about to break.

"Innocent is a dirty word." Ivar said with a smile.

"Don't you have a heart? Can't you feel remorse?" Aisling asked.

Ivar shook his head as he chuckles a bit. "Remorse doesn't erase what has been done. I know that pain first hand. And that is the truth for Me." he said. The images of his past life flash in his mind for a moment.

Aisling ponders what he said. She then gets an idea and stands up. "Everyone! Listen I'm going to take you all you on a hike to a special place."

"Really? Where?" Aang asked excitedly.

Aisling giggled. "If I tell you now it wouldn't be a surprise." She said.

Brokk and Sindri began to work while everyone got up and left. Ivar once again was alone just as he wanted.

When they left a bandit who was watching them leave finally peaked through the bushes to look at the camp where he saw Appa sleeping beside them.

"This would something the boss would like to know." the bandit scout muttered and ran off into the woods back to his camp where his companions were. When he told them of the creature that he saw they did not believe him.

"Fuck off." said one of the bandits. While they all much on his food.

"I'm telling you it's the Avatar flying bull thing, just like in the wanted posters!" the bandit scout said.

"Yea', sure. Avatar is dead in case you forgot." said another bandit.

"It's true!" the bandit scout turned to the leader of the small ground. "Sir, the Avatar may be dead but that doesn't meant his mount was killed. And judging by the two guys in a camp they probably want to sell of something."

The bandit leader, a fat anthro Warthog beastmen was a listening to the bandit scout's story. He scratched his belly before pulling out a paper that he had saved. He showed it to Scrum. "Did the creature you saw look like this here?"

Scrum looked at the wanted poster of the Avatar that his boss saved. "Yes, exactly." the bandit scout nodded.

The bandit stood up and popped his neck. "Show me." he said in a deep rumble in his voice.

Bandits armed themselves and followed Scrum into the woods to where Team Avatar's camp was. They hide themselves the before looking out to see the same beast from the wanted poster sleeping next to a forge.

"Well, looks like you are telling the truth." one of the bandits replied.

"See, told ya'." the bandit scout said happily. "So what do we do, boss?" he asked.

The Warthog rubbed his curved tusks before reading his spear and taking aim. With a grunt he hurled the spear with great force to hit Appa in the ribs. Appa roared in pain so loud that Team Avatar heard what the noise from where they were was and quickly turned around to run back to the camp. Brokk and Sindri stop work and rushed to Appa's side.

"Who I tarnation did this?" Brokk shouted as he turned to forest with his work hammer at the ready.

"Attack!" the bandit leader shouted and his men leaped out and tackled the dwarves to the ground. Ivar was about to react when someone grabbed him from behind the tree.

The bandits brought Brokk, Sindri and Ivar and lined them up in front of the warthog bandit boss. Appa growled at the bandit but the pain from the spear was great. The bandit boss threw it with such for ce that half of it was lodged into Appa causing blood to seep out.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Sindri shouted.

"We are just here for the beast." the bandit boss said. "Large beast like that will fetch a pretty price."

"Fuck off!" Brokk barked that the bandit boss which one of the bandits punched Brokk in the face.

"Don't worry. The beast will survive because I know how to treat a wound like that." the warthog walked over to the dwarves forge and found a torch and lit with the forges fire and walked over to Appa. "Don't worries it will hurt but you will live . . ." the bandit boss pulled out his spear roughly and thrust the torch at the wound. The fur burned and the flesh sizzled and Appa painfully roared louder.

The dwarves struggle to get free but the bandits held them in place. But Ivar watched as someone did the same thing did back on Roku's island when he burn Appa to get Team Avatar's attention. But this was just too much . . . too much and it made Ivar enraged at a lot of things, if not everything. He clenched his fists tights and he gritted his teeth. He began to breathe heavily to the point where it sounded like a growl. The bandit that was holding him looked down at Ivar, wondering what was wrong.

The warthog bandit boss pulled back the torch having painfully sealed the wound. "There that should do it."

Yes, that should do it. Ivar thought to himself.

Ivar finally snapped and finally unleashed his thousands of years of pent-up rage, first on his the bandit that was holding him. He jerked hatchet out of bandit's hands and turned on the bandit's legs and back, killing him to two hits. The other bandits rushed with weapons in had to subdue Ivar. Ivar turned to them and allowed them to strike first. As they did he rolled, blocked and attacked with blind rage, shouting as he butchered the bandits quickly. When they finally were dead he grabbed a dagger from one of them and turned his attention to the warthog bandit boss.

"Well … looks like you have some fight in you." the warthog chuckled as he ready his spear.

Ivar crawled on the ground slowly making the warthog move as well. The two were now circling each other.

Just then Team Avatar and Aisling appeared out of the woods to see the intense situation.

"Appa!" Aang shouted and ran other to his injured friend.

Ivar stopped and sat down. He grinned, laughing while he said something in his native tongue.

"I didn't quite catch that, boy. No matter." the warthog said and charged straight toward Ivar. Ivar did nothing but gripped on to his weapons, held open his arms and shout with glee and his blue eyes became even bluer.

The warthog's spear ran straight throw Ivar causing him to gasp sharply. Everyone watching in shock as they saw what happened to Ivar.

Ivar fell limp for a moment, everyone believed he died before he grinned and stabbed his dagger and hatchet in the warthog's muscular arm and pulled himself forward. The warthog grunt in pain as he tries to shake Ivar off but it was no use. Ivar reached his prey and stabbed him into the side of the warthog's fat neck. The warthog gasped as Ivar pressed the assault. With the dagger holding the head in place Ivar swung his hatchet at the warthog skull, hacking it up as the warthog's body thrashed about in reaction. Ivar screamed at the top of his lungs as his blood got on his face. The memories of his life that brought him tragedy, angry and pain fueled his attack to the point he became exhausted and stopped. He grunts in pain of his spear that pieced his stomach, breathing heavily as he came back to sanity. He finally saw the warthogs face and skull hacked to bloody unrecognizable bits. Ivar lifted his head to the sky and sighed before losing all felling and fell over on the ground hard. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was the feet of people rushing over to him . . .

When Ivar regained consciousness he saw he was lying on his back, shirtless, on a mat under a tree. He shielded his eyes from sunlight that flashed between the leaves as they swayed in the gentle breeze. he saw the same green eyed lemur as before sitting beside him. Ivar stared at the lemur before raising his hand toward the creature and gave it a good scratch around the ears and neck. The lemur purred and went over to Ivar's face and snuggled against him. Ivar smiled at the fact he made a new friend. He then heard people talking and decided to follow it. He got on all fours and began to crawl with the Lemur lumping on Ivar's back to ride him, to which Ivar did mind. He found the rest of the people that he encountered in and around a pool of clean water that had water pouring into. Some of them were swimming in the water while others rested around it. It did take long for someone to notice him.

"You're awake." Aisling stated. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to toward Ivar.

"I am." Ivar replied as he crawled toward the water. He dipped his hands into the water and scooped up water and tasted it. It was so deviously and clean that he kept reaching do and get more.

"So, Ivar. You are okay?" Sokka asked sheepishly. None of them forgot about him going berserk on the bandit leader.

Ivar stopped drinking the water and paused for a moment. "After getting some water I feel great."

"Water?" Katara asked.

"It can go a long way." Ivar said. after a seventh gulp he looked at them

"Because Set freed me from mortality by giving me power. And when I had power I didn't think about anything else." Ivar said.

"Who is Set?" Toph asked.

"He is a God; an ancient one from my world who preserved me when I died. He gave me power beyond imagination … but I later realized it was all just smoke in my eyes, concealing a truth. "

"What truth?" Atreus asked.

"It's not important … But is your Loki who are the rest?" Ivar asked.

Atreus introduced everyone."Oh. Well you know this is Aang the Avatar, Katara and her brother Sokka. The short one is Toph. The dark one is Valen and his older brother Dante." Atreus held up the head to Ivar. "This is the Mimir; the smartest man alive. I think you heard of him."

"Somewhat." Ivar shrugged.

"Twelfth time I heard someone say that in my entire life." Mimir commented as Atreus returned him to his hip.

"What will you do now?" Atreus asked him.

"I will wait for Set to return to this planet. And when he does I will kill him for what he has does to me."

"What has Set done to you?" Aang asked.

"He has denied my death when my time came. To have revenge on Set for making me his slave, I should have killed him last time I saw him but I didn't. But I will when he returns." Ivar stated.

Dante decided to try and ask the question he wanted to ask before. "How sure are you on Set's return?"

Ivar looked at him and smiled. "I can hear Set speaking to me across the stars sometimes when I sleep. When I ask when he will return, his answer is always the same: Soon. I don't know the day or the hour, but Set and his forces will return to reclaim what he lost in his defeat here. And when he does I will be ready for him."

"So the Yamato …" Dante began to say.

"… It was just having in my arsenal. But if you want it back, take it. I'll find something else. But I tear out his beating heart as a trophy." Ivar makes a fist causing his knuckles to pop. "This I swear."

"Revenge will not bring you peace." Aisling said.

Ivar looks at Aisling. "Revenge is all I have. Outside of it I have nothing. Everyone I every care about is gone. Set never was sorry and if he was … well, like I said before, being sorry wouldn't erase what is done to me." Ivar began to crawl away from the group. Away to wait for the god Set.

"What if we give you the chance to have your revenge?" Dante called to Ivar, forcing him to stop crawling and look back at the group.

"What chance is that?" Katara asked.

"The war we are fighting now. Dante said. "Aang is destined to fight the Fire Lord. And to get him to that we need to get pass his massive army. Ivar, Mimir told me at some point you were once a great warrior. You were also a strategist. You can be that again. Until you to face you nemesis you can help Aang face his."

"Well, the Fire Lord isn't really my nemesis. He's just someone who did bad thing and I have to stop him." Aang said sheepishly.

"Maybe Ivar should be the Avatar." Griffon said. "He probably won't hesitate in killing Ozai."

"In case you haven't noticed bird-brain, the guy is crazy. He hacked a beastmen's face apart." Sokka said point out the elephant in the room.

"Sokka, violent actions are not what crazy people are; it is the mind and choices they make. Last time I check that's all of us - The entire spectrum."

"So what do you say Ivar? Would be Ivar the Boneless, again?" Dante said.

Ivar thought for a moment before he turned around and crawled back to the ground. "Before I decide on anything … I would like to have the dwarves make me something."

Atreus and Ivar went back to the dwarves forge. Atreus dropped a fat purse of money on the table which turned the heads of the brothers; Brokk was really interested considering that some is offering money. Ivar explained what he wanted them to make. They took measurements of Ivar's legs and arms began to work right away. When they were finished Ivar and Atreus returned to the waterfall pond.

Ivar place the creation next to him and sat down and placed his feet into the water. He groaned as the water touched his skin of his feet and the pushed his legs deeper and water touched his shins it was a sigh of relief. Then he heard the heavy sounds and look to see it was Appa who come over to have a drink of water. Ivar observed the large creature noticed there was no mark left by the bandits spear that pieced Appa's side. The bandit suture the wound with fire but the area now was completely healed up with no scars.

"In case you wondering, I healed both of you." said Aisling.

Ivar looked and saw Aisling and the others standing on the other side of him. "How?"

"The wound in Appa and you was deep but I used my healing powers to close it up quickly and completely. No scars."

"So he will live?" asked Ivar.

"Why don't you ask Appa?" Aang suggested with a happy inflection.

"He won't understand me." Ivar stated.

"He'll know what you mean." Aang reassured.

Ivar turned back to Appa whose eye was looking at him. Ivar reached out stroked Appa's fur. "You … alright?"

Appa softly grumbled a reply.

In the past Ivar was known for many things, his ruthlessness, his rage and his willing to win by any means necessary. But what is less known is his humanity. Like any human he had it, and he knew when to hide it away when he did what must be done. Life was harsh and he greeted harshly. But when life took things that were precious to him, he could nothing about it; he could only mourn for what was taken, sometimes mourning bitterly. This cycle of violence, rage and darkness reached its peak when he when into self-exile after he lost his kingdom to his brothers. He traveled along the famed Silk Road and encountered a land and people that he heard about but never met before, all were friendly and all had their share of problems. The exotic animals he saw where interesting; small cute moneys, a large thick snake called a "Boa" and colorful birds called "Parrots". All these things fascinated him, made him optimistic and made him laugh something that he could never happen again since his childhood, back when things were new and simple. Now, Ivar remembered what he did to Appa and felt terrible about hurting such a mighty creature for no good reason other than to prevent the rest from escaping. he should have fire attack the group first.

"I … am sorry for hurting you. Ya' know?" he asked Appa. Appa thought for a moment and turned to face Ivar before giving him a big lick. Ivar covered in Appa's saliva who was understandably disgusted. But when he heard everyone laughing behind him he couldn't help but smile himself.

Once more, Animals were always quicker to forgive someone of an injury done to them than humans can.

Later, it time for Team Avatar to move on. Before they left Aisling and Ivar have something to say regarding Aang's journey. Aisling called the wolves and gave them directions. One of them had a bag in its mouth which Aisling accepted it.

"Thank you, my friends. I am sad to leave but the world is of need of my services again." Aisling peaked inside the bag to see a wooden box. "What rests inside Dante should know. But as much as I want to give this to him now … the time is not right. Thank you and good luck." and with that the red eyed wolves disappeared into the woods.

She then walked over to Team Avatar to inform them of her decision "I have place two Alpha's in charge while I help you on your journey."

"You decided then?" Atreus asked.

"Based on what you told me. This world needs help again. I am willing to risk my life for my friends, both old and new." Aisling bowed to them.

"Good to have you on board." Aang said and the two shook hands. Aisling just gave him a warm smile.

Everyone turned to Ivar whose busy putting the dwarven-made calipers around his legs. When they were fastened he grabbed his specially made crutch that when as high as his forearm and elbow.

"About the offer presented to you, what do you say? Are you coming with us?" Atreus asked.

Ivar, with Aisling's help, used his crutch to push himself up until he was able to stand upright amazed everyone. Then Ivar signaled to Aisling to let him go. When she let him do it he slowly and carefully walked over to Atreus and everyone else. His eyes shift about as much as he walks. He then stops and looks at all of them. "So are we going to stand around or are we going to be going?" Ivar asked.

"You don't have to if you feel your destiny will take you somewhere else." Dante added.

"Destiny has one great test in store for us all." Ivar replied back. Aisling came up beside Ivar to present him with the bandit boss' own spear that was run through him. Ivar cocked his head to one side and placed his free hand around it. "This will do for now." Ivar accepted his new weapon from Aisling.

"Just so you know, just because your with us doesn't mean we trust right away." Katara reminded Ivar.

Ivar looks at Katara sideways and smiles with this creepy smile as he approached her till he was close enough for her to see the detail of his eyes. "It would be better if you didn't trust me. But you are not my enemy, I am not yours. But you know who your enemy is, I know mine. For now, we are on the same path it seems. And if there is a adventure to be hand and a kingdom to conqueror then I will lend you my aid. So … let's not keep them waiting." Ivar whispered in a seductive purr before chuckling a bit as he walked passed them.

"That is a creepy dude. I could feel the air grow cold around me as he passed." Griffon commented as his feather ruffled. Katara could agree but it seemed like there was something else to this guy.

With their new members Team Avatar added they said their goodbyes to Brokk and Sindri and with a Yip-Yip from Aang they soar into the sky.

Ivar peaked over the edge of the saddle to see how far he was in the air. This reminded him of when he and Prince Oleg flying. He certainly reluctant then but now it was a bit exciting. After getting a good look at the world far below he laid backwards, and sighed in relaxation. Ivar then looks up at Aisling who is sitting behind him.

"So … Aisling. What will you with me after I raided Ireland? Will you kill me?" Ivar asked.

Aisling simply shook her head.

"Nothing?" he asked in confusing.

"The past is the past. And besides I didn't kill then when I first encountered you then, and I won't do it now." she said.

Ivar cocked a brow. "When did we meet back then?" Ivar asked.

Aisling leaned over to him and look him in the eyes, smiling. She places her hands on the side of his head. At first there was nothing. Then Ivar had a vision with Aisling explaining what she showed him.

I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, and wolf. I have seen the Northmen, invading Ireland, destroying all in search of gold. I have seen suffering in the darkness...yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the Book, the Book that will turn darkness, into light. In the town of Kells I meet a boy named Brandon. A monk-in-training who help create the Book. When the Northmen came and Brandon and his friend Aiden escaped the destruction the Northmen ambushed them. You were the leader Ivar who took the Book, looked through it before ripping the pages and leaving with the Book gold, jeweled cover. You order you men to kill Brandon and Aiden. But I am my Wolves save them from death. After Brandon and Aiden escaped I searched to kill you for trying to have my friends killed. I never forgot your scent. Then in you last battle I saw you defending your brother until you welcomed death . . .

The vision end and Ivar looked at Aisling again. "Our eyes will tell what we really are and what is in our hearts. But my heart has let go of past grievances." Aisling said.

Ivar nodded in understanding. "I held a … crystal in my hands, didn't I?" he asked. Aisling giggled before nodding. Ivar finally closed his eyes to sleep while pondering all he seen and heard.

How very, very strange . . .

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AUTHORS NOTES: Finally finished with this chapter. Good to get on with the story. I know of you ar thinking that it seems a bet much to have characters from God of War, Vikings and The Secret of Kells in an Avatar: The Last Airbender + Devil May Cry Xover. But funny enough there are themes and arcs that can be found God of War, Vikings and The Secret of Kells that are relatable or parallel to Avatar: The Last Airbender and Devil May Cry. The angel scream and the devil cry, and certain did in God of War, Vikings and the Secret of Kells. The Elemental wilderness of the titles connects seamlessly. You also may be wondering how the Egyptian God Set play into this. All these thing I added in my mythos compliments the world of Avatar as well having it align with the past present and future of that world in a big way so stay tuned from here on out..

TRIVIA (Because everybody LOVES trivia)

1. There was supposed to be a third part to this chapter. But I decided to cut it out for possibly its own chapter in the future or something.

2. In my mythos Ivar was one of several famous people from history to be resurrected by the Egyptian God, Set, to be his new lieutenants in order to rebuild his Hyksos Empire while being under the radar in the shadows of history.

3. In my mythos Aisling was one of the first people Dante meet that became part of his team back on Earth. She and Dante have a deep bond making her a one of his most trusted friends

4. There is an interesting detail in the movie The Secret of Kells that I think a lot of people missed. In the movie when the Vikings attacked Ireland I believe the Viking leader in the film was in fact Ivar the Boneless. According to history in 871 AD, Ivar the Boneless returned the Dublin where he remained King of the Northman, all of Ireland and Britain until his death in 873 AD. The reason for his death was unknown however many speculate it was due to his 'curse'. The TV show Viking showed he died in battle at the show's end, which makes sense. However in The Secret of Kells movie the Viking leader that stole he Book of Kells gold and jeweled cover and walked away it Aisling and her wolves killed the raiders about to kill Brandon and Aiden and it is possible that they may have killed the Viking leader as well. But, if they did then and they would have gotten the cover back. History said the Book's cover was lost (somehow and somewhere) so I think the Viking leader, who is Ivar, escaped with the cover and his men were killed by Aisling in the film. I doubt Ivar the Boneless was going to make a big thing out of finding such a treasure. Still this is my thoughts and head canon based on clues in movie and TV show and actually historical facts and clues, so … go figure.

Anyway review or rant, tell me your thoughts in the comments. I NEED COMMENTS. Not just Favs and Follows – COMMENT AS WELL. It motivates me to continue in my stories when I get around to them. The fact I started Avatar: The Last Airbender + Devil May Cry Xover on a dare should tell you all something.

Anyway this is Wolfy signing off for now. ;3