In fate's hand part II: Anytime you need a friend

Everyone held his or her breath as the eclipse passed. They all stood in a dazed. Then Aang's sneeze awaked them from their spell.

"Do you realize what this means?" exclaimed crazily Crimson while her hands moved outrageously.

"It means we have an extraordinarily serious predicament. Still we have a lot of wor…" Akiko start to faint but her sword that was mounted in the ground kept her from completely keeling over.

"Akiko! Akiko are you alright?" asked Zuko as he rush valiantly to her side.

"I'm fine, Zuko. I'm fine. But we really, we really need to figure out what the message means. For starters here your assement," she said weakly as she struggled to pull herself off the ground.

"My mistress, you could do with a break. You aren't taking care of yourself very well. You ought to take it easy and put up your feet. Let Crimson and me take charge for a few days. You need to eat a real meal and have something to drink. Please relinquish authority for at least the next 72 hours. Please I beg you!" plead Luke as he and Zuko help stand her up. But she shook her head push them aside.

"No! I can't! Not now! Now will you listen to me? Here what we have to do! We need to find out what these signs mean. Do you remember what Anto and Alake said?" she turned towards Katara and Sokka.

"Why you looking at me? I'm really starting to feel uncomfortable with all of you give me such peculiar looks. I said stop it!" Katara screamed as she summoned the spirit water from her water skin. The insignia on her right palm glowed brightly as the water glowed unearthly and them went on the attack. It would have hurt them badly but with a mere wave of hand Aang halted the water.

"Calm your mind. Attacking out of aggression and fear is not honorable or kind of heart. Katara you're a kindred spirit that is why the White Spirit choose you to commune in." Aang said as he rest his hand on her shoulder soothingly

"Still said Sokka " it just feels eerie. I have had a quiet enough of this messed up and out of the ordinary world I got sucked into! Why can't we live in a world where no one has any powers and we have the luxury of indoor plumbing and homes that don't need firewood? We'll have the ability to choose the desire temp of either hot or cold. And we won't have to walk or use of outlandish animals! We'll have cool, fast, and fun machines. That is the world I dream of one day!"

"You are living in the flight of the imagination kind of world! Like that would ever happen!" snorted Suki angrily

"Enough bickering! This is a serious matter! Now do you remember what comes after the part when day has turn to night with a holo of white? I'm losing my patients!" snapped Akiko as she burned her jade silts at them furiously.

"Sorry Miss Red Spirit" said Sokka sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.

Gashing her teeth she as lept and pressed her blade against his throat. "I don't have time to worry about your insolent tongue. So silence that foul tongue before I remove it!" she hissed as she removed her blade leaving a shallow groove.

Sokka collapsed to the ground white as a ghost. Katara rushed to her brother side and healed his flesh wound.

"Mistress you need to take a break. This kind of conduct can't be tolerated. You need to give up commanded to someone now!" said Luke as tried to yank her weapon from her.

"No! Sokka I'm very remorseful of what I just did. Look just for a few more moments heed my instructions and I will take a break. That a reasonable transaction?" she said as she helped him up.

"Alright but swear it," he replied to her.

"I swear on souls of the Imperial Dragons that I will take a break. Now will you all heed my commands?" she inquired tiredly.

"Yes." One and all chimed at the same time obediently.

Taking a deep breath she rubbed her temples and said to her friends " Our next course of actions should be to figure out what these cryptic signs mean. Katara, Sokka I'm putting you in charge of the task finding out what these signs mean. You were the ones possessed by the two spirits so it seems most logical that you will be able to decipher the meaning of these signs." She told the two stunned kids in blue.

"Us? But just because we were the vessels so they could speak. How could when we figure out what it means?" asked Katara uncertainly

"Yes. It might be much clear to you. Here the key to the underground archive. Report to me when you found something out." She said as she handed Katara a metal pyramid shaped key with a cross and eye. "Don't lose that key. It took me ages to find it. You'll find the door it goes to his in the same shape. So hopped to it!"

So the two walked away to find the library but Sokka still didn't want to go without make another crack.

"She is so going total crazy psychopath! She is her father's daughter! She virtually eradicate me!" he said rather at the top of his voice.

"Sokka! Shut your mouth! Or I will tell everyone you're the one who ate all the chocolate cake that Akiko slaved over with Crimson and Zara for two hours last night!" she said as she whacked him up side the head with boiling hot water.

"Yeow! Katara! Very well! I will start to commit to memory to be incredibly cautious what I articulate," he mumbled as he looked at the palm of his hand where the Wind Whale seemed to be snickering at him.

"Luke you and Crimson go infiltrated all the high ranking camps of the Fire Nation Forces and find out what it means. Report back in three days time. Now go!" she said pointing the way.

"My mistress our sworn duty is to follow you but you need us here. Please reconsider your orders. I trust your judgment but it not in good judgment to leave you in your current state please reconsider my mistress," said Crimson as she and Luke bowed to her with a painful look in their eyes.

"You have sworn on your life and honor to follow me without question. You two are my best friends. Please understand. Now go and don't make me ask you a third time." She said as she hugged them. With tears in her eyes she kiss them gently and they went on their way.

"Iroh, you and Zara with the children inspect our arsenal. We need to make sure the whole lot is ready in top-notch condition. We also need to ready to move it in case our base is discovered. So go."

"Understood Milady. Come young one let us be going," said Iroh as he ushered Zara to the dockyard and munitions storage space.

"What do you wish of me and Haru to do?" inquired Suki dutifully

"Yes to you wish us to see how are warriors are?" inquired Haru her respectfully

"Nay my friends. I wish you to check our additional equipment. Rations, water, garment ect. Give me the pleasure and go and check them out. Thank you," she breathed heavily as she whisper to them.

"Wyanet could you check on the other inhabits of our land? I'm extremely convinced that they are getting on edge. Please they will need some kind of reinsurance till we get some answers to this predicament."

"I would do that, Akiko, but a number of inhabitants are still extremely panicky around me, and I don't have the best of socialization skills. Still if that is your wish I guess I should obey," said Wyanet as she put her sword back into its sheath.

"Wyanet I'm on familiar terms with you have a few problems relating to people but we need someone. We have over a thousand people living on this island. We just brought the land back from a barren wasteland. We need to keep it up to stasis. And we also need everyone ready to evacuate in case we are exposed. So please check with the people," Akiko said as she rested her hand on her shoulder.

"Alright I will talk to the people. I will try to put to rest their worries to rest. But I can tell you this to try and put your mind to rest. The Spirits wouldn't have contacted us if it were not a matter of life or death. Hence who came to be the bearer of news of this unknown message," she said as she walked away.

"Aang I would like you to go train with Zuky, understand? I'm going away to reflect. Good bye my love," she said as she kissed Zuko on his cheek and played with his coal black hair.

Zuko send a quick glance at his new brother and Aang nodded and spoke up bravely. "
I mean you no disrespect, Akiko, but I know you are going to see the Dragons and you shouldn't go alone in this state. I will go with you. I've been practice my bending and have also mastered the mystical arts that Luke as instructed me in. So I need to practice my spiritual powers so let me come. Please!" he said with big eyes.

"You put him up to this, Zuky?" she asked as she smoothed out her raven locks.

"I think it would be very good if he went with you. I'll go help Uncle and Zara. They need me. Please Aang would be good for you to have around right now. If not for me do yourself an act of kindness. Please after this you will go and rest. I'll make you something to eat." He told her as he stroked her cheek.

"Oh Zuko you can't cook anymore then you can catch fish. Still I will do as you say." She said as she yawned and walk with Aang to her room.

"Ok try to remember that dragons are exceptionally self-righteous creatures and ought to have a great deal of admiration. So lets begin." She said as she lit the candles.

"Something bothering you regarding Anto and Alake presence. What is it?" he asked inquiringly.

Sighing in defeat she turn to him and said to the young hero, "Ever since my birth I've been able to sense when other spirits are around. I could always hear, see, and feel them. Being caught off guard is shocking. I wish she was here to tell me what to do." She said as she withdrew a crinkled piece of aged parchment from her pocket. She let a single tear fall onto the ground as she showed him an old sketch of a beautiful young woman in a flowing scarlet and gold dress. She was very pretty with her extensive raven tresses were just as flowing as her dress, but thing you notice about the most was the eyes. Like the rest of the young woman they were extremely attractive but look incredibly heartbreaking. Like filled with a great emptiness and pain that tormented and rip apart the young woman heart and soul.

"She is very lovely. But who is she?" he asked though he already guess who the woman was.

"Her name was Sakiko and she was my mother. She was a governor's daughter involved in an arrangement to be married off to a raising officer in the Fire Nation Army. This picture she did herself before the marriage. She was an exceptionally charming woman. She didn't believe what the vast greater part of my native motherland believes in. I wish I could've known her. I could really use her right now. Still we can't dwell on the past."

"I just put my mom and dad in the ground to rest. I know as we all know what it is like to loose someone you love. But like me you know your mother because I met her" he said kindly as he walked over to her.

"How? How could you know my mother?" she questioned him cantankerously

"Because we know you and your Sakiko's daughter more then your are Zhao's. So all the people we care about live within you, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes I do and I greatly appreciated what your saying. Come the Dragons don't like to wait. Now remember be on your toes when we cross over to the Spirit World. Stay close to me." She told him as they began to meditate. Within moments the two had left their bodies and were nothing but flouting semi-transparent blue apparitions.

As they crossed over they felt the bubbling rush and before they could catch their breathe they where in the Spirit World. But it was not any place that Aang was familiar with.

It was a large grassy plain with brilliant blue skies and a large pale purplish-blue snow capped mountains in front of them.

"What is this place? I hear singing and running water and other sounds I can't identify. What are you doing, Akiko?" he asked her as she took out a small green bottle and squeezed some green lotion with pink sparkles and spread it over her back and hand it to him.

"You know as well as I do we can't bend in this place. It's impossible but if we are to get into the Realm of the Dragons, which lies just beyond these cliffs, we are going to have fly. This lotion will regrow the wings that the Imperial family bestowed upon me. I will carry you over the cliffs that protect them from the rest of the spirits. There is a protocol we must follow. We'll be escort to the citadel by the four-elemental dragons. They are the honored guards of the Imperil Family. Be respectful and polite and try not to be insulting to them understood? Don't speak in less spoken to. So come on lets fly!" she said as she flew them over the cliffs and like she said the Dragons where waiting.

Aang bowed respectfully to them as he looked over the valley. It was the most brilliant and vivid colors of emerald, cobalt, lavender and gold and crimson. He saw dragons of every single one shapes and size singing, fighting, and playing happily in this gorgeous empire untarnished by the toxic poison that polluted mankind's mind, body and soul at the beginning.

One dragon a young female with the symbol of air on her neck lowered her neck allowed him to pet her. Her eyes were the color of autumn sun matched her glinting scales nicely.

"You are striking, girl. You must be as swift as the wind. Huh?" he said as she started to sing an only one of its kind song and smiled with her eyes at him.

"She wants you to ride her to Dragoon Citadel. That is a great honor. Don't think of it lightly. It is not a gesture done often. Let go!" she said as she spread her wings.

"Well let's go! We are wastin' time!" as he climb and held on tight as she raised her head back a let loose fiery roar, then leap from the cliffs and head too the palace that was behind the waterfall.

"I can truly see why you're reluctant to leave this place. This must be a second home to you when you're not on Nuriel. It's amazing here. These inhabitants have such only one of its kind qualities and feelings and thoughts. They are real as you and me. I've never known another animal that has be so complex. I would like to learn more. It seems so magical here you never want to leave."

"Of course I agree with you young hero. I by no means felt more in touch with my self then when I'm with these magnificent creatures. You will be flabbergasted when we meet the imperial family. I trust you brought some variety of contribution, a token of friendship to give. It is a required task. Except of everyone who is being present for the first time," she said as she angled her wings and began to pull off some extraordinary aerial aerobatics.

They made it the Dragoon Citadel and landed in a flourishing attractive garden. The silvery air dragon lowered her head and Aang flipped off. "Thanks, Mei, you are breathtaking. Here have a rice ball." He told her as he petted and permit her to devour several mouth-watering rice balls from his hand. She hummed happily and licked his hand.

"Thanks for the escort. We will meet you all back here in the garden in a few hours. Thank you again. Here you all must be hungry. I don't have any rice balls but here are some muffins." Akiko she said thoughtfully as she flipped them into the other dragon mouths. "Here you are Nan, Bik, Yakumo. In joy your treat. You four sisters are wonderful as a summer night dream." She complemented them all for a job well done with a kiss. They bowed respectful and went off in four different directions.

"There is no place else were exquisiteness and splendor are so equally match! You are a very philanthropic spirit, Aang. You will make an excellent father one day no doubt about that one. Tell me do boys shave their heads or you born with no hair?" she asked him without a care in the world as she plucked a heliotrope from the garden and placed it next to her fire lily comb.

"No I never have had any hair on my head. Hmm I've only seen one place that also possessed this unearthly brilliance and it was in the celestial skies. To think we could loose this precious gift of beauty forever if we don't learn to act as one race. Tell me Akiko, should I fear the Emperor and his wife?" he asked as he tucked distress on his collar.

"You have nothing to worry about young one. Just give them a token of friendship and then they will welcome you as one of their own. Now beyond these doors lies the throne room. Do you have your gift?" she asked him intensely as she with one hand on his shoulder and the other on the massive stone doors.

Taking a deep breath he swallowed hard and nodded. The doors swung open hard and fast and a mighty roar bellowed loudly as it echoed through the dimly light corridors. Aang start to sweat like crazy like he had been shoved into a lit furnace. The candles light up by unseen forces as the walked past some amazing artwork and plants till they made it to the where the three members of the imperial family said on their astonishing thrones.

Akiko yanked Aang from his frozen spot and bowed and Aang followed the suit.

"Oh most Honored Emperor Solar, Lord of Dragons and Master to the Scared Dragon Flame, Loving Husband and Father I Akiko the Red Spirit wish to have a word with you and your family on the matters of extreme significance." She said as she slow raised her head with a hopeful smile.

The gold dragon flicked his tail and looked intensely on the children. Aang didn't know if he was trying to barbecue them now or thinking about to eat them later. He tensed up as the Emperor circled them both then sat back down and whispered with his wife and son.

Then to Aang bewilderment spoke in the language of humans. "Akiko it is good to see you as always. Your visit makes me feel alive again. Lunar and Ravi will listen to what you have to say on the west veranda I would like to talk to the Avatar alone please. We will meet again in 3 hours. Come Avatar Aang let us talk." Solar commanded to the small youngster as he led the way to a massive external terrace. His voice was like velvet. Warm and securer and loving, you trust him completely.

"Please young Avatar you need not fear me. I do not dine on human flesh as you may have heard from otherwise unreliable sources. Beautiful is it not?" he said to the young child as he breathed deeply the sweet air as the gazed out to the wonders land.

Aang walked to the edge of the veranda and smiled happily. " I would pity the souls that dwell in my world who would be too sightless and badly informed to see that this is what true treasure is. My parents spoke of the eight world wonders and those who can't figure out what they are too dumb and need to be pity for their ignorance.

"You are extraordinarily perceptive, Aang. Yes it is a for the most part a prosper territory. A vast number of the most important things in life that include family and friends and the beloved planet itself are taken for granted. People can have their priorities very disorganized. People and the planet won't be around forever in less we take care of them. They are worth the extra mile to protect and fight for. You have been a beacon of what little hope the world has to be saved. You must save not only the world, but also mankind's soul. For when you've save the world from destruction you in turn will have rescued our world from oblivion as well." He said as he gazed to horizon where collections of juvenile dragons were taking part in a game of tag.

"Thank you for those words of your deep wisdom. Here I made it this last night. Akiko said I should bestow to you a token of my good faith, a gesture of my hand in friendship." Aang said respectful as he reached into his shirt and pulled a craved wooden sculpture of two dragons that bared a resemblance to the Emperor and his wife.

Solar looked at the trinket intriguingly plucked it from the boy hand with a golden whisker and smiled. He then extended his right forearm and opened his massive five-talon paw to reveal a golden arm ring. Aang took it and bowed. Both exchanged a smile as the pair started to stroll through the citadel till they came to a corridor lined with numerous stain glass window pains. Aang looked at them for a moment flabbergasted for they simple took your breath away. He quickly realized that they were narrating a story, a story he was most anxiously wanted to hear. So gathering some courage he looked at the great golden dragon and asked in a humble voice.

"Sir? Your Majesty?" he said trying hard not to sound imposing or intimated.

"Yes Avatar? You have some questions I can see that written a plainly as the blue arrow on your hairless head. So what is that is on your eager young mind? Please ask me anything. After all if you don't ask questions you will never learn anything including the answers to them. So what on your mind, Aang?"

"Well I couldn't help put notice that the girl in the windows looks remarkable like Akiko, also she carries the Dragon Scale Blade as well. This one on the end also holds an image of the Red Spirit. I understand this is some kind of story telling. So may I hear the story? I love to listen to exciting tales. My dad used to tell them before I went to sleep. They always made me feel better." Confessed Aang with a twinge of sadness in his voice.

"As I said before you're a very perceived young one. Yes this a tale that really happened. But nowadays the inhabitants of the Fire Nation where the story took place think of it as a sheer fable. Complete and utter nonsense to tell at parties. Oh how wrong they are." Solar spoke as he shook his mighty head in disgust.

"But aren't stories such as myths and legend just that? No way could they feasible be factual, could they?" Aang inquired flabbergasted, as one look in the emperor eyes told no way this was a jest.

"I don't lie nor do any of my kind. All stories that have ever been told have at their root a single seed of truth to them. Get comfortable, Avatar, when we dragons tell a story we really tell a story. First you have to understand that the dragons of the Imperial family are immortal. If are physical bodies are injury grave we transform into our soul self. We become spirits. With the rest of our people we live here in this ideal realm till the blade sings the song of rebirth. We also posses a great deal of mind-boggling powers. One is the power to morph. To change our form to whatever we choose. But while we are in that guise we are all but powerless." Solar began to explain to him.

"About 700 years previously minorities of a chosen few including myself were in different parts of the world. Trying to understand humans. Which is a most fantasizing breed of creature. You are as multidimensional as the planet, on which you dominated. My Honor Guards went to their native homelands. For each are the Guardian of that land as wells as part of my Honor Guards. We disguised ourselves in all walks of life and all different kinds of people. We value the importance of the lesson of "Looking through another's eyes." That is what these little excursion are all about."

"I was in the ancient Forest of Chutaro deep within the Fire Nation. I was passing as a humble traveler. I had stay behind a few extra days to watch white red eye cranes dance. Lunar and Ravi had left for sea city of Faithful Komachi named after the same breed of cranes I stay behind to watch that nested there. It had been raining very hard for the past few days and I still need to get to the shortcut through the Udo Pass. It would take at least 4 days off my journey to Faithful Komachi. I was hurrying so fast I was totally caught off guard when the trail gave way and I start to careen uncontrollably down the side of the rocky hill. I landed so hard I lost conscious. I laid their pummel and black-and-blue for hours in the freezing soaking downpour."

"Wow. That unbelievable! I can't image you being harmed in anyway." Aang said as looked at the dragon with new respect and astonishment.

"I did for a few agonizing moments I understood what it meant to be frail and helpless and vulnerable. Then I woke to the sweetest voice I ever heard." He said as he continued the tale as they both emerged to the open-air gardens.

"It was a attractive young maiden. Despite the fact that she was dress in sewn together scarps of clothes she looked like an angel. She worked in that horrid weather for two hours moving derbies then carried me for about 3 miles to a diminutive aged hut. She laid me to rest on bed of soft straw."

"Shush, lie still. Don't move. Just stay put. Let me get you something to eat." She smiled warmly. She went to get some food. I survey the hovel. Unlike the more luxury architecture I'd seen along on my journey this would be consider pathetic by a majority of the people. But I found the three-room hut homey. She came over to me with a hand made tray and gave me some soup and a few rice balls with a small cup of ginseng tea. She then began to tend to my injuries."

"Thank you, milady for your self-sacrificing kindheartedness. I'll admit in my journey through this land I never once witness one that was as a virtues soul as you are. That is to say quite a lot." I complemented with an affectionate smile that quickly turn to pain as she finished bandaging my wounds.

Blushing crimson she spoke again in her angelical voice. "Thank you for those kind words but I do what I do because it the right thing to do. Helping people is everyone duty as is taking care of our beautiful world that we must share. You may rest here for a few days till you are healed enough. Tell me where you going in this awful weather?" she asked intriguingly as she got up and started to mix up a number of herbs.

"I was on my way to the Udo Pass. It is the shortest route to city Faithful Komachi. My wife and eldest son is they're waiting for me. We been exploring and observing people and now we are going home. They went ahead while I stay to watch the cranes dance."

" I loved watching the cranes dance in the early morning hours when I was a little girl. I haven't witnessed that in many long years. But it all right I'm quite busy here, me, Yoshi and occasionally Urashima." She said smiling as she bottle the herbs up and put them in a cabinet.

"Who are Yoshi and Urashima if I may ask?" I inquired

Giggling she pulled out a woven reed basket on a plush scarlet cushion within it was a newborn dormouse. "This is Yoshi. A fox ate his mom and I took him in. He great company for when my husband Urashima isn't around which is almost all the time." She said with a sigh. She went on

"Urashima was once upon a time a great merchant in the city where you seek to go to. He had everything he wanted, he was handsome along with being incredibly prosperous, influential, and exceedingly appreciated. But he has two major flaws that were his undoing. About three years after my arranged marriage to him he became addicted to late hours of darkness drinking and gambling and soon went bankrupt. This hut was all I am in possession of so we moved here. I spend my days growing vegetables to put up for sale at the market along with my herbal remedies, ceramic objects and weaving.

I do everything around this house and to make a living for the two of us. It long and hard I will admit. I do it all out the goodness of my heart." She said as she begins to wash the dishes.

I could sense she was in pain. But I didn't know what. I deiced to ask her.

"Your husband Urashima is so lucky to have such a devoted partner in his life. He must be very happy." I said as I stroked the silk slivery fur of Yoshi coat.

"He constantly is fuming. He is for all time is yelling and quarreling never happy, he, on no account ever smile. Just really is a depressing human being. Just is if truth be told pungent. He used to a much higher class of living. He beyond doubt, completely, despises existing in poverty." She enlightened despondently as she deposit the serving dishes in the cupboard.

"You give the impression of being someone who doesn't mind living in these less then extravagance circumstances." I noted as I sat up.

"I grew up in a poor family. We never had a great assortment of fastidious belongings. We scarcely had a sufficient amount to eat at times. But we had each other and the simple things. I loved watching the daybreak and nightfall. The first rainfall of spring along with watching the season's changes. Rolling down grassy hills. Dancing barefoot under the light of the moon in the cool mountain streams. Climbing trees and listing to the phenomenal sounds of nature. I worked in my childhood from everything form on rice plantations to house keeping to being a healer. But I cherish everything in life both good and bad. I don't cherish silly things such as gold or silk. I cherish people for they can never be replaced after they are gone." The angel in the tattered red dress said with a happy sigh.

"I just realized I don't know your name. You are a wonderful person but I don't know your name even. Please what is it?" I begged of her.

"It is Yukiko. You are?"

"Saggo"

"Wow! Why did you lie about your name?" asked Aang as he hopped onto a golden balustrade and began to stroll across it. He was clearly surprise by the Emperor lying.

"I didn't lie. Each form we assume has a given name. Saggo is my human name. I stayed with Yukiko for two weeks. Her husband was there only about three days. He was discourteous, malicious and egotistic and extraordinarily heartless. He even physically abused their red elk Kiheiji. He if truth were told didn't like me in the least bit. And for all her selfness to him he by no means said "Thank You" or "I love you" I took sympathy on her. I had only single piece of power on me and it was only to be used in emergency. I had healed up and was getting ready to go when I made up my mind to tell her who I really was and compensation her for her excellent deed.

"Yukiko. I have very much enjoyed your company. You, Yoshi and Kiheiji showed me there are some good people who live within the human race. I will always remember your righteousness. I will educate what you've taught me to my people who teach it to generations to come." I praised her highly.

Going scarlet in the face once more she smiled and replied. "I only did what was needed. I hope do see you again. I can see why your wife loves you so much. You must have many wonderful children. It's no wonder why you have nothing other than the most beautiful things to say in relation to them. You are so blessed. If I had a child I wish they could be as extraordinary as the both of us combined. But Urashima is barren as a desert. Still it would be less lonely here if I had a child. Thank you for your words of kindness." Yukiko spoke shyly.

"Yukiko I want you to know who I really am. My name is not Saggo." I said.

"It isn't? What is your true name?" she asked shocked.

"I'm Emperor Solar. Lord of all Dragons." I declared to her as she fell back and I caught her.

"I saved the life of a DRAGON? Solar, the highest and most noble ranking member of the aristocracy family of dragons? I so sorry I couldn't do more for such significant creature." She stuttered.

"It is all right. I want to show you my thanks. Here take this." I said as I pulled out a tiny tear shaped gem and placed in her hands.

"What is this?" she said in amazement at its beauty.

"It's a Dragon Tear. It will grant you your heart's desire. Put this into your tea at the exact moment the moon raises. Drink it all in one swallow. Then go immediately to sleep. If you dream of your heart desire you will know if it will come true because you will be crying tears of happiness when you wake. Depending on the heart desire will determine what time the wish is for filled. Good luck and know I will always watch over you as you've done for me." I said and gave her a goodbye kiss.

"Thank you Emperor Solar. Here take this." She said as she gave me a gold arm ring.

"It the only bit of gold I have possession of. It has been in my family for generations. I like you to have it so you may always remember me." Yukiko said as she kiss me farewell with beads of moisture of happiness in her emerald eyes. We hugged and part ways. Each of us exceptionally contented that our paths had crossed."

"She did as I instructed that very night and nine month later gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom she christen with the name Ryo that means dragon of course. She was an out of the ordinary child. She was as pure hearted as her mom with unearthly attractiveness as well. She possessed many dragons' traits as well. With her dragon heart she knew what the birds were saying, dragon tongue made her able to win any argument and dragon blood made unscathed to any wounds inflect by stab wounds."

"She had many admiral qualities about her. We would stopover to see them occasionally just to have a good time. Ravi and my other offspring just adored their human sister. All went well till about six months from her 21 year. She was someone a parent could be swollen with pride. She was the talk of city Faithful Komachi. She was far more beautiful within then on the outer surface. She was in love with a young Earthbender sculpture named Kanta. But her human father Urashima disproved of the match extremely. He went as far as to promise her hand to the local governor's son Yu who was ten years older then her. What he done horrified her. But that was not the worst he done."

"Wow! How could something like that happen? I know many cultures in our world still practice that horrible act of forcing people to marry someone that they don't love. But he did it behind her back. All he want was the money and power he get by forcing her to tie the knot to a man twice her age. I bet she didn't like that. She almost certainly tried to make an effort to arguer with him she would win of course, but she terrified of Urashima wasn't she? What did he do that was the final straw?" asked Aang who was complete memorized by this tale.

"She had no love for the man. He wasn't very kind to her. She suffered greatly under him. But what she could by no means forgive and forget was that he himself assassinated her true love. She had gone to see Kanta at their secret spot but Urashima got there first. He hid behind the old willow tree. He watched and listens till he heard his victim come down the path. Then taking his stiletto he slew the young man in one quick swoop. He then made it look like a random robbery. He went to a brook in close proximity and submersed himself till the water had turned a most ominous shade of scarlet. He just laughed then burned his clothes and went to the hut laughing the whole way."

"Ryo was singing gaily with a fresh garland of flora in her black tresses. She had Yoshi sound asleep on the top of her head. She just stopped abruptly and ran to the spot. She came to where a huge stone had a tree growing on it. She found her true love in a twist-mangled mess. Blood and the disgusting odor of demise lingered within the air."

"Kanta! Kanta! Who did this? Tell me!" Ryo wept through her desperate tears of anguish.

"It…was…Urashima. Farewell… my… beloved. Looks… like we… won't live… happily ever after. I love you… Ryo. Oh." He said as his eyes rolled back in his head and blood dribbled down the right corner of his mouth."

"She draped herself over the blood-spattered distorted corpse of her deceased lover and cried for hours. Then for the first time in her life she felt a new feeling boil inside her body coursing all the way through her veins like wildfire. She felt angry and with that anger came hatred and unquenchably thirst for bloody vengeance. She let loose a mighty roar and her dormant dragon blood came alive and transformed her into a dazzling flamboyant multihued colored dragon with scales that gleamed like a moving rainbow. She flew to her home and found her "Father" drinking again. She let out a roar and he saw her and his cup shattered. He bolt ran deep into the woods but there was no escaping her. She cornered him at the spot where her mother and I had met all those years ago. She wrapped herself around and stared her fiery eyes right at his and spoke"

"You Urashima have committed a appalling unjustifiable transgression! You have blood on your hands. And no matter how much you bath you will never be clean again. You are nothing but a lowly gluttonous pig. You are self-centered, egotistical, heartless monster! I'm disgust that you raised me! You ought to breathe your last breath for breaking my heart! But the noble blood that flows through my veins will not permitted me to murder. But I can do some justice, I Princess Ryo daughter of the Golden Heart Maiden Yukiko and Emperor Solar Lord of Dragon Race herby sentence to spend the rest of your wretched existence as a chestnut tree. So I have degree so will it be!" and she bellowed her fire on him and he intently transformed to a young chestnut sapling. Then she was engulfed in her own flames and transform back to her human self. Her mom came running to her."

"Oh daughter. I'm so sorry! I wish Solar were here. I don't know what to do." She wept with her daughter and even Yoshi cried.

"We suddenly appeared before them in our human forms. "Don't cry my most cherished human friend. We come to help you find a new life." I said as I hugged them both tightly.

"We bestow this to you my goddaughter." As she hand her a bundle, which she unwrapped and they're laid a body-hugging black bodysuit, red and gold armor and a red spirit mask. "Thank you Godmother." She quickly dressed in the clothes. Then Ravi approached her.

"This is an early birthday from all of to our favorite human sibling." Revealing the Dragon Scale blade. "It was forged from my parent chest scales that protect their hearts. It will sever you well in your destiny as the Red Spirit. The dragon spirit champion." He said as he kissed her on the cheek.

"I don't understand? Solar what are telling Ryo? What is she to be converted into?" asked Yukiko as she looked at me with those radiant jade eyes.

"She is fulfilling her destiny. By becoming the Red Spirit. Go from this place. There is nothing but pain and anguish in this forest. The soil it self as been taint by the blood of an innocent. Nothing will grow for a long time. Go help others. That is your destiny. Right wrongs and helps people who can't help themselves. I've known this day would come for a long time. I will always be with you, Yukiko. Now you Ryo, Yoshi and Kiheiji go. Don't look back. We will always watch over you." I said.

"Solar I want to make a confession. I never loved Urashima. But I was an obedient and faithful wife. I've had very strong feelings for you. But I know you would never abandon your wife. You are the greatest man I've ever known. I love you. But I'm satisfied with being your friend and godmother to your 12 children. Thank you for being part of my life. Thank you." She said as she climbed abroad the large red elk. Ryo paused and hugged us all.

"Thank you for giving me a breathtaking existence and reason to be alive Father. I will love you and my brothers and sisters and godmother forever. Thank you. For everything"

"That was a great story but how does it end?" asked Aang as he climbed up a large chestnut tree. The branch broke and he fell screaming but Solar caught him in his mouth and placed him on the back of his long neck be carefully.

"Please be careful young Avatar. The best thing about a great story is that it never ends it just keeps adding chapters to it. A beautiful woven tapestry of many colors. They sent out in the world and become great inspirational heroes to the entire world. When Yukiko died at 100 we brought her. This statue that we are approaching was made as a memorial to her. She lies inside silk lined diamond tomb with the dragon's blossoms looking after her. Ah here she is. Beautiful is she not?"

Aang looked closely at the statue and gasped. Yukiko looked remarkably like Akiko. "Wait Yukiko, Akiko? Akiko mom name was Sakiko! That is an awful big coincidence that they all have "Kiko" as part of their name. And the Red Spirit and the Dragon Scale Blade and this statue am I right conclude that Yukiko and her daughter Ryo are is some way related to Akiko?" he asked scarcely believe what he just thought to ask.

"Yes Yukiko is a direct ancestor to Akiko. The brilliant jade green eyes is a distinctive trait that all females in her family have as well as being amazing unearthly beautiful. Akiko is the first one in her family to be blessed in so many ways. She is naturally gift with spiritual powers and a prodigy when it comes to firebending. She is also a natural warrior and she still carries within her veins the blood of the imperial dragon family. She does have a most dignified and admirable ancestry." Solar said proudly as they went over to a magnificent gold and precious stone fountain.

"Is Akiko acquainted with this knowledge that she does in fact posses this one of kind linage?" he asked inquisitively.

"No, she is not. She is not to be told till she turns 18. She is very special to me, to all of us. She has had so much pain to endure from her father. I like to when she reach adulthood that she should be reward with something to be proud of. Here she is now. Don't tell her." He said as walk over to his family hugged his wife and son.

"Thank you Emperor. I will sound the song and you will join us for the ultimate skirmish, which I sense draws all too close. I love you guys so much. Come Aang we must get back to the real world." Order Akiko as she flexed her wings and took to the air.

They returned to the real world but upon arrival Akiko fainted just as Zuko appeared to give and bring up to date.

"Akiko! Akiko are you all right? Oh my good she burning up. Aang help me get her to the bath house." He said as he carried his love frail body to the bathhouse.

He filled a large tub with hot soothing water filled with dried worm salt. He carefully undressed her and then proceeded to bath her. "Aang go get Katara! Please we need some acquit with healing knowledge! Go!" command Zuko as he took her to her bedroom and laid her to rest. Just then Aang came running in faster then the wind with Katara in his arms. She was holding some scrolls and a large wooden case.

"She has an incredibly high fever. She seems to have lost at least 10 pounds in two weeks. She really is just unbelievable sick. My Waterbending can only do so much. It's a lot worse then a simple influenza infection. I believe she needs more then healing waters. She needs medicine. I believe the elixir would be good. But we also may need something else something much stronger. Look at her. I don't know what this is! I just know she really sick. I will try to heal her. I will gather the healers." Said Katara as she got up as start to look at a scroll she had brought with her.

Aang approached Zuko cautiously. He gazed at Zuko eyes that gave the same impression of being in pain that he had nursed back to health from only the day before because of him. But seeing Akiko in this state it seemed to trigger something in back of his mind. Something he didn't want to remember.

"I'm in charge. Report everything to me. Katara what have you and brother time in the archive revealed?" inquired Zuko as he took Akiko hand into his and held it tight.

"These signs form what we can figure is that great suffering is coming. In cause you've not looked at the water lately let me show this." She said as she opened her waterskin and bent the water in front of him. It was not radiant sapphire it was black as tar. She let a drop fall on his tongue and he shrink back.

"Ahh! That is the most horrible tasting water I've ever had. Why is it so vinegary?" he asked bewildered.

"For the simple reason that the water is feeling pain and anguish. It is fuming. The sea is growing on edge. Something is in reality is dreadfully wide of the mark. All the Waterbenders have felt it. The water is still safe to drink but it is far from sweet." Katara put into plain words as she closed her scroll and opened a large wooden chest. Inside where multiply glass bottles. She began to rummage throughout them.

"Our equipment is in first-rate order. Everything is ready to move if the need ever comes up that we have to evacuate the encampment. Not that should happen." Suki confirmed.

"The people aren't liking this. There is too much tense in the air. It so thick you could cut it with a knife! Something really dreadful is approaching. Something we aren't expecting. What I don't know. But I can tell you we must be ready for anything!" reported Wyanet as she ran her nimble fingers through her thick black hair.

"I see. Well we still aren't going to sleep well tonight. Where is Haru? Shouldn't he be here with you?" Zuko inquired Suki as he assisted Katara as she positioned a cold compress on Akiko forehead.

"Here I am… so sorry… just received …news." He said wheezing hard.

"Catch your breath young one. We don't need you to pass out. Here have something hot to drink." Said Iroh as he slipped the long hair boy a cup of tea. Haru began to lap it up.

"Thanks" he said.

"Ok what is the news. Don't leave us hanging!" exclaimed Sokka irritable.

"Well the oldest mountain in the world just cracked." He replied.

"Cracked?" Aang said in disbelief.

"I was talking to Rocco while demonstrating a complex Earthbending move and well we just felt deep in our souls that mountain, Mt. Aldar just splintered right down the middle. The rocks we where using split at that precise moment we had the overpowering feeling. That how we knew that the mountain had fractured. It was the oldest and the tallest rock in the world. Now it's gone. I'm experiencing enormous pain. The earth is expressing its grief. It like when we get a headache for the reason that of crying the world in great pain." Enlighten Haru tiredly.

"Three signs have passed. No doubt the rest will have come and gone by night's end. They are symbolic to the season of the nations. Winter for water, spring for earth, summer for fire and fall for air. Next will be the element of fire express its excruciating amount of unbelievable pain. Fire from the sky will burn a mark on holy ground. Then will come air. Then the spirits will return. Whither their news is good or bad is yet to be determined." Wyanet said as she ushered everyone but Katara, Zuko and Aang from the room.

"Me and your family will guard her till Crimson and Luke return from their assignment good night Prince Zuko." She said with a sweeping bow.

"You need to keep her warm. I broke her fever for now. She needs to drink a lot of fluids and eat something. But there is nothing in the medicine chest that seems to help her. I will go try coming up with some kind of medicine. It would help if I knew what this is though." Said Katara kindly as she closed the chest got ready to leave.

"It pneumonia. She has a really wicked case pneumonia." Aang spoke up.

Everyone jumped. He been so quite they'd stop thinking about the fact he was there.

"She needs a very strong medicine. I know that some pills prepared from a mixture of certain herbs, tree roots, and from the petals of calypso, buttercups, narcissi, hyacinth, and heliotropes will make an adequate medicine for her." He replied knowingly. Then continued to say." It is a bacterial infection of the lungs. She is going to have a high fever, vomiting, and difficulty breathing." He finished in knowing tone of voice.

"I will go at once to make these pills. I promise to have them done by nightfall. We'll also bring a little food and drinks for you three. See you shortly. Don' t fret Zuko, she'll be all right." Said Katara as she ran out the door.

"Thank you, Katara. You are one sweet angel. You do your people proud." Remarked Zuko as he hugged her tightly.

"Uh, Thanks, Zuko. Just stay here. I will be back as soon as I can with her medicine. Aang do you have the ingredients list, by chance?" she asked the boy.

"I told you what was needed but here is a list of all things you'll need. Please hurry, Katara." He pleaded.

"I will Aang. Promise." She assured the young boy as she ran out the doors, stopping, only to grab Sokka on the way out.

"Katara I'm exhausted! I would like to be sound asleep!" he bellyached as he was trying tenaciously not be dragged away.

"I'm going to need assistants in making these tablets and you unfortunely are the only kin with me and this is what family members do! So quite whining like an elephant muzzle glacial coyote and be of assistance to me! You can be dead to the world another time! Now let's move!" she howled at her elder brother.

Back in the chamber Zuko was hold Akiko right hand tightly and holding her head in the other. There was no hiding the pain etched over his handsome features. Aang looked at him. He remembered with perfect clarity what Zuko had been like before. When they first met to all the times their paths had crossed. He had just seems so angry. He had been so full of fuming, detestation, and repressed pain of years of being a physically and emotionally abused child. Without a friend in the world and so deeply deprived of love. His own father thought he was of no value, just a disappointment. Still he had helped nurse him back to health. Perhaps that was part of being the Avatar; helping the healing of broken hearts and dreams one at a time. Thanks to him Zuko no longer had to walk the lightless twisted path of broken dreams with only his shadow as his solitary acquaintance. Aang watch as a bead of moisture sloped down his face and dripped on to her delicate face.

He started to sing softly to her and her scrunched up features relaxed. She actually smiled a small smile.

"Acquaint with me, Aang, you seemed to be on familiar terms with this disease. So enlighten me where have you witnessed it previous to this and how do you know the medication will work at all?" inquired Zuko as he put a fresh cloth on her head.

"We monks are called upon to say prays for all kinds of things. Every now and then that incorporates reciting prays for the health of individuals who are in poor health. One time a raggedy elderly lady came to the temple with a small child. An exceptionally tiny girl who was in gravely poor health. She was severely dehydrated and suffering server malnutrition. She was paler then snow and was only just breathing. Only her big brown eyes showed any spark of life within the frail body."

"The woman said the girl name was Rin and that she was the child acting guardian. That they were among a scarce few who had lived through a mudslide and been traveling for days hoping to locate someone who could administrate a cure to the little girl."

"I was ten and drawn to the child. I sat down next her and held her hand. I told her fairy-tales and sang songs and did a small number of tricks to take her mind off the pneumonia. My father is the one who experiment with a countless number of treatments till he at last found one that seemed to be affected. But it was too late. The treatment did work, it combined with me helped Rin live about 4 months longer but she was just to weak and well died. The old woman died shortly afterwards from a broken heart. We buried them into simple unmarked graves. I've not thought of her in so long. But when I think of her now I think that hope and being with people who love you is very significant. Don't be concerned, Zuko, Akiko will be alright."

There was a knock at the door and the boys looked up at saw Katara and Sokka holding a dry skin sack and her waterskin. "I brought the medicine. Now let's see if these will work." Said Katara hopefully

She pulled two small manila pills out of the sack and poured the water into a chalice. "Aang I require you and Sokka to be of assistance me." She told him patiently as she got ready to administrate the treatment.

"Ok what to I've to do?" asked Aang as he held the water goblet up to his eyes. He could see that she was right. The water was a black as tar he dabbed a finger into the liquid and tasted and spat.

"Eww! Ugh! Tell me how is bitter water going to restore to health Akiko?" inquired Aang puzzled by Katara's actions.

"That why I need yours and Sokka help!" she said as she finished examining the pills.

"Why do you are help for, Katara?" asked Sokka as he yawned.

"Well we both have Water Spirits within us, dear brother, and Aang is the Avatar. This water comes from the most spiritual spot on the entire planet. I believe if we concentrated our energies we can reverse this terrible affect and purified the water and heighten its healing properties. Ready?" she asked them as she took one side of the chalice.

"I will on no account get used to this nuttiness! But if it will help her then all right." Sokka said as he placed his hands on the chalice too.

Aang took a fleeting glance at Zuko whom about to shed tears. "Let's do it!" Aang proclaimed as he pumped his fist in the air and then placed his hands alongside those of his friends.

For a moment there was silence then the water began to glow then change from black to blue and it was glowing intensely.

"Yes! Accomplishment! I love it when things go according to plan! Now prop her head up." Instructed Katara as she placed the pills into Zuko's hand.

She put the pills in her mouth and helped to swallow the healing water. They waited a moment and she started to pink up a bit!

"Thank God she'll be ok. Thanks to all of you." Zuko said as he lean to kiss her brow.

"She still has a long way to go till she completely recovered, Zuko, so be ready." Informed Aang.

"Here you'll need these." Said Katara as she placed the dry skin sack in his right hand and the special water in the left one.

"She needs to take two pills every 6 hours. Make sure she takes her medicine with this water. She needs to consume healthy food and drink lots of fluids and not have a lot of trauma for the next few days. I will continue to administrate the treatment and she needs to take one teaspoon of elixir after each prescribed amount. We should have some light steam in here to help her breath more effortlessly. Aang can you help me with that?" asked Katara as she closed up the med chest.

"Sure. Don't worry. Things are going to be great! Here this will help her I'm sure." He said as he ran in and out in two minutes and came back with Zuko's candle. He placed it on the nightstand a pointed a finger at the wick and lit it up. Smiling he looked at Zuko who seemed to become more contented at the sight of the extraordinary candle.

"Thank you my friends. Thanks." Zuko said with a rare grin on his handsome sculpted features.

There were horrifying thunderstorms all from beginning to end of the night. Each and every one of the frighten little children were all howling and whimpering; the island itself was in a great deal of pain. Even the animals were disturbed and agitated. All night fire rain down form the heavens and winds screamed and bellowed like incoherent aged crones. It was appalling. No one slept well that night.

The next morning the storms vanished into thin air. But when they left their shelters the saw burned into the heart of their beloved home a mark still smoldering. Aang went to fetch Zuko who was giving Akiko her medicine and had a hard time leaving her alone.

"Come on Zuko! You got to know what this means! Come on what does this mean?" asked Aang as he dragged the prince to the temple balcony overlooking the symbol.

"Oh my god…" Zuko said as he went paler then Wyanet. He snapped his head back and yelled for his family and Wyanet to come look at the symbol.

"It can't be!" muttered Wyanet in disbelief as she clutched her amulet tightly.

"I sense not anything save for overpowering feelings of malevolence!" cried Zara as she fell into a whimpering pile of pain.

"I'd hoped I in no way have to witness this symbol. This is beyond doubt a ghastly omen." Iroh said in a deadpan tone of voice.

The symbol was a twisted lozenge with zigzags and blotch in the heart with horns spewing flicks of flare.

"Zara? Zuko? What does that mark mean?" pressed Katara as she wrapped her arms around the small red head girl.

"It is the hoof print of the devil of the black flame." Supplied Iroh.

"It means innocent blood is about to be spilled and enormous agony is on the distant horizon." Explained Wyanet, as she stood there shaken to the core.

"This can't be a good sign. The message that Alake and Anto left is coming to pass. Everything that they predict is come to pass and there is no stopping the message that they will bring to spell out our world doom!" Zara spoke in a voice filled of apprehension and terror.

"Look people we need to calm down and relax. I will admit that some funky stuff is going on by that no need to start use words like Armageddon or apocalypse and such right? I mean we have till summer's end to defeat the Fire Lord, remember?" stated Sokka calmly as he tried to keep order in the camp.

"Come on Sokka wake up! Something going on! If not the end of the world what else could it possible be?" Suki demanded of him angrily?

"What? Do you really consider that to accurate? Come on, Suki you're a smart woman! Make somebody's day and don't tell me you believe in that downright gobbledygook?" shrieked Sokka cantankerously at his girl attractive features.

They looked like they were about to clash when Aang got sandwiched between them and did a sweeping gesture.

"Guys I don't want to make anyone more on edge then they already are but did you notice anything peculiar about the air around us?" he asked timidly

"Aang there is nothing wrong with the air. There absolutely no wind at all." Katara informed him in an ordinary tone of voice with her arms around the boy.

"My point exactly! All that they said that would come to pass as become true. I feel the air like each of you is connected spiritual to your elements. Right now the voices in the multihued wind are as soundless as a necropolis at the hours of darkness. Do you understand what this means?" he asked everyone who had gone deathly pale.

"It means that whatever the White and Black Spirits have to say it can't be good news," Said a voice from beyond the thicket. Heads snapped in 180 degrees to gaze at as Luke and Crimson came running up to jittery gang.

"We came back early from our reconnaissance operation. How is Akiko doing?" asked Crimson as she collapsed onto the sanctuary steps.

"She has a rather nasty case of pneumonia but she should pull through. Thanks to Aang and his friends she lives. Now what do you have to report to me?" questioned Zuko apprehensively.

Crimson took a deep inhale then let it go. "Well there is defiantly a major buzz going around. Something up. At least two important things are about to take place. One is of these secrets is being kept under tight lock and key. Absolutely no one is permitted to speak about it out loud fear that this would blow up the whole plan." She said tiredly.

"So you were not able to obtain this information? Then it must be something of the utmost importance if Ozai does not want any probability of a leak. That is too bad. Where you at least able to accumulate anything on the second secret?" asked Zuko optimistic.

"We believe, sire that our location has been exposed. I was able to intercept this parchment and it seems this is a message from Admiral Zhao to Fire Lord Ozai. Its in code but we have been able to decipher most of it. It says in plainest terms. "Fire Lord we have uncovered the hiding spot of your pest problem and will begin to execute the plan to exterminate these pest in 4 days time. If the Avatar is among them we will capture him. Victory will soon be ours my beloved leader. Admiral Zhao." End quote." Reported Luke distress as he slumped down in pure exhausted.

"That can't be true. It not probable! No way could they found us! We're too well concealed! How is this possible!" cried Zara as she curled up into Aang's arms.

"We can't worry about how they found out. The thing we must act on now is how to evacuate our camp and its people to a new safe location all in less then 48 hours." Acknowledged Luke "and may I jog your memory you the clock is ticking!"

"Ok. Everyone get with a partner and start getting everything rounded up! We must be ready to leave this island in exactly four hours. Well leave on the west side! Aang? You, Katara, Haru, and Zara go to beach and use your powers to buy us some time. Understand?" ordered Zuko as he ran back to Akiko bedchamber.

Aang want to ran after him but he knew his place. He had to prevent the Armada from inward bound to the archipelago. Focusing on all he had learned in this short amount time. But by using the skills the he had inherited from his previous lives he was able to accomplishments that astounded everyone including himself.

"Akiko? My fire lily can you hear me? Please wake up." Zuko begged her as began to swathe her up in a bedspread.

Groaning and coughing "Zuko?" she said totally disoriented.

"Akiko listen to me. I know you think of this place as your home. But we must leave. We been discovered and we must go. But I fear if you're exposed to the open air you'll die. Please tell me what can I do?" he said in a trembling tone voice.

"How were we found?" she asked as she laid her head alongside his torso and listened to his soothing heartbeat.

"I don't know how. But it's not important. Akiko I can't lose you. I've lost my mother to a sickness. Yes she was murder but "He" still caused her pain and suffering which still haunt my nightmares. I can't lose someone for a second time." He said as he rocked her back and froth.

"Zuko. Don't be concerned. I won't pass away. My mother told me last night that I will live. She furthermore told me the "He" will arrive and annihilate all that I take pleasure in. We must go. But do you have a destination in mind? We have 1600 people to move, and you need not tell me we don't have a lot of time." She told him in a voice full agony and pain.

"I know of a place large enough. But I worry that going there would upset Aang and we don't need him to be unstable right now." He told her as he scooped her up and took her down to the water.

"Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting?" she inquired with a awful cough.

"Here" giving her some water, "Yes I do have that place in mind. We have to ask him. Here put this mask on. Come on." He said as the reach the beach.

"Come on people we have to keep them at bay! If they breach the outer perimeter we can kiss the chance of beating the Fire Lord good bye! Let keep at it!" yelled Katara tiredly as her knees buckled to the ground as she passed out.

"Katara! Katara are you all right my beloved?" cried Haru as he held her in his arms.

"Oh! She'll be fine. Oh Zuko didn't know you where here. Every thing is geared up to depart. We have been able to keep them at bay but I doubt we can keep it up a great deal longer." Said Sokka as he tended to his sister.

"We have to move this instant, enlighten me at this instant, where is Aang?" the young man in scarlet asked to the young man in azure.

"He went to make use of his powers at the perimeter of the archipelago. He is in the company of Appa along with Momo. He thought he have a better chance of keeping them away if he did that. He will return in a moment," retorted Sokka as he assists Katara to her feet.

Just then they took notice of a great bellow. Appa come over and he smelled of scorched pelt. Momo leapt from Aang's forearm and dropped a reddish black flag with a fire insignia into Zuko outstretched palm. Aang did a stunning flip off Appa and collapsed into Zara arms he looked paler then a banshee and so lifeless.

"Are you ok my brother?" inquired Zuko as he laid his hand on the small boy shoulder.

Breathing hard. "Ships… hundreds off them… like each and every ship… in the… armada… is… in attendance." Drinking from a waterskin he continued, " I witnessed Zhao's personal vessel leading the charge. I was able to obliterate about two -dozen ships but the rest will be on our doorstep by twilight at this rate. We have to move now. We can't hang about here any longer." He said groaning as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Aang don't pass out now we need you still. Listen I can only think of one place where we can go that will all be able to accommodated all the things we need to continued to fight on. But only you know the coordinates. Aang tell me how to we get the Southern Air Temple?" he pleaded to boy Avatar that he considered his little brother and friend.

He leaned up to Zuko ear and whisper to him the location's longitudes and latitudes of his home.

"Zara! Run and tell Luke and Crimson these coordinates. We leave in five minutes. Not a second later go!" he ordered his little sister.

She ran so fast she was nothing but a vague red blur.

"Come on everyone we need to go. Hope you've grabbed each and every one your possessions we shall never return to this place. At least till we thwarted that cold-blooded monster!" He said as scooped up Aang and slung over his back and carried him and Akiko to the dockyard. Appa carried the remaining people to the departure point.

"Ok is everyone in attendance and accounted for?" asked Crimson as she tallied everyone up.

"Yes we are all here. All clues that would reveal our time here have been eradicated! Let's go!" cried Luke as he and Crimson got in position and threw out the portal keys and began the incantation. In a few moments they had the doorway open. Everyone looked back one last time to say farewell to his or her home, then cross the threshold into the void.

They were gone instant and rematerialize at the foot of the Batol Mountain Range where they would begin the long ascend up to Aang's old home and their new headquarters as well.

Aang led them to his old home till they reach the temple Aang face became cloud with an indistinguishable expression. He bit his lip till a thin trail of blood dripped down, and held back a tear. His fists were trembling angrily at his side.

"Aang? Are you all right? I know this place holds many memories both good and bad. Aang?" asked Katara as she rested her long delicate fingers on his shoulder.

"Salutation one and all to my home. Come I'll help one and all get settle. Zuko follow me and we'll give Akiko her medicine." He said with soulless eyes as he walked up the path.

Zuko laid his beloved on the ground for a moment and went up to Katara. "Katara? Is he going to be all right? I know its painful to be here but we didn't have a choice. Is he going to ok? You know him best." He asked of young woman.

"Listen Zuko, Aang has been able to come to term and accept what is. That is because of all of us. But I need you to remember that when he first came back to this place he did discover the carcass of his unknown father. Just like you that pain on no account is unproblematic to repressed. He will be ok. He just needs to let the ghost die for a while." Katara said sensibly as she glanced compassionately at the boy in question who was waiting with annoyance for them.

That night at dinner Aang dissappered from crowd. He went to look at his father statue and at the medallion that he had left him.

"Hi, Dad. Been awhile sense we last threw cakes upon those jerks heads. Dad I'm scared. Lot of strange things has been happening since I started my journey to becoming a fully realized Avatar. The entire planet is crying in pain. I can't take it. What am I to do? I can feel it in my soul that when Alake and Anto it isn't good. What am I to carry out?" he said he bowed to his father. "Please you and mom said you help me when I need it. I need it now. Where are you?" he cried.

"Aang?" spoke a voice from behind him.

"Zara! You startle me." He said as he turned around.

"Aang. I'm not here to preach or anything. But I know my brother helped you deal with your parentage and I'm eager to see this temple and hear its stories. We have such short time left. I fear that with the coming battle mere months away we should try to spend time with our loved ones. This isn't a fairy tale. It doesn't start Once upon a time nor does it end in happily ever after. Some people are going to die. I see it and feel it. I've been dreading the day when the final battle for the world begins all my life and it is coming sooner each day wither we like it or not. So come and lets explore this shrine together?" she said as batted her eyes at him.

He blushed and smiled. "Let me show you my home through my eyes." He said as he led her around the temple.

"Young love it wonderful isn't Zuko?" asked Iroh to his nephew as he laid a blanket around him. They looked affectionately at each other and then out the window.

"Thanks Uncle. You are a great person." Zuko said as he fluffed Akiko pillow then just hugged his uncle and said softly "I love you. Don't ever forget that."

"I love you too Zuko." He said as poured him some ginseng tea.

Akiko began to stir and Zuko rushed to her side.

"Zuko? Where are we? This isn't my room." She asked.

"Remember? We were force to flee from Nuriel because Zhao found out where we where?" he reminded her.

"Oh I remember now. How is everyone settling in alright?" she asked as she started to cough.

"Here have some tea." Iroh said as he gave her some tea to soothing her.

"We have our equipment hidden in the old flying bison stables in the hollow chambers in the mountainside underneath us. One and all are doing satisfactory. Here I brought you someone to be of assistance in you healing." Laying her mom portrait at the side of her gorgeous face.

"Mom." She mused dreamily as she fell back to sleep with a peaceful smile etching across her lips.

"You need to sleep as well Zuko. Remember a man needs to rest." Said Iroh as he got up and left.

"Good night, Father." Whispered Zuko softly as he laid his head on the headrest. He knew that some people did love him yes but the one who loved him greatest was right there in that room next to him.

All seemed good. Aang and Zara had finished their tour of the temple with the exception of for two locations. "You didn't show me everything. What behind that giant door with such a peculiar lock? And where are we going? It's late, almost midnight. We should go to sleep. That is if there are any rooms left." She said as she yawned.

Turning to look at her he sighed. "Here let me carry you the rest of the way. Its only a little further, and Momo can fly the rest of the way, can't you boy?" he said as Momo nimble tail tickled his nose.

She nodded and the walked along the rest of the corridor till they came to the only room not taken. Zara tried the door but it was locked.

"Aang I really don't want to set ablaze down a door to get in. How do we get in?" she replied in a seriously sluggish tone of voice.

He punched down on the floor tile in front of the door, which had a fade smudge on it. Zara picked it up and saw on it was two small handprints and the name "Aang" practically worn away. Smiling she slipped into a pouch she had made some time ago. She watched as fished out an old key and put it in the lock. The aged wooden door creaked open at a snail's pace to reveal a room that seemed extraordinarily recognizable. "Zara welcome to my room." He said as he led her inside and closed the door.

That evening at the stroke of midnight an unearthly hum consumed the temple ancient corridor along with bluish-white radiance that filled each and every room. Two spheres of illumination materialize from the halo of energy hovering above the place of worship and shot all the way through the sanctuary till they at last came to the room where Katara and Sokka slept. For a moment the spheres sparkled, they seemed to hesitate then cross the threshold all the way through their open mouths. An aura encircled them as their eyes flashed open in dazzling radiance of divine illumination power. They rose from their beds and nodded at each other.

"Come, my brother. There is work to be done. You know we are bending rules that shouldn't be broken if they can be avoided. Let go before we loose the capability to remain stable in this world." Said Alake as she ran her fingers all the way through her tresses without a care in the world.

"I wish this body was a little more developed but it will come in due time. You my sister of course look as eye-catching as every." Anto said as he hugged his sister and kiss her cheek soothingly.

"Anto! I know you have a slight flirty side but we have business if you haven't forgotten? Let go!" she replied in a responsible manner.

"Hmm." They both went away from each other ways to round up one and all.

Anto got all the boys and led them to the Monks Council Chamber and Alake got the girls but neither had gotten Aang and Zara or Zuko and Akiko.

"We must get the Avatar and the other three." Said Alake with genuine concern in her voice.

"I'm afraid Zuko won't budge from his beloved side. She is really sick and Aang really tired so is Zara." Replied Crimson with a yawn that was contagious as everyone joined her.

"We can't wait. This news is too important. Alake you know what to do." Her brother said with a nod.

Clapping her hands together she vocalized for a moment then the four remaining people appeared before them. Then she kissed their foreheads soothingly. "Arise Avatar Aang, Princess Zara, Prince Zuko and Lady Dragon Akiko your woes have waned and your strength is full."

They awoke very surprised. "What is going on? Aang?" asked Zara he shrugged.

"Well an important person better have an answer. Akiko! You alright my fire lily?"

"Oh, Zuky I feel like I just been reborn. I feel so rejuvenated. Alake and Anto you have returned. I should be still in poor health. What did you do?" she asked Katara/Alake in surprised.

"Sweet child. You would have lived wither I acted or not. Now we have a matter of utmost importance to talk about. Are you all ready to hear what we have to say?" she asked the group.

"YES!" they shouted in harmony.

"Ok lets begin. Sister if you join me." Anto said as he cupped his palms together and she did the same and they begun to vocalize.

There energies amalgamated simultaneously and imagery materializes in front of them as they watched in awe.

They together began to have a discussion in out this world tone of voice in harmony.

"As you have experience in the past few days the elements secret language of pain. The world of the humans is coming to conclusion and spirits can't defend themselves a great deal longer. We are each and every one both of your world and ours is in jeopardy of going extinct as the flames of death continued to destroy by fire the threads that hold the tapestry of life together. All may give the impression that the world future is lost forever, that it pains us to burden you further, but this information might be of assistance in changing the future of the planet. This might change your destiny along with fate." They paused for a moment.

"What do you spirits of Black and White have to say that could mean the difference stuck between sealing our doom and saving the human race for the next generation yet to come?" inquired Akiko staring intensely at them.

"The tool that start this pain has return sooner then anticipated. Sozen's comet draws close. It won't be at summer's end that will be the day of reckoning. It will be instead in a fortnight when new moon has risen and the world is bathed in everlasting hours of darkness shall the devil and his cohorts in psychosis will finish the malevolence that poison those of fire a century ago. The time to act is now at hand. Avatar Aang you must do what you where born to do. Gather your allies and remember we will assisted you in anyway we can. Calls if you need us. Good luck Avatar."

They finished glowing and then lights of white and black flew out of their mouths and they collapsed onto the ground.

Everyone just stood there his or her face thoroughly shock.