Aang looked around wildly, at first not knowing where he was. He quickly recognized his surroundings, though. A pang of grief gripped him as he looked at the graceful spirals and magnificent pillars of the southern air temple. He felt, for that one instant, that he was home again. It was as well-kept and beautiful as he remembered it, so he knew he was not at the real air temple. He had visited the air temple months before and it had fallen into complete disrepair. "Why am I here?" he said aloud, unable to stop himself. "What's going on?"

Not expecting an answer, Aang jumped when a familiar voice spoke right behind him.

"To learn the next lesson in your journey, young Avatar."

Aang spun around, reflexively falling into a defensive posture before he recognized who had spoken.

"Roku," Aang said in surprise, "what are you doing here? What am I doing here?"

"You are in the Avatar state, Aang. We seem to see a lot of each other here, don't we?" Roku said, an uncharacteristic note of amusement in his voice.

"What is the last thing you remember, Aang?"

"We were flying over an earth kingdom village. The fire nation had burned it to the ground. I-I've never seen anything like that before". Aang began to pace, agitated, as if he could not bring himself to stand still. "I don't think I can do this anymore, Roku. I'm supposed to be the Avatar! I couldn't even save one town, how am I supposed to save the whole world?"

"That is a question I cannot answer. Every Avatar must find their own way. I can tell you one thing, though. You being chosen as Avatar was no accident, Aang. It was meant to be the way it is."

Aang sighed, shaking his head.

"You know, that's what everyone keeps telling me. What does that even mean, Roku? How would anything be different if someone else had been chosen as the Avatar? Someone else would probably have been able to avoid this war completely."

"You think so?" Roku said, his voice hardening. "Come with me, young Avatar. You have much to learn."

Before Aang knew what was happening, he and Roku were falling through darkness. Aang tried to scream, but no sound came out. Then, suddenly, they were once again on solid ground. In fact, they were standing exactly where they had begun except for one, immediately noticeable, difference. Before, they had been standing in a completely deserted air temple. Now, the temple was crowded with dozens of airbenders, lemurs, bison. It was as if Aang had been taken back to a different, more innocent time. He would soon learn how right that impression was. Aang spotted a familiar figure amidst the crowd and smiled at the sight of him.

"Gyatso!" Aang called, waving. He missed his old mentor very much and often wished he still had the guidance of the wizened airbender. Gyatso, however, did not reply. In fact, he did not react at all when Aang had called his name.

"Gyatso!" Aang called again.

"No one can hear us, Aang", Roku said quietly.

"Why not?"

"We've crossed into a different realm, Aang. One where we can see all the different ways your life, and the world, would be different if you were not the Avatar."